VHSL 5A Speech
2025 — Chesapeake, VA/US
Original Oratory
Event Description:
Purpose of Contest: The purpose of the original oratory contest is to train and encourage students to present speechesintelligently and truthfully, in an interesting and original manner, direct and conversational in delivery, clear in arrangementand presentation, and with some profit to an audience, on any worthwhile topic suitable for a public speech.
Contest Regulations:
1. Each contestant shall deliver an original speech of his/her own writing not to exceed ten minutes in delivery. Anycontestant who exceeds the established time limit by more than 30 seconds may not rank first or score highest inthe round. Adjudicator will not provide time signals, nor may a student time him/herself. There is no minimum timerequirement. Contestant must present the same speech in each round of a given tournament.
2. A speaker may not use a speech he has delivered in any previous year’s contest. The oration shall contain no morethan 150 words of directly quoted material, nor shall the oration be a paraphrase taken completely from one source.The speaker shall clearly acknowledge the sources of any quotations used.
3. Speeches shall have been thoroughly prepared. During the delivery of his speech, the speaker shall beallowed to use both sides of two note cards each of which may not exceed 4” X 6” in size.
4. Each speaker is to prepare a manuscript of his/her speech for competition. Each speaker shall submit a copy ofhis/her manuscript to the tournament director upon registration.