Laurel Balcom is a senior at Jackson High School, a 4-year member of the speech and debate team in Informative Speaking, and the Director of Oration for Speech Resources.
Original Oratory