Original Spoken Word Poetry
Spoken Word is a powerful fit for students who are expressive, introspective, and unafraid to speak from the heart. Successful performers bring creativity, vulnerability, and a strong sense of purpose to the stage, using their words to connect with an audience and leave a lasting impact.
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Instructions
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Instructions
- Program advisors can visit www.speechanddebate.org and click Member Login in the top right corner of the page. Use your username and password to log in to your account. Once you’ve logged in, click “Account” in the upper right corner, which will take you to your profile page. Please click “Renew School”, in red, from the left menu and follow the prompts at the top of the page to renew your school.
- High school membership is $149, with an option to upgrade to the all-school team Resource Package for an additional $199. Each individual high school student membership is a one-time $20 fee.
- Middle school membership is $75, with an option to upgrade to the all-school team Resource Package for an additional $199. Each individual middle school student membership is a one-time $10 fee.
- To finalize the renewal, follow the prompts on the page to review the following:
Step 1. Confirm information on the school profile page. Once confirmed/updated, click the “Next Step” button.
Step 2. Confirm the coaches listed. Once confirmed/updated, click the “Next Step” button.
Step 3. Create the invoice. The annual dues are automatically selected. You can use the toggle to select other options such as coach memberships, student memberships, insurance, and the Resource Package. The prices for each item are listed on the right side of your screen, and a running total is at the bottom in blue. When done, “Create Invoice and Proceed to Checkout”.
The system allows you to “Pay Now”, with a credit card or you can email the invoice to yourself or print out the pdf.
Need a Visual? Click here to watch our brief tutorial!
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Original Spoken Word Poetry
OSW • High School Supplemental Event • Middle School Main Event
Original Spoken Word Poetry (OSW) is a five-minute event (with a 30-second grace period) where students perform original poetry from memory. The piece must be written by the student and may include no more than 150 words of direct quotation, which must be cited in a printed copy. Poetry should be presented from memory.
Unlike traditional Poetry, Spoken Word is written to be performed aloud. It blends rhythmic flow, vivid imagery, repetition, and wordplay, and may incorporate elements of storytelling, hip hop, or oral tradition. Topics often reflect personal experience or identity and may address themes like race, politics, gender, community, or mental health. The strongest performances evoke emotion, provoke thought, and center the performer’s voice and lived experience.