• Overview
  • Rules and Regulation
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Competitors present a memorized original oration within a seven (7) minute period. The oration must relate back to the theme, but also be applicable to a general audience.
Procedures:

​1. The competitor must provide three (3) hard copies of his/her script to be turned in during the competition orientation. MIST will not photocopy any scripts. Competitors must come prepared with their copies. The competitor must compete with the script that is submitted.
a. Scripts must be labeled with the MIST ID ONLY. The competitor name must not appear anywhere on the work.
  1. The oration must be truthful. Any non-factual reference, especially a personal one, must be identified as such.
  2. The oration may not contain more than 150 words of quoted material. Extensive paraphrasing from other sources is prohibited. Competitors caught plagiarizing or extensively paraphrasing will be disqualified.
  3. No visual aids may be used in the delivery of the oration.
  4. A competitor holding a manuscript or notes will be ranked last.
  5. Time limit will be seven (7) minutes maximum with a thirty (30)-second grace period. Violation of this rule will result in the competitor being ranked last in the round when visible time signals have been given by the judge or by the authorized timekeeper.
  6. Electronic device usage is not permitted during the competition.
Competition Logistics:
  1. This competition will be conducted in-person.
  2. MIST ID and order of competition will be pre-assigned on a random selection basis.
  3. All competitors will report to the competition room at the same time, which will be designated in the competition schedule.
  4. The presentation will be judged according to the Original Oratory Detailed Ballot.