Communications Day

MERCED COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS DAY

What is Communications? That's how we share information, ideas, and thoughts. It can be verbal, written, or drawn. In 4-H we want our members to learn and practice good communication skills. Giving project reports at club meetings, being an officer, keeping a record book, giving a demonstration, presenting a talk, and much more can be ways that you can build your communication skills.

A good way to share what you have learned is to participate in the county 4-H Communications Day. This is a countywide event where 4-H members can give presentations, make display posters, or be part of a skit.

If you have questions please contact the 4-H Office at 385-7418.

Register online here:

How can you help?

The Merced County 4-H Communications Day will be a fun and exciting day. All 4-H members are welcome and encouraged to attend and participate in some way. If you want to be a Room Host or a Judge, please contact the 4-H office to sign up. A room host is an older member who helps in the presentation rooms with introducing the presentations and also assuring that the right speakers and judges are in their assigned classroom. For further information, please contact the 4-H office at 385-7418.

Merced County 4-H Communication Day

Sample SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

(Time Approximate)

8:00 A.M.– 8:30 A.M. Judges’ Orientation

8:00 A.M. –8:30 A.M. Room Hosts’ Orientation

8:00 A.M. – 8:45 A.M. Registration/Check In Cafeteria

8:45 A.M. Open Ceremonies - Cafeteria Stage
9:00 A.M. Group Share the Fun on stage in the cafeteria

9:30 A.M. Presentations to begin in rooms

As judging is completed Critiques of presentations in each room

Awards Assembly Cafeteria following performances and critiques

Mini-members are those who are between 5 and 8 years old will only be given seals of participation on their certificates.

Categories

1.	Demonstration	2.	Illustrated Talk
3.	Informative Prepared Speech	4.	Prepared Persuasive Speech
5.	Interpretive Reading	6.	Impromptu
7.	Science Presentation	8.	Engineering Presentations
9.	Share the Fun	10.	Cultural Arts
11.	Educational Display Talk	12.	Photos

Download the Presentation Day Manual so you can see what the judges are looking for in the presentations.

4-H Presentation Manual - Revised January 2021

1. Demonstrations – A demonstration shows how to do something. Member must use a minimum of four posters or slides. Posters should address Introduction, Materials, Process and Summary. Other visual aides are encouraged. Speakers are strongly encouraged to relate the presentation to their current 4-H project or 4-H activities or spark. Team demonstrations are limited to three team members. Age divisions are determined by oldest age of the three members. Models or actual products are encouraged with brand names covered. Organization and visibility of the work area is important. Presentation can range in length from three minutes for to 15 minutes based on complexity of the topic and age of the participants. Speakers may not use note cards.

2. Illustrated Talks – An illustrated talk tells about something. Speakers are encouraged to relate the presentation to their current 4-H project or 4-H activities or sparks. A minimum of three posters or slides should be used. Other visual aids are encouraged. Product labels should be limited to generic names and product names should be covered. The illustrated talk would have at least a title, process, and summary. A team of three members may present an illustrated talk. A presentation can range in length from three minutes to 15 minutes based on complexity of the topic and age of the participants. Speakers may not use note cards.

3. Informative Prepared Speech – This presentation is written and delivered by the member. The speaker will inform or educate the audience on a single issue or topic. The speech has a clear and understandable theme or thesis. There are no visual aids, costumes, or props. Notes on a 5"X7" card (single side) may be used by the speaker. Limited to individuals, not teams. Length of speech should be 2 – 10 minutes.

4. Persuasive Prepared Speech - The purpose of a persuasive speech is to sway, convince, and influence, not simply to argue. The speaker may use posters or visual aids to enhance the presentation, they are not required. A speech can range from 8-15 minutes based on age or experience. Limited to individuals not teams. Notes on a 5"X7" card (single side) may be used by the speaker.

5. Interpretive Reading – Members may read any published, written work. It should be age appropriate. Possibilities include, but are not limited to, children’s stories, poetry, essays, and excerpts from novels. The member will introduce themselves and their chosen piece. Include the title, author, characters, purpose and setting, and any other information that would enhance the audience’s understanding of the piece. The characters and setting are created through voice and gestures. The member is presenting the reading as at a story hour, not acting it out. The member may sit or stand. The source material must be present and used during the reading. No props, costumes, or other materials may be used. The member completes the presentation with a short conclusion, which leaves the audience with a vivid memory. The reading portion of the presentation should be no linger than five minutes. The introduction should be 1-2 minutes and conclusion 1-2 minutes. This format is limited to individual participants.

