How do I prepare for Original Oratory?
What makes a good speech topic?
How long does a speech performance last?
Where can I go for on-line help and discussion?
How do I prepare for Original Oratory?
You must write your own material, so your first step is to brainstorm a topic. Treat this as the same writing process your English teachers have taught you, but remember that no teacher is requiring a specific topic of format. Those are fairly open. Consider a topic that drives you passionately. You are not required to speak about yourself and your experiences, but you may.
What makes a good speech topic?
People in the IE community sometimes disagree about what makes a good OO subject. Some prefer style over substance, writing speeches which present many rhetorical flourishes that arouse emotional responses, but never address serious issues. Others prefer the substance of a serious message. Tournaments do not require one over the other, and you can never tell which a judge will prefer.
Work with your coach and everybody else you can think of during the writing process. Follow the same rough draft writing as you would in any class. The best way to improve a speech is to show it to as many critical people as possible.
How long does a speech performance last?
The maximum time is ten minutes with a thirty second grace period. In the early tournaments of the season, judges are lenient on speeches that run over. Later in the season, long speeches can result in low ranks. Tournaments require no minimum, but usually speeches run 8-10 minutes.
Yes.
Where can I go for on-line help and discussion?
Check the resources page on the IE main page. If you find excellent web resources and think the team can benefit from them, send them to Coach Clarkson.