Persuasive Speaking
1. Purpose. The purpose of this activity is to train speakers to choose and organize material supporting a central theme in a persuasive speech on a timely subject, and to present these I deas in a direct, communicative, and effective speaking manner.
2. Rules.
a. This contest shall consist of persuasive speeches actually written by the speaker delivering them.
b. The speaker shall use any appropriate, worthwhile, and relevant subject matter which can be developed in the time allotted.
c. Maximum time limit will be ten minutes.
d. Not more than one-hundred fifty words of speech shall be direct quotations from any other speech or writing, and such quotations shall be indicated in the manuscript.
e. Extensive paraphrasing of any source is prohibited.
f. The judge may request a copy of the manuscript at the conclusion of the speech.
g. The speech may be presented from manuscript* in an extemporaneous style.
h. The contestant may or may not use the lectern.
i. Visual aids will not be allowed.
*Notecards will not be acceptable.
3. Judging Standards.
a. Since these speeches have been written by the contestant delivering them, the judge shall consider thought, composition, and delivery.
b. The speaker shall not be expected to solve any of the great problems of the day, rather be expected to discuss intelligently and with a degree of originality, in an interesting manner, and with some profit to his audience, the topic chosen.
c. The speaker may be given wide latitude in the ideas he expressed but held closely a ccountable for the manner in which they are expressed.
d. Material shall be organized according to some logical plan to produce a unified and coherent speech.
e. The composition shall be considered carefully for its persuasiveness, eloquence, and diction.
f. The composition shall reveal a discriminating choice of words and shall be especially adapted to oral presentation.
g. Delivery shall be judged for mastery of the usual mechanics of speech and communicativeness.
h. The speech should be observed for qualities of directness and sincerity.
i. The best delivery technique retains the directness and simplicity of good conversation employing the necessary energy to reach all listeners.
j. The final test of this event is the ability of the speaker to make the audience forget that this is a contest.
4. Disqualification Criteria.
a. Extensive paraphrasing.
b. Having more than 150 quoted words.
c. Obviously not having an original script.
d. Not providing a manuscript at the request of the judge, at the conclusion of the speech.
e. Use of visual aids.
f. Use of notecards.
5. Lowering Rank Criteria.
a. Overtime (exceeding 30 seconds).