6. Impromptu– Impromptu speaking involves speeches that the speaker has developed at the Presentation Day within a 3 minute preparation. One at a time, the speakers will randomly draw a piece of paper with a topic on it. The topics will be developed from the pre-announced categories for the event. From the time the speaker is given the topic they will have three minutes to prepare a speech. This category is limited to intermediate and senior members. The maximum speaking time is 5 minutes. This format is limited to individual participants. Notes on a 5"X7" card (single side) may be used by the speaker.

7. Science Presentation- A science presentation emphasizes the core process of inquiry to describe, explain, and predict through observation, experimentation, modeling, and other scientific techniques. Science methods may rely on quantitative data(numbers), qualitative data (descriptions), or both. A minimum of five slides or posters should be included in your presentation. The presentation should address the following points, Introduction, background, methods, results, discussion. The speaker may use visual aids to enhance the presentation but are not required. The presentation can range in length from 3-15 minutes depending on the complexity of the topic and age of the participant. A team of up to 3 presenters is allowed. Speakers may not use note cards. Speakers are encouraged to relate the presentation to their current 4-H project or 4-H activities or sparks.

8. Engineering Presentation - An engineering presentation uses the process of design to plan, build, and test a process, system, or device. Engineers must weigh design choices based on merits, constraints, and aesthetics to meet design specifications. . A minimum of five slides or posters should be included in your presentation. The presentation should address the following points, Introduction, background, methods, results, discussion. The speaker may use visual aids to enhance the presentation but are not required. The presentation can range in length from 3-15 minutes depending on the complexity of the topic and age of the participant. A team of up to 3 presenters is allowed. Speakers may not use note cards. Speakers are encouraged to relate the presentation to their current 4-H project or 4-H activities or sparks.

9. Share the Fun – Groups perform acts such as skits and other presentations that focus on health, safety, community pride, citizenship, science, engineering, technology, or other 4-H projects. The presentation must include a topic surrounding 4-H. A participant should introduce the activity and its purpose. Participants must provide and set up any needed audio-visual equipment. Costumes, props, decorations, and other visual aids are encouraged. Presentations are not to exceed 15 minutes.

10. Cultural Arts – Individual participants, groups, projects, and clubs perform a costumed dramatic reading, musical dance, or other such performing art. A participant should introduce the activity and its purpose. Participants must provide and set up any needed audio-visual equipment. Costumes, props, decorations, and other visual aids are encouraged. Presentations are not to exceed 15 minutes.

11. Educational Display Talk – An educational display talk is an organized visual presentation of a program or a concept. A display should be designed to convey its message in a limited amount of time. The speaker should support the visual presentation. Once the speaker completes the oral presentation they will have a dialog with the judges about the display. Educational Displays must exhibit one of the following formats, Card Table Display (approximately 30"X30")- tri-fold poster board that includes a title, members name, and 4-H affiliation, and depiction of the program or concept, Panel Display (approximately 4'X4')- is presented vertically on an easel, it includes a title, the member's name and 4-H affiliation, and depiction of the program or concept. Display items that are added to the table should be kept to a minimum and only include if they are practical to place on the display surface. Items must be clearly labeled. The speaker's presentation should be 3-5 minutes followed by questions and dialog with the judge. Teams of two are allowed. Notecards may not be used.

12. Photos · A picture is worth a thousand words and it’s also a great form of communication! In honor of this form of communication, we would like to invite photography members to bring up to two photographs to Communications Day where their entries will be judged. Photos must be taken within the current 4-H year. Photos must be mounted on a photo mat board or foam board. They must be at least 8X10.

2022 Impromptu Topics

SENIORS 14-19 YEAR OLDS

• Civic Engagement: Civic Responsibility
Civic responsibility is one’s commitment to the welfare of others, the community, the state, the nation,
and the world. Reflect on your own civic responsibility in your 4-H club or community and reflect on how
that might differ from your civic responsibility to your state, nation, or the world. Think about what
the welfare of others means. Consider and compare your civic responsibility to that of those who may
not have the resources or platform to advocate for themselves. If your community is in need how can
you build your capacity to help address those needs?
Potential topics: define civic responsibility in 4-H; what are the impacts on communities when
members don’t engage in civic responsibility, the relation between civic responsibility and culture.

