|
Missouri Right to Life Oratory Contest - 2008
Pro-life students from Missouri can participate in the annual Missouri Right to Life Oratory Contest.
For information in your area, click on the Missouri Region in which you reside.
Eligible high school students must write an original speech on abortion, infanticide, euthanasia or stem cell research that is five to seven minutes in length. Students are encouraged to use up-to-date factual information in the construction of their speeches. The competition and prizes will begin at regional levels and the winners from each region will then move up to the Missouri Right to Life State Oratory Contest, which will be held on Saturday, April 12 in Jefferson City.
The winner of the Missouri Right to Life State Oratory Contest will receive a scholarship prize, a beautiful plaque and will go on to compete at the National Right to Life Contest, which will be held in Arlington, Virginia, on July 5th, 2008
We encourage all pro-life students to get involved in the oratory contest. This is a great opportunity to hone speaking skills, meet other pro-life students, speak out on issues vitally important to our country and compete for scholarship money for college.
Students interested should call the Missouri Right to Life Office at 573-635-5110,
Judy Ferguson at 636-887-0112.
Coordinators and information are listed below.
Eastern
Region: St. Louis & surrounding area
Judy Ferguson
1708 Koala Dr.
Wentzville, Mo. 63385
636-887-0112
momferg@charter.net
Mid-state Region: Jefferson City area
Bonnie Diefendorf
33320 Bluhm Rd.
Smithton, Mo. 65350-3412
(H) 660-343-5773
Northeast Region: Hannibal area
Geri Graves
4156 Woodridge Dr.
Hannibal, Mo. 63401-6248
573-221-3410
hgraves@warpdriveonline.com
Southwest Region: Springfield area
Carl Schimek
606 Hightower Ave.
Nixa, Mo. 65714
417-725-9444
Western Region: Kansas City area
Nancy Sanders
6006 N.W. 101st Terrace
816-468-4491
Click on any region name for additional information.
Missouri Right to Life High School Oratory Contest 2008 Rules
Statement of Purpose
The Missouri Right to Life Oratory Contest strives to promote the ability of high school students to share their pro-life views with others. Although speaking ability is important, this contest also seeks to help teens organize and express their pro-life views. We also strive to give the contestants an opportunity to meet other pro-life teens.
2008 Contest Rules
- High school students in grades 9 through 12 as of February 1 of the year of the state competition are eligible to compete in the Missouri Right to Life Oratory Contest.
- Students who have competed may compete the following year except if the student has won first place in the national contest.
- Contestants are to research, write, and present an original pro-life speech on abortion, infanticide, euthanasia or stem cell research. The speech should address one of these topics directly using other topics only as support.
- The speech is to be 5 – 7 minutes in length. A contestant will be disqualified if the speech is timed to be under 4 minutes or over 8 minutes in length. Judges are instructed to use their judgment regarding under or over time speeches. It is the judges discretion how the 4-5 minute and the 7-8 minute speech will reflect in the score.
- Appropriate gestures are allowed. Props are not allowed.
- Speech content may not be significantly changed as a contestant advances. Fine-tuning for minor corrections or to adjust time is allowed and encouraged. A written copy of the contestant’s speech must be forwarded to the next level of competition.
- The contestant should use up-to-date factual information.
- The style should be appropriate to the message of the speech. A dramatic presentation is not acceptable. A dramatic presentation is considered anything that is read or performed that has been previously written by another author: A short story, a poem, etc. Although quotes to support a position or statement are appropriate, they may not dominate the speech, and should be appropriately cited. Dramatic presentations are also defined, for the purposes of this contest, to include acting as a thing or another person, such as acting out the life of an unborn baby. This rule is not to be interpreted to rule out the use of emotion.
- The judges’ background and qualifications differ, although all are pro-life, the speech should appeal to a broad audience.
- No copyrighted speeches shall be used in the contest.
- The contest maybe videotaped or recorded. The tape will remain the property of Missouri Right to Life.
- Contestants may use a 3x 5 note card, and use of a podium is optional.
- The use of microphones will not be allowed. The Contest Director may make an exception if the contest room creates a necessity for the use of microphones.
- The contest will have 3 judges and a timekeeper.
- Speaking order will be determined before the contest by drawing.
- The judges score the contestants in 4 areas: introduction, content, presentation, and conclusion. Contestants are given a score of 1- 10 (10 being the best) in each area. The scores are added together (40 being perfect). The judges’ scores are added together for the grand total.
- The judges’ decision will be final.
- All efforts are made for accuracy. In the event of a mistake, every effort will be made to correct it.
- Ties will be handled by the Contest Director, along with any concerns or issues.
- These rules apply only to the Missouri Right to Life Contest. No any rules from any national, state or local speech contest or groups apply.
- The decision of the Contest Director concerning the application of these rules or the contest will be final.