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Modern Oratory

Modern Oratory

In Modern Oratory, the sixth, seventh and eighth grade contestants will select one of the topics, determine the critical issues in the topic, and acknowledge both pro and con points citing support discovered in their research. Students will choose a side they will defend and support that side with additional evidence. Along with the skills of analysis, research, note-taking, documentation, evaluation and decision-making come those of delivery and the skill of memorization.

2015-2016 Modern Oratory Topics

Contestants must select one of the following topics for developing the oration.

  1. Should the President of the United States be elected by popular vote?
  2. Will wearable technology make Americans healthier?
  3. Should parents be allowed to opt out of state-mandated standardized testing for their children?
  4. Can governments do more to combat the global problem of overfishing?
  5. Should police officers be required to wear body cameras?

Students will deliver a three to six minute speech without the use of notes on their topic. In the process of preparing for the contest, the student will need to:

  1. define the problem;
  2. determine the pro and con issues;
  3. research the issue;
  4. look at both sides of an issue;
  5. reach a conclusion; and
  6. support that conclusion with documentation.

To achieve and maintain the educational goals of the contest activity, the teacher and/or parent may guide the development of the research and writing of the speech, but shall not be permitted to write the speech for the student.