ORIGINAL ORATORYORIGINAL ORATORY

“If you would persuade, you must appeal to interest rather than

intellect.”Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

What is Original Oratory?What is Original Oratory?• An oratory is a persuasive speech on a An oratory is a persuasive speech on a

timely subject that is inspirational, timely subject that is inspirational, controversial, or philosophical.controversial, or philosophical.

• The speaker attempts to CONVINCE the The speaker attempts to CONVINCE the audience to accept and idea.audience to accept and idea.

• A GOOD oratory will catch and keep the A GOOD oratory will catch and keep the audience’s attentionaudience’s attention

• Must be Factually basedMust be Factually based• The speaker may: The speaker may:

– Make the audience aware of a problemMake the audience aware of a problem– Offer a solution (although not mandatory)Offer a solution (although not mandatory)

RequirementsRequirements

• All work must be your ownAll work must be your own

• Must prepare your script in advancedMust prepare your script in advanced

• No more than 150 quoted wordsNo more than 150 quoted words

• Must be 5 – 10 minutes long.Must be 5 – 10 minutes long.

• Must be memorized – NO NOTES Must be memorized – NO NOTES

• In competition, no In competition, no props/costumes/visual aidsprops/costumes/visual aids

Writing the SpeechWriting the Speech

• Choosing your topic Choosing your topic – ““current, but not overdone” current, but not overdone” – Avoid topics too deeply embedded in Avoid topics too deeply embedded in

personal beliefs personal beliefs – One that interests you, but has a chance One that interests you, but has a chance

to actually be “heard” by the judgesto actually be “heard” by the judges– Use news sources like 60 minutes and Use news sources like 60 minutes and

other news reports to brain storm topicsother news reports to brain storm topics

Writing the SpeechWriting the Speech

• Gather InformationGather Information– Magazines, books, internet, newspaper, Magazines, books, internet, newspaper,

etcetc– Make sure to TAKE NOTES Make sure to TAKE NOTES – Keep a Works Cited pageKeep a Works Cited page

Writing the SpeechWriting the Speech

• Formulate a Thesis / Main PointFormulate a Thesis / Main Point

• Try for interesting Factual supportTry for interesting Factual support

• Create an “audience catching” Create an “audience catching” introduction and conclusionintroduction and conclusion– Quotations, stories, anecdotes, illustrations, Quotations, stories, anecdotes, illustrations,

personal experiences, startling statementspersonal experiences, startling statements

• Write your manuscriptWrite your manuscript– Use complex, yet carefully thought-out Use complex, yet carefully thought-out

sentences with advanced vocab & emotion sentences with advanced vocab & emotion appealappeal

The SpeechThe Speech

• See hand out – writing a persuasive See hand out – writing a persuasive speechspeech