• Healthy Living: Public Health and Pandemic Response
Public health is the science of preventing disease and improving the quality of life of individuals and
communities. Given the global pandemic, the role of public health officials – in government public
health departments, doctors, and nurses – in promoting health and well-being has never been so
critical. Think about public health and how it might relate to biosecurity. Consider the impact public
health has on your daily life. Reflect on how you contribute to the health of your community.
Potential topics: effective methods to provide reliable and accurate information to the public; means
to distribute safe and effective vaccines; ideas for how 4-H might promote public health.

• Leadership: Importance of Mentors
Mentors can help develop leadership skills in a variety of ways. For example, by giving effective
feedback, mentors can help mentees increase their self-awareness on their skills, like communication
or time management. Consider the ways that a mentor has helped you and propose why mentorship is
important to leadership development. Think about the mentors you have had, how has their guidance
been helpful to you?
Potential topics: how important is having a mentor in leadership development, what impact do
mentors have in helping mentees build the 6 C’s (confidence, competence, character, caring,
connection, contribution, for more refer to the 4-H Officer’s Manual); in what ways does 4-H use
mentorship.

• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM): Nature of Science
This year’s impromptu STEM category is not a subject area, but rather, focuses on the enterprise of
science as a whole—the wondering, investigating, questioning, data collecting, and analyzing – a set
of practices, scientists use to construct new knowledge, models, laws, and theories. Core to science are
basic concepts: (1) scientific investigations use a variety of methods including observations,
inferences, and tools; (2) scientific knowledge is open to revision in light of new evidence; (3) science
cannot provide complete answers to all questions.
Potential topics: Reasons why scientists must be both skeptical and open to new ideas, how and why
expert recommendations may have changed over time (e.g., vaccines, medications, mask-wearing),
reasons why science cannot usefully investigate supernatural elements or the true purpose of life, ways
4-H can promote understanding of the nature of science

Intermediate Topics

11-13 YEAR OLDS

• Cultural Awareness
Cultural awareness is the ability to take the perspective of and learn and understand the culture of
others, especially those from diverse backgrounds. Consider what makes you different from your
fellow 4-H members and what you have in common. Think about how you might learn to appreciate or
value the differences of others. Reflect on how having different perspectives can help improve society.
Potential topics: what experiences do you have with other cultures; how do you learn about other
cultures; do you have a cultural heritage you like to share; how does having cultural awareness help
you in 4-H or in your future career.

• Goal Management
Goal management is more than just setting goals. It is a process that includes setting a goal,
determining the specific strategies to reach that goal, and identifying what are the things that could get
in the way of achieving the goal of accomplishing a strategy. The acronym “GPS” (Goal Selection,
Pursuit of Strategies, Shifting Gears) is used to help members remember the goal management steps
that lead to achievement. Reflect on what is specific and measurable goal might be. Consider steps you
need to take to reach a goal. Think about how you may react when faced with a roadblock in
achieving your goals.
Potential topics: how do you measure goals; when do consider a goal complete; what strategies might
you use to create a plan to reach your goal; what might get in the way of reaching a goal (for more
refer to the 4-H Officer’s Manual, page 11, or the County Ambassador Manual, page 17-18).

ALL PRESENTATIONS

Organization: All oral presentations should be composed of an introduction, body, and conclusion. The inclusion of researched information adds weight to a presentation. Originality is encouraged, especially with the title and introduction.

Delivery: Important components of successful speaking are eye contact, sincere manner, correct pronunciation, enunciation, inflection, humor, natural posture, and gestures. The audience seated in all parts of the room should be able to see and hear the presenter. The presentation should flow naturally, without gaps. A confident well-prepared presenter will keep the audience’s attention.

Length of presentations: Appropriate to the member’s age and experience and as necessary to cover the subject. See descriptions of each presentation for time limits.

Teams: Teams of three members may present a demonstration or illustrated talk. All members should have equal opportunity for speaking and “showing.” Speeches and Interpretative Readings are by individuals only. Educational Display Talks can be a team of two. Share the Fun is a group presentation. Cultural Arts may be presented by individuals or groups.

Number of entries: A member may enter two presentations in different categories plus be part of a group performance at the county level. At the sectional level, they have limited to just two, and at the state, the event is limited to one presentation per member.

Questions: Judges’ questions are appropriate in all categories except Share the Fun and Cultural Arts.

Advancement to next level: A county Gold award (medal or seal) qualifies to advance to the Sectional level. A sectional Gold Medal qualifies to advance to the state level.

Special needs: If a presenter has special needs this should be stated on the entry form. This may be a need for special consideration due to a disability, a special need for equipment, or even a need to be scheduled first or last in a room.