Original Oratory
Oratory is ideal for students who want to share their voice and passion about something meaningful. Topics vary widely; popular topics tend to be value-based, such as encouraging personal growth, or policy-oriented, asking the audience to consider solutions to societal problems. The best orations challenge the audience to think differently or take action.
Successful orators are creative, enthusiastic, and thoughtful communicators. Because oratories are often revised and refined throughout the season, students should choose a topic they’re genuinely excited to explore, continuously research, and present repeatedly. Strong orators are process-driven, personable, and confident in connecting ideas with impact.
Compete
- What to Expect Competing in Original Oratory
- Public Speaking Training Guide
- Original Oratory Textbook
- Original Oratory Practice Tips
- Original Oratory Breakdown 2024 – Esther Oyetunji
- Original Oratory Breakdown 2023 – Esther Oyetunji
- Original Oratory Breakdown 2022 – Esther Oyetunji
- Champion Q+A – Esther Oyetunji
Coach
Judge
Final Round Videos
The skills that I acquired from Oratory are skills most fundamental to the human condition. Oratory allowed me to advocate for what I believed in, in my words. It gave me the ability to tell my story from the stories and experiences of others. I learned the importance of organization, fact checking, word economy, along with innumerable other skills that form the foundation of great writing. Competing in Oratory gave me a unique opportunity to venture into elements of other events. Storytelling, humor, drama, spontaneity, argumentation, and research are all elements that are actively applied in Oratory. It’s an event for anyone and everyone.
Original Oratory
OO • High School Main Event • Middle School Main Event • Also known as Oratory
Original Oratory (OO) is a 10-minute speech event (with a 30-second grace period) in which students deliver a self-written speech designed to persuade an audience on a topic of significance. While the speech may incorporate humor and emotional appeals, it must be grounded in evidence, logic, and clear structure. The speech is delivered from memory and competitors are limited in their use of direct quotations.