Original Oratory
TFA Rules for Original Oratory:
Oratory is an activity in which the student writes, memorizes, and then delivers a persuasive speech arising from his/her personal feelings, convictions, or a source of irritation about some problem. Topics for the original oration may be selected by the student and with the aid of the coach or teacher, but the oration itself must be the product of the contestant alone and not his/her coach or teacher.
Although many orations deal with a current problem and propose a solution, this is not the only acceptable form of oratory. The oration may simply alert the audience to a threatening danger, strengthen its devotion to an accepted cause, or eulogize a person. Visual aids are not permitted in this contest.
TFA, understanding that final judgment must remain with the individual judge concerning effect on ranking, suggests that coaches encourage their students to avoid speeches that, may be offensive because of language or subject matter.
1. The contestant may not use an oration which s/he used in any TFA contest prior to the current school year. The same oration shall be used for the duration of the tournament. Violation of this rule shall result in disqualification from the tournament.
2. Any appropriate subject may be used, but the orator must be truthful. Any nonfactual reference, especially a personal one, must be so identified. Violation shall result in ranking down in the round in which the violation occurred.
3. Not more than 150 words of the oration may be direct quotation from any other speech or writing, and such quotations shall be identified in the written copy of the speech. Extensive paraphrasing of any source is prohibited. Violation shall result in disqualification from the tournament.
4. A written copy of the oration must be available to the tournament director upon request. Violation of this rule will result in disqualification.
5. Each year, specific documentation will be required by the Executive Council for entry into the State Tournament. During the online registration process, coaches will be required to provide the oratory title. The competitor’s typed oration is required to be submitted at registration.
a. All quoted material must be underlined and/or printed in red. Quoted material may not exceed 150 words.
b. A cover sheet with title, student’s name and signature, coach’s name and signature and the school name must be completed. The cover sheet form can be found online at www.txfa.org
c. Oration needs to be placed in a manila envelope with the cover sheet form stapled to the outside of the envelope.
6. Time limit shall be ten minutes maximum with a thirty-second grace period. Violation shall result in being ranked last in the round by the tab room when visible time signals have been given by the judge or by the authorized timekeepers. Without adding text to the previously performed selection and only considering audience response, the contestant shall not be penalized for exceeding the time limit in all qualifying and state tournament elimination and final rounds.
7. The oration shall be memorized and presented without the use of notes, visual aids or costume. Violation shall result being ranked last in the round.
Oratory is an activity in which the student writes, memorizes, and then delivers a persuasive speech arising from his/her personal feelings, convictions, or a source of irritation about some problem. Topics for the original oration may be selected by the student and with the aid of the coach or teacher, but the oration itself must be the product of the contestant alone and not his/her coach or teacher.
Although many orations deal with a current problem and propose a solution, this is not the only acceptable form of oratory. The oration may simply alert the audience to a threatening danger, strengthen its devotion to an accepted cause, or eulogize a person. Visual aids are not permitted in this contest.
TFA, understanding that final judgment must remain with the individual judge concerning effect on ranking, suggests that coaches encourage their students to avoid speeches that, may be offensive because of language or subject matter.
1. The contestant may not use an oration which s/he used in any TFA contest prior to the current school year. The same oration shall be used for the duration of the tournament. Violation of this rule shall result in disqualification from the tournament.
2. Any appropriate subject may be used, but the orator must be truthful. Any nonfactual reference, especially a personal one, must be so identified. Violation shall result in ranking down in the round in which the violation occurred.
3. Not more than 150 words of the oration may be direct quotation from any other speech or writing, and such quotations shall be identified in the written copy of the speech. Extensive paraphrasing of any source is prohibited. Violation shall result in disqualification from the tournament.
4. A written copy of the oration must be available to the tournament director upon request. Violation of this rule will result in disqualification.
5. Each year, specific documentation will be required by the Executive Council for entry into the State Tournament. During the online registration process, coaches will be required to provide the oratory title. The competitor’s typed oration is required to be submitted at registration.
a. All quoted material must be underlined and/or printed in red. Quoted material may not exceed 150 words.
b. A cover sheet with title, student’s name and signature, coach’s name and signature and the school name must be completed. The cover sheet form can be found online at www.txfa.org
c. Oration needs to be placed in a manila envelope with the cover sheet form stapled to the outside of the envelope.
6. Time limit shall be ten minutes maximum with a thirty-second grace period. Violation shall result in being ranked last in the round by the tab room when visible time signals have been given by the judge or by the authorized timekeepers. Without adding text to the previously performed selection and only considering audience response, the contestant shall not be penalized for exceeding the time limit in all qualifying and state tournament elimination and final rounds.
7. The oration shall be memorized and presented without the use of notes, visual aids or costume. Violation shall result being ranked last in the round.
