DRAMATIC MONOLOGUE

Grade 10, 11, or 12 students can select to write and present a dramatic monologue. In
this category, the student will write and present an original dramatic monologue of 4-6
minutes (including an Introduction).

The Dramatic Monologue

In the Collingwood Public Speaking Day Competition, students in Grades 10, 11, and 12
can choose to deliver a dramatic monologue instead of a formal speech.

In this speech type, the speaker pretends throughout that he or she is someone
else. This could be a celebrity, but is more likely to be a completely fictional
person.

The speaker remains in role throughout the entire speech.

A costume and ONE vitally necessary prop is allowed. The speaker will be
penalized if the prop is just used to entertain or distract the audience and is not
strictly necessary.

Facial expression and body language in general should flow naturally from the
character, not appear added or forced. It is expected that dramatic
monologues will usually contain far more movement, gestures etc. than a
conventional speech.

The speech could be a character musing aloud, but will more likely be addressed
to an unseen someone who listens but does not reply.

It is more necessary for this category than for conventional speeches that the
presentation is memorized. If the student is trying to convey a furiously angry
teen, shouting at a friend about the absurdity of life, it will destroy the audiences
belief in the character if the student constantly breaks off from her rant to consult
notes.

The most successful speakers will probably be those who have the greatest faith
in the genuineness of the character they are acting. It is advisable for students to
invent a whole life story for their person: their age, family background, hobbies,
friends, etc. Very little of this material will be useable in the monologue, but
 creating a life story for their person will help the student fully conceive a realistic,
convincing, multi-faceted character.

In the planning process, students do not necessarily have to begin with the idea
of a particular type. Their initial inspiration could be a situation that draws them,
such as a person learning that his best friend has been hurt in a drunk-driving
accident or someone discovering a family member is seeking a divorce. They
can use this idea as a springboard to develop a character to enact that situation.
They can also start off their planning with a message that they wish to teach the
audience, such as that smoking is wrong, and then develop a character who
presents that idea (perhaps someone who has be beloved friend suffering from a
smoking related disease).

Dramatic monologues can be humorous or serious.

An Introduction is required (included in the time allotment); this should give an

indication of the context of the performance and should convey the reason(s)
why the student was inspired or chose to write the monologue. Explain why the
piece means so much to you. The introduction should be a direct address to the
audience, personal and informal.

All the usual rules of the competition apply; monologues are to be of the same
time as other speeches in the students age category and are to be written by the
speaker, not taken from a printed source.

Length
Your speech/monologue must be 4-6 minutes long with a 30 second grace in
either direction
Speeches that are over or under the grace period will be deducted 1 mark for
every 10 seconds over or under the allotted time and will not be eligible for the
final rounds. Practice until you know your presentation is the right length.

Assessment

Criteria Weight Score

Quality and helpfulness of the 10

Introduction

Memory work and polish 20

Delivery: use of voice, body language, 30
and movement

Originality of Content 20

Overall Effectiveness of Monologue 20

Total Points: 100

DUE DATE:

The written text of your monologue will be submitted through turnitin.com.

TIPS TO SUCCEED
Think about your audience.
Format your introduction and presentation to allow your audience to identify with,
understand and enjoy your speech.
Use your voice: use intonation and inflection to capture your audiences attention.
It is sometimes effective to alter the volume of your speech to get the attention of
the audience.
Use facial expressions, eye contact and gestures to connect with the audience.
Practise, practise, practise! The more often you practise and recite your
monologue for an audience, the better.