Speaking Skills

Leadership · presentation / portfolio event

Supplementary study aid, not official HOSA competition material. Always confirm current rules and times in the official guidelines.

Overview

Speaking Skills is an introductory public-speaking event (often for newer/Middle School members) where you deliver a short speech on an assigned health topic.

It builds the fundamentals of organization, delivery, and confidence.

Format

One round: deliver your speech to judges within a set time limit (commonly a few minutes).
A timekeeper tracks your time.

Key rules

Address the assigned topic for the year.
Stay within the time limit to avoid penalties.
Props and visual aids are generally not allowed.
Check the official guidelines for exact time and note rules.

Tips

Keep it simple: one clear message with a beginning, middle, and end.
Practice eye contact, posture, and a steady pace.
Use pauses instead of filler words ("um," "like").
Rehearse until you barely need your notes.

What the coach looks at

Content & Knowledge — Accurate, relevant, and substantial information that shows command of the topic.
Organization & Structure — Clear introduction, logical body, and strong conclusion that ties it together.
Persuasiveness & Support — Claims backed by evidence, examples, and reasoning that move the audience.
Language & Word Choice — Standard English, precise vocabulary, and a tone suited to the audience.
Delivery Readiness — Phrasing that will sound natural aloud, with pacing, transitions, and emphasis cues.

Practice with AI feedback

Draft your speech below and get rubric-based coaching. This is practice feedback to help you improve — not official HOSA scoring.