Laurel Balcom is a senior at Jackson High School, a 4-year member and 2x State Qualifier of the speech and debate team in Informative Speaking, and the Director of Oration for Speech Resources.
Declamation is a speech event in which competitors perform a published speech that was originally delivered by another speaker. Unlike original events, where the words are your own, declamation emphasizes interpretation, analysis, and delivery. The goal is not to create new content, but to bring an existing speech to life in a way that communicates its message clearly and effectively to a modern audience.
A successful declamation performance begins with a deep understanding of the speech itself. Performers should research the speaker, the historical or social context, and the audience for which the speech was originally delivered. Knowing why the speech was important and what the speaker hoped to achieve allows performers to make intentional choices in tone, pacing, and emotion. These choices ensure that the delivery reflects the original purpose while still resonating with today’s audience.
Clarity and control are essential in declamation. Judges look for confident delivery, precise diction, and meaningful gestures that support the speech rather than distract from it. Vocal variety, pauses, and emphasis on key words can bring out the speech’s emotional power without relying on exaggerated physicality. Because the words are not your own, the performance should focus on accurately representing the original message while making it engaging and impactful.
Most declamation speeches must be edited to fit competition time limits, which requires careful selection of which sections to keep and which to cut. Effective cuts maintain the logical flow of ideas, preserve the most powerful arguments, and highlight the speech’s most memorable moments. This process also allows performers to tailor the speech to their voice and style while staying true to the author’s intent.
Declamation rewards performers who combine strong analysis with disciplined delivery. Despite it not being a category on the national stage, it challenges students to think critically about language, meaning, and performance, while also requiring practice and attention to detail. When done well, declamation allows competitors to honor important speeches, share influential ideas, and demonstrate skill in communication, interpretation, and presence on stage.
Here is the winning Declamation speech from the 2025 Illinois State Speech and Debate Tournament: