Monty Python

2021 — Online, OK/US

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Novice Oratory

Event Description:

This is event is a combined oratory event. Students may bring either standard or original oratories.

OO Rules

The original oration is a speech that may be on any subject the student chooses. It must be written by the student, although the teacher may offer suggestions as to organization, content, style, etc., and must be memorized. Use of script is not permissible.

1. No more than 150 words may be quoted directly. Extensive paraphrasing violates the spirit of the event. Plagiarism is defined as claiming, indicating, or implying that the ideas, sentences, or words of another writer are your own. It includes copying the work of another and presenting it as your own, failing to get away from the language of the original text when paraphrasing, failing to identify the source of a quotation or paraphrase, and following the work of another as a guide to ideas and expression that are then presented as your own.

2. The maximum time is not to exceed ten (10) minutes.

3. Original work from previous years' state or nationals may not be repeated by that student.

4. All performances must be void of profanity, vulgarity, nudity, obscenity, and hate speech. Use of these may result in lowered ranking or disqualification by the judges and a protest filed with the tournament director.

5. Verbal prompting from the audience is not allowed.

6. A typed, double-spaced copy of the oration delivered must be available. Quoted words must be highlighted and counted; paraphrases must also be highlighted. At State, a correctly formatted copy of the oratory must be submitted in a sealed envelope at registration.

SO Rules

1. This event is limited to students in grades nine and ten. (MIDDLE SCHOOL NOVICE ENTRIES ARE THE EXCEPTION)

2. For the purpose of this contest, a standard oration is defined as a speech, editorial or essay written by a person other than the speaker and must be memorized. Use of a script is prohibited. Plays, poetry, and fictional monologues are unacceptable.

3. Each participant is to precede his selection by a short introduction in which s/he acquaints the audience with the author, and the reason why this particular material was chosen for delivery, i.e., why it is worth giving.

4. The maximum time including the introduction is not to exceed ten (10) minutes.

5. Verbal prompting from the audience is not allowed.

6. All performances must be void of profanity, vulgarity, nudity, obscenity, and hate speech. Use of these may result in lowered ranking or disqualification by the judges and a protest filed with the tournament director.