ABOUT CAL POLY SPEECH
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and hundreds of colleges and universities throughout the U.S. compete in various speaking events to share their ideas and foster creativity in IE tournaments. Individual events (IEs) cover everything from original, interpretive, and extemporaneous speaking, such as monologues and persuasive oratory. Students, by crafting and performing their own pieces for competition, improve public speaking and overall communication skills vital to thrive in today's workforce and become leaders.
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MEET THE TEAM
Dr. Richard Besel
Mentor
Dr. Besel's areas of expertise include rhetorical theory, history, and criticism; environmental communication; science communication; media studies; and political communication.
Ph.D. University of Illinois, Urbana/Champaign
M.A. University of Illinois, Chicago
B.A. North Central College
Professor Christopher Skiles
Advisor
Mr. Skiles is the Interim Director of Forensics. His research interests include argumentation, cultural studies, and rhetorical theory and criticism.
Graduate Certificate in American Indian and Native Studies, University of Iowa, 2001
M.A. California State University, Northridge, 1996
B.A. California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, 1994
Professor Lisa Kawamura
Advisor
Ms. Kawamura's primary academic interest is in Performance Studies, in particular the rhetorical dimension of oral history.
M.A. San Francisco State University, 1998
B.A. San Francisco State University, 1995
Natasha Nguyen
President
Natasha is currently finishing her undergraduate studies in communications at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. In addition to re-establishing the Cal Poly Speech Team, she is heavily involved in the Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Department, the Mechanical Engineering Department, the Cal Poly Debate Team, and RFID club.
Extemporaneous Speaking
PURPOSE: A speech designed to motivate audience consideration of a significant argument related to a current domestic or international issue or event.
DESCRIPTION: Extemporaneous speeches are characterized by content that is directly and specifically topical, clearly stated and well-supported arguments, demonstration of a knowledge of current events, credible sources, timeliness, and vocal and nonverbal delivery choices that reflect the speech’s purpose.
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Impromptu Speaking
PURPOSE: A speech designed to motivate audience engagement of a significant argument.
DESCRIPTION: Impromptu speeches are characterized by a clearly articulated argument comprising a specific, direct response to the given prompt, well-supported claims, clear structure, uniqueness, and vocal and nonverbal delivery choices that reflect the speech’s purpose.
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SPEECH TEAM UPDATES
The Most Up-to-Date News
Speech Team featured on CLA Facebook and Twitter
February 7, 2018
Check out Cal Poly's College of Liberal Arts Facebook post about Natasha's My 2017 message in Cal Poly Magazine. Also check out the post on CLA Twitter.
Bryan Kwong Takes 2nd at Concordia Irvine Tournament
January 28, 2018
First-year Cal Poly Computer Science Speech Team member Bryan Kwong takes second place in novice extemporaneous at the Jannese Davidson Memorial Tournament hosted by the University of Concordia Irvine!
Natasha Nguyen Takes 2nd and 3rd at CSUN Invitational
November 10-11, 2017
The 2017 Robert Barbera Collegiate Forensics Invitational at CSU Northridge pool of contestants consisted of 24 schools and 233 entries total across 11 events. Natasha took third on both days of the swing tournament for Open Communication Analysis, and placed second on the second day of the tournament in Novice Impromptu.