Prepared Speaking Event Rules

1. ASC qualifying tournaments are responsible for ensuring that all events rules, guidelines, and time limits are communicated to coaches, judges, and competitors in the tournament invitation and tabroom.
   Original Oratory (OO)
   

   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.

Informative Speaking (INF)
Criteria:

In Informative Speaking (INF), competitors craft 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; the goal is to educate, not to advocate. The speech is delivered from memory.

• Speech should be well researched and organized with evidence, logic, emotional appeals, and humor (where appropriate) to convey a message.
• A visual aid may be used but is not required.
• The speech is to be delivered from memory. Scripts may not be used; use of scripts is against NSDA-event rules adopted by ACTAA per the Qualifying Document.
• No more than 150 Words of the speech may be a direct quotation and such quotations must be identified orally.
• 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.
• All current NSDA manual rules must be followed in the round. All rule violations, with the exception of a time violation, will result in disqualification from the round. Piloted rules will not be applied to the State Tournament.