Summary
Important notes for preparing for the State Speech Festival, April 11-12, 2025.
- Guests (friends/family) are permitted; please see guidelines
- Checks may be mailed or payment made online via credit card; these do NOT need to be “in-hand” by the festival.
- See our new archive of email blasts >>
Registration Confirmation #
Schools have until Monday, March 31, 2025, to confirm State registration on SpeechWire for the WISDAA State Speech Festival. All schools must log in, add adjudicators (or acknowledge the $200/uncovered adjudicator) and complete the Confirm Entries step. Schools also may pre-order merchandise directly within SpeechWire; however, placing such an order does obligate the school to that financial commitment. To begin, click the button to Access SpeechWire and log in, or if logged in, click the Registration icon.
Virtual Option #
Schools must provide adjudicators equivalent to number of virtual entries or pay $200 for each uncovered adjudicator; this may not be combined with in-person adjudicators.
Merchandise #
Schools are encouraged to pre-order through SpeechWire (you can generate a separate merchandise invoice right from the order page); individuals may purchase directly on our website, but no T-shirts will be shipped before the State Festival. No merchandise will be released at the festival without payment (or a school purchase order). There will be a limited inventory on-hand at the festival, so pre-order by 12 Noon on Monday, March 31 for the convenience of having an order ready when you get to State.
^ Sticker
Prior to Arrival #
Assignments/Itineraries: contestants can access itineraries here; rooms are preceded with their building name. Please see maps below.
GUEST POLICY: We are at the mercy of available classroom sizes and cannot guarantee enough space for guests to watch. Coaches and students must communicate time and location of student performances and notify spectators of our guest conduct policies:
Addresses, Maps, Parking #
Arriving on Campus #
WiFi Instructions #
Contest Instructions #
Double-entries are assigned to the same room/adjudicator to minimize movement between buildings. For students in Extemp and Radio, they will draw first, prep, and then report to their Extemp/Radio performance room, where their teammates should have already reported by the beginning of the round. Adjudicators will be given a ballot listing all the categories they will evaluate, so they will know they are using different evaluation sheets.
Merchandise pre-ordered by schools should be picked up in the headquarters building (Social Science).
State Speech Schedule #
| Speech Round → | Fri 3:30pm | Fri. 5:30pm | Fri. 7:30pm | Sat. 9:30am | Sat. 11:30am |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students may wait in Humanities 2340 (Mills Rm.). | n/a | 4:00pm | 6:00pm | 8:00am | 10:00am |
| Pre-order merchandise pick-up: Social Science Lobby inside from Carillon Tower on Observatory Drive (enters at 6th floor) | 2:15pm | 4:15pm | 6:15pm | 8:15am | 10:15am |
| Adjudicator paper form pick-up & e-ballot troubleshooting: Social Science 6116 | 2:30pm | 4:30pm | 6:30pm | 8:30am | 10:30am |
| Extemp/Radio contestants report to: Social Science 4308 (UPDATED ROOM) | 2:45pm | 4:45pm | 6:45pm | 8:45am | 10:45am |
| Students may start reporting to rooms (enter once adjudicator is present) | 3:15pm | 5:15pm | 7:15pm | 9:15am | 11:15am |
| Round begins | 3:30pm | 5:30pm | 7:30pm | 9:30am | 11:30am |
| Coach Workshops: Social Science 6100 rooms | 3:40pm | 5:40pm | 7:40pm | 9:40am | 11:40am |
| Claim medals (see instructions below): Social Science 6203 | After round | After round | After round | After round | After round |
| Merchandise table closes | 9:00 pm | 1:00 pm |
State Speech Directory #
| Building & Info Table | Building monitor | Notes and building layout |
|---|---|---|
| Social Science | Outside Soc.Sci. 6210 | Inside entrance off Observatory Drive, near Carillon Tower |
| Ingraham | Outside Ingraham 101 | Inside entrance on Observatory Drive, across from Social Science entrance. 200-series rooms are on second floor; 19 and 22 are on ground floor; B10 is basement/below ground floor. |
| Sterling | Outside Sterling 1306 | Inside main entrance on N. Charter Street |
| Van Hise | Outside VanHise 355 | Go up *lower* sloping ramp from corner of N. Charter Street and Observatory Drive to enter on third floor. Corridors on floors 3-5 are in a T-configuration. |
| Van Vleck | Outside VanVleck B102 | Enter north-facing entrance off stairway between N. Charter Street and plaza between Bascom and Ingraham Halls. All classrooms are on basement levels B1, B2, and B3. |
| Humanities | Outside Humanities 2340 | Enter north-facing entrance off intersection of N. Park Street at Lathrop Drive. |
| Function | Building & Room | Notes |
| School/coach registration | N/A; no on-site registration | Contestant itineraries are emailed ahead of festival. However, we do ask that schools with Debate confirm their teams’ presence by text; we will communicate those protocols directly to debate coaches. |
| Merchandise sales and recruitment booths | Social Science lobby | Off Carillon Tower/Observatory Drive (6th Floor) |
| Debate | Social Science Building (Updated) | All debate happens in the headquarters building, Social Science. |
| Adjudicators using paper ballots | Social Science 6116 | Adjudicators using paper must retrieve their ballot and collate evaluation sheets for the categories they are evaluating at the Social Science Building. |
| Adjudicators using e-ballots | No check-in needed. | Report directly to assigned building |
| Participant holding area (before + after rounds) | Humanities 2340 | The photo backdrop for teams also will be set up here throughout the festival. |
| Extemp/Radio draw/prep | Social Science 4308 (UPDATED ROOM) | Please charge devices before coming to campus |
| Coach workshops | Social Science 6100s | See rooms on workshop schedule. |
| Claim medals | Social Science 6203 | |
| Judging/Rules concerns | Social Science 6105 |
Radio/Extemp Draw:
Students will report to Social Science 4308; those bringing a device should charge it to full before arriving (many UW classrooms are old and have insufficient electricity). Students will draw and prep. Those assigned to Social Science 6210 or 5206 (large lecture halls) will speak in a portion of the room, designated by letters (A, B, C, etc.). This is due to UW Youth Protection requirements of not having a student alone in a room with an adult, as well as room constraints. Students should enter, focus on presenting to their adjudicator, and leave when finished (or sit quietly to listen to other speakers).
Electronic Draw Instructions:
Speech Adjudicator Information:
Paper Materials:
All adjudicators using paper to evaluate must first report to Social Science 6116 to retrieve materials and then go to the building and room to which you have been assigned. No blank paper forms will be available at other buildings.
1. Find your ballot (arranged alphabetically by last name).
2. Note any different categories listed to the right of entries in parentheses (usually highlighted).
3. Count number of evaluation sheets for each category that equals each count of entries by category on your ballot.
4. Take a copy of State Speech Adjudicator Guidelines 2025.
5. End of round: return individual evaluation sheets to each contestant/group entry; return white ballot pre-printed with student names to your building monitor station (click to see locations).
Debate #
The State World Schools Debate Festival will happen in the Social Science building, Friday afternoon/evening, April 11, 2025:
3:00pm: Arrival, check-in at Social Science 6125
3:40pm: Round 1 (Impromptu topic announced; debate starts 4:30pm)
6:00pm: Round 2 (Prepared motion)
7:20pm: Round 3 (Prepared motion)
8:30pm: Claim medals
Coach Workshops #
These are aimed at both new and veteran coaches!
| Day/Time | Room | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri. 4/11 – 5:30-6:15pm | SocSci 6113 | Radio News Reporting 101: How to Coach | Heard of Radio but not sure how to coach it? This interactive workshop will help you learn more about the category and offer tips for helping students be successful. No experience necessary! [Nancy Herbison, Tomahawk (Retired)] |
| Fri. 4/11 – 5:30-6:15pm | SocSci 6112 | Coaching Group Interpretive Reading | Selecting material, crafting a script, staging movements, bringing words to life, and adding bells & whistles to enhance literature: this is what you will take away from this workshop! [Leona Havens, Darlington (Retired)] |
| Fri. 4/11 – 5:30-6:15pm | SocSci 6117 | How to Host an Invitational Meet | Have you attended invitational meets and thought you would love to host one? Come to this engaging workshop and discover tips and “how to” strategies so you can run your own tournament! [Kam-Lin Roswall & Kristin Thompson, Holmen HS] |
| Fri. 4/11 – 7:30-8:15pm | SocSci 6113 | Radio News Reporting 101: How to Coach | Heard of Radio but not sure how to coach it? This interactive workshop will help you learn more about the category and offer tips for helping students be successful. No experience necessary! [Nancy Herbison, Tomahawk (Retired)] |
| Fri. 4/11 – 7:30-8:15pm | SocSci 6112 | Tools of the Trade | From a team handbook to scheduling rehearsals, this workshop will explain and share digital resources you can use to successfully structure and maintain your team. Participants are encouraged to bring their own laptop/device. [David Winkler, Wrightstown HS] |
| Sat. 4/12 – 9:30-10:15am | SocSci 6113 | How to Host an Invitational Meet | We’ll cover what hosting a tournament entails and talk through a suggested timeline regarding when and how to begin preparations. Come and learn some tips so you can plan an invitational next year! [Johannah Erffmeyer, Eau Claire Memorial] |
After the Round #
Adjudicator/Rules Concerns:
Adjudicators, coaches, or contestants with questions or concerns about adherence to rules may bring those concerns to BUILDING/ROOM. Concerns pertaining to adjudicators must be filed online, following the festival (see button).
Claiming Awards (Medals) #
After the round, the coach or one adult brings evaluation sheets for verification (in case they haven’t been tabulated yet) and to collect awards in Social Science 6203. For students whose adjudicators evaluated them electronically, those scores will immediately appear in your State Speech Festival Registration area on SpeechWire (click “View scores” icon) and electronic evaluations will be released to schools by time slot, once all adjudicators from that time slot have completed their rounds.
| Points | Award | Medal |
|---|---|---|
| 5-19 | Achievement (Copper) |
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| 20-22 | Finalist (Bronze) |
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| 23-24 | All State (Silver) |
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| 25 | Critic’s Choice (Gold) |
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Advancing to the State Festival is an achievement and earning awards beyond that represents rigorous standards. Coaches of four-year gold medalists should immediately claim the special medallion! Schools not retrieving awards at the festival for their team will be assessed a $25 handling fee, unless they have entries already participating in the virtual division.
Social Media #
Whether you operate your own social media for your team or your school/school district does, please tag @wispeechdrama when you promote your team qualifying to State, as well as traveling to and participating at State! Take a pic with Abe Lincoln in front of historic Bascom Hall! Hashtag for the event: #wisdaaspeech
Important Dates #
- Monday, March 31 (12 Noon): T-Shirt Pre-Orders Due
- Tuesday, April 1: Extemp/Impromptu/Radio materials posted on SpeechWire (virtual)
- Thursday, April 3: Final invoice and confirmation of entries
- Tuesday, April 8: Contestant itineraries with rooms
- Tuesday, April 8: Information sent to adjudicators (in-person)
- In-person: Paper adjudicator ballot pickup/e-ballots released 1 hour prior to round
- Monday, April 14: Reminder of videos due Tuesday, April 15
- Tuesday, April 15: Information for adjudicators (virtual)
- Thursday, April 17: Adjudication assignments
- Friday, April 18: Virtual evaluations/results released
- Monday, April 22 (5pm): Adjudicator appeals due
- Tuesday, April 29: Announcement of school/team awards
- Wednesday, April 30: Adjudicator appeal outcomes sent
