Luck of the Irish Invitational
2025 — Online, MI/US
Original Oratory
Event Description:
An oration is an original, persuasive speech. The oration may eulogize a person, alert the audience to a threatening danger, strengthen the devotion of the audience to an accepted cause, or present a solution to a problem.
Each orator chooses an original topic and prepares the speech before the contest. At each tournament, the contestant must certify, prior to the start of the tournament, that the oration is the original work of the contestant. Written certification of the originality of the speech must be given to the tournament director prior to the start of the contest.
The manuscript or outline must include directly quoted material and/or paraphrased material, which is used in the speech. Plagiarism, the failure to provide accurate credit to the author(s) of directly quoted material or paraphrased material, is a serious offense and is a basis for disqualification.
The speaker may wish to incorporate the use of visual aids, audiovisual projections, or demonstrations. A demonstration is defined as the actual operation of a piece of equipment, an object, a device, or a process. Visual/audio aids should supplement the presentation and should not be the major focus of the speech. The use of visual aids, audiovisual projections, or demonstrations should not interfere wit the speaker’s communicative contact with the audience. Set-up time is limited to two minutes. No visuals are allowed in oratory for middle school tournaments.
The suggested time limit for senior high oratory is seven to ten minutes. For middle school competition, the suggested time is four to seven minutes. Presentations that do not conform to the suggested time parameters may be penalized at the discretion of the judge. Penalties are not mandatory for timing irregularities.
BASIS OF DECISION
Concept of Oratory: The topic should be suitable for the audience, yet reflect originality. A good oration is developed through organization, amplification, clarity, and interest. Supporting material should be presented in a logical manner designed to maintain a high level of interest for the listener.
Action and Platform Conduct: The orator should exhibit personality, maintain direct eye contact with the audience, show physical poise, and demonstrate freedom in posture, movement, and gesture. Prompting from the audience is disallowed and could be the basis for disqualification.
Oral Presentation: The delivery of the speech should be enthusiastic, direct, sincere, and communicative. The speaker’s delivery should be free from marked defects in the mechanics of speech – quality and use of voice, enunciation, and fluency – and should be effective in enlisting and holding the interest of the audience.
The orator may deliver the speech from a manuscript, memory, an outline, or any combination thereof.