SPEECH - Original Oratory Grades 6-7
Grades 8-9
Grades 10-12

Length:
Grades 6-7: 2-3 min.
Grades 8-12: 4-5 min

Speeches will be timed and points will be deducted for not complying with this time requirement.

Topic: Students will present a character sketch of a famous (nationally recognized) person.

Objective: This is not meant to be a “report” of a lot of “factoids” about this person. Your job is to present the human side of your person: what makes him/her tick? What influences shaped this person? Why/how did this person become famous? For example, it will be important to tell the audience when this person lived, but giving the exact birthdate is not very interesting (unless, of course, it has some unusual significance!) Select the most interesting pieces of information about your character and don’t worry about giving us all the trivia. We encourage you to include anecdotes from the person’s life.

Rules:

• Visual aids: Participants will be allowed two visual aids in the form of props or partial costume. Be aware that you will not be allowed any set-up time, so your props or costume items need to be under your chair during your waiting time and instantly/easily manageable when it is your turn.
• Submit to the judges: Minimum of two sources (at least one non-internet) for your research.
• Notes: You may use notes, but points will be deducted if you used your notes too much (reading or limited eye contact) or if they are distracting. If using notes, we suggest you mount them on stiff black paper and limit the number of pages to 1-2.
• Length: Grades 6-7 2-3 min.; Grades 8-12 4-5 min. Speeches will be timed and points will be deducted for not complying with this time requirement.