Cypress Falls TFA Tournament
2025 — Houston, TX/US
Informative Speaking
Event Description:
Informative Speaking
An informative speech is an original speech designed to explain, define, describe, or illustrate a particular subject. The general purpose of the speech is for the audience to gain understanding and/or knowledge of a topic. Any other purpose such as to entertain or to convince shall be secondary. The use of audio/visual aids is optional.
1. Acceptable Material: This contest comprises only memorized speeches composed by the contestants and not used by them during a previous contest season.
2. Subject Matter: Effective speeches provide new information or perspectives on a topic, including those that are widely known. The responsibility for choosing a worthwhile topic rests with the contestant. A fabricated topic may not be used. Any non-factual reference, including a personal reference, must be so identified. Violations will result in the contestant being ranked down in the round.
3. Direct Quotations: Not more than 150 words of the oration may be a direct quotation from any other speech or writing, and such quotations shall be identified in the written copy of the speech. Extensive paraphrasing of any source is prohibited. Violation shall result in disqualification from the tournament.
4. Written Copy: A written copy of the oration must be available to the tournament director upon request. Violation of this rule will result in disqualification.
5. Documentation Requirements: Each year, specific documentation will be required by the Executive council for entry into the State Tournament. During the online registration process, coaches will be required to provide the oratory title. The competitor’s typed oration is required to be submitted during the registration process.
a. All quoted material must be underlined and/or printed in red. Quoted material may not exceed 150 words.
b. A cover sheet with title, student’s name and signature, coach’s name and signature, and the school name must be completed. The cover sheet can be found online at www.txfa.org.
c. Oratories need to be available for the duration of the tournament.
6. Time Limit: Maximum time shall be ten minutes with a thirty-second grace period. Overtime violators SHALL NOT be ranked first in the round by the judge. Any other penalty is at the discretion of the judge. Judges may consider audience reaction and its impact on official time before enforcing any overtime penalty.
7. Visual Aids: Audio/visual aids may or may not be used to supplement and reinforce the message. If used, the audio/visual aids should enhance or support the message rather than distract from the overall effectiveness of the presentation. During the presentation, no electronic equipment is permitted. Electronic equipment is defined as any object requiring an electrical cord, battery, or solar power to operate it (projectors, cell phones, radios, iPads, computers, etc.). The use of live animals or any additional people as visual aids is not allowed during the speech. Items of dress put on and/or removed for illustration during the course of the presentation are considered costumes and may not be part of the contestant’s presentation. Visual aids may not violate policies as dictated by local and state law (weapons, drugs, etc.) The host school is not responsible for providing facilities, equipment, including tables, chairs, or easels, or assistance in a
contestant’s use of visual aids. Expedient set up and take down of aids is expected. If a visual aid displays published pictorial material, the source must be included in the work-cited page but does not need to be cited orally.
8. Prior Topics: No student may use the same speech at a tournament in more than one event, but may change events with the speech during a tournament season. No student can use the same speech in more than one tournament year. Violation will result in disqualification. In addition, a student may not qualify for nor compete with the same speech at the state meet. The same speech shall be defined as a speech that has a significant repetition of sources, structure, ideas, and arguments.