DUDL Original Oratory

In this event, competitors have written original pieces. Although many orations deal with a current
problem and propose a solution, the judge is expressly reminded that 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. The orator should be given free choice of subject and judged
solely on the effectiveness of its development and presentation. The composition should be considered
carefully for its rhetoric and diction.
The use of appropriate figures of speech, similes and metaphors,
balanced sentences, allusions, and other rhetorical devices to make the oration more effective should be
noted especially. Delivery should be judged for mastery of the usual mechanics of speech -- poise,
quality and use of voice, bodily expressiveness, and for the qualities of directness and sincerity which
impress the oration upon the minds of the audience. An orator should not be penalized for a few seconds
overtime. No particular style of delivery is to be set up as the one correct style to which all contestants
must conform. Rather, each contestant is to be judged upon the effectiveness of their delivery, free to
choose or develop whatever style will best give them that effectiveness with their particular oration.
The time limit in this Original Oratory competition is 10 minutes with a 30 second “grace period”.
Speakers should be encouraged to speak for at least 3 minutes. If the judges in the round agree that the
student has gone beyond the “grace period”, the student may not be ranked 1st, but need not be ranked
last based on time. The ranking is up to each individual judge’s discretion. Speaker points are ranked out
of 100, with the typical range being 70-100.
If you have any questions/concerns, or the rules are
questioned during the round, please stop the competition and consult a tournament official.
Judges consider thought, composition, creativity, and delivery, The orator should not be expected to
solve any of the great problems of the day. Rather, they should be expected to discuss intelligently, with a degree of originality, in an interesting manner, and with some profit to their audience the topic they have chosen. Any appropriate subject may be chosen but the orator must be truthful. Any non-factual reference, especially a personal one, MUST be so identified.
problem and propose a solution, the judge is expressly reminded that 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. The orator should be given free choice of subject and judged
solely on the effectiveness of its development and presentation. The composition should be considered
carefully for its rhetoric and diction.
The use of appropriate figures of speech, similes and metaphors,
balanced sentences, allusions, and other rhetorical devices to make the oration more effective should be
noted especially. Delivery should be judged for mastery of the usual mechanics of speech -- poise,
quality and use of voice, bodily expressiveness, and for the qualities of directness and sincerity which
impress the oration upon the minds of the audience. An orator should not be penalized for a few seconds
overtime. No particular style of delivery is to be set up as the one correct style to which all contestants
must conform. Rather, each contestant is to be judged upon the effectiveness of their delivery, free to
choose or develop whatever style will best give them that effectiveness with their particular oration.
The time limit in this Original Oratory competition is 10 minutes with a 30 second “grace period”.
Speakers should be encouraged to speak for at least 3 minutes. If the judges in the round agree that the
student has gone beyond the “grace period”, the student may not be ranked 1st, but need not be ranked
last based on time. The ranking is up to each individual judge’s discretion. Speaker points are ranked out
of 100, with the typical range being 70-100.
If you have any questions/concerns, or the rules are
questioned during the round, please stop the competition and consult a tournament official.
Judges consider thought, composition, creativity, and delivery, The orator should not be expected to
solve any of the great problems of the day. Rather, they should be expected to discuss intelligently, with a degree of originality, in an interesting manner, and with some profit to their audience the topic they have chosen. Any appropriate subject may be chosen but the orator must be truthful. Any non-factual reference, especially a personal one, MUST be so identified.
- NOTE: DUDL encourages students to write speeches that are persuasive in nature, This should not be improvised. Students who are taking the time to write (in advance) interesting speeches which express an opinion on relevant issues are rewarded. DUDL is supportive of the use of poetry as a narrative device.