Group 2 (9 to 10 years)

Age Group: II (9 to 10 years) Time allotted: 6 minutes

Book: Sikh Sakhis for the Youth - part I

Author: Dr. Gurbaksh Singh

I CONTENTS (60 Points)

(Answers to the following questions are expected in your speech. Please be briefand to the point. Contents are worth 60 points: 20 points for each question):

1. How did Guru Nanak's teachings bring a social and religious revolution?

2. Which one of Guru Nanak’s Sakhis did you like the most? Describe the lesson you learned from the Sakhi. How does it help you to be a better person?

3. The present day society is plagued with intolerance and violation of basic human rights. How do lessons learnt from Sikh Sakhis motivate you to make this world a better place and Just for all?

II Presentation (40 points):

• Included in this area are items like style, delivery, poise, eye contact, voice, diction, language and effectiveness.

• Time allotted to finish the speech for this group is 6 minutes.

• There is no penalty for finishing thespeech either earlier than 6 minutes or during the grace period of the next 30 seconds. After the grace period, i.e., after 6 minutes and 30 seconds have elapsed, one point would be deducted for every extra 10 seconds or part of 10 seconds, from every judge’s score for the participant.

III Punjabi Presentation and Maintenance of Sikhi Saroop:

• Use of Punjabi and maintenance of Sikhi Saroop needs to be encouraged.

• Participants who use Punjabi and/or maintain Sikhi Saroop will be judged according to the above format.

• However, it is suggested that such participants be rewarded suitably.

IV Suggestions on preparing youth for the Sikh Youth Symposium:

• Given that the primary purpose of the Sikh Youth Symposium is for our children to focus on their learning, we would like to clarify the appropriate levels of support children should receive as they prepare for their speeches. It is our recommendation that it is in the best interest of the children to write their own speeches, with minimal support from parents or other adults.

• Parents/Mentors may sit with children to read and discuss the book and questions; however the children should write their own answers.

• Parents/Mentors may verbally support the children develop thoughts, suggest the ways and means to use better language without providing exact language to use in the speech.

• If your child’s speech is prepared in Punjabi, it must still follow the guidelines above.

• If it is prepared in English, it can be translated into Punjabi after it is created per the above guidelines. However, once the speech is in Punjabi, your child should understand the speech in its entirety.

• Although these are only suggestions, in order to make this experience most meaningful and equitable for all children, it is recommended that we adhere to these suggestions as closely as possible