Great Speeches is an event in which the contestant speaks
about either a single speech OR an anthology of speeches (not to exceed three)
related by common author, theme, or other element.
Each speech (public address) must have been actually
delivered before the author's intended original audience. (For example,
"Sermon on the Mount" is Biblical Prose; "Antony's Funeral
Oration" is Shakespearean Drama.).
Rules – Writing:
The
contestant's analysis should convey the delight, edification, and
challenge of contemporary or historical public address Information about
each author/speaker, subject, original audience, and occasion must be
included in an introduction.
During
the presentation, the contestant must also justify the selection for
presentation to the contestant's immediate audience.
The
justification need not be an explicit statement, but may include such
subjects as the historical or potential importance, language style,
rhetorical technique and audience appeal.
The
student may, but is not required to, use a rhetorical model.
Comments
about textual accuracy and ghostwriting style may be included where
appropriate.
All
materials quoted, paraphrased, or summarized from other sources must be
documented both orally and in the written text.
A
minimum of 25% of the presentation must be the contestant's own material.
How
portions of the original speech text are incorporated into the
participant's presentation shall be at the discretion of the participant.
Statements,
analysis and exposition may be either interspersed throughout the
presentation or contained in only one or a few portions of the
presentation.
For
purposes of documentation, the speech must have been published.
Recorded
speeches may be used only if they have also been published in print
(Published means the speech has an ISBN # or Library of Congress #).
A copy
of the script must be filed with the Contest Manager before each contest.
Updated
copies of the script must be submitted at Subsection, Section, and State
levels.
At the
State Contest, the student must submit a copy of the script to the Room
Manager in the first round.
Rules – Performance:
The
general effectiveness of the student's interaction with the audience to
share the greatness of the speech.
The
participant's judgment in choosing and editing the material, sensitivity
to author's ideas and purpose, and, especially, the speaker's analysis of
historical potential, and/or rhetorical import of the speech.
Since
this is not a prose interpretation event, posturing, impersonation, and
imitation are to be avoided.
The
use of a script is optional, provided it is not used as a prop.
THE
MAXIMUM TIME OF THE PRESENTATION SHALL NOT EXCEED EIGHT (8) MINUTES.