RVSDL Holiday Head to Head

2025 — Dardanelle, AR/US

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Original Oratory

Event Description:

Criteria:

In Original Oratory (OO), competitors craft an argument using evidence, logic, and emotional appeals. Topics range widely, and may be informative or persuasive in nature. The speech is delivered from memory.

• The general purpose of the speech is to persuade. Any other purpose such as to inform or entertain shall be secondary.
• Speech should be well researched and organized with evidence, logic, emotional appeals, and sometimes humor to convey a message.
• Scripts may not be used; use of scripts is against NSDA-event rules adopted by ACTAA per the Qualifying Document. The content of the speech should be the original work of the speaker with no more than 150 direct quoted words. Extensive paraphrasing is discouraged.
• Time limit, inclusive of introduction, is 10 minutes with a 30 second grace period (if the performer goes beyond the 30 second grace period, the performer may not be ranked first). There is no time minimum.
• Note: It is the expectation that performances are the artistic creation of the performer(s). If there is suspicion of plagiarism, please be prepared to cite the source that was copied and consult with the tournament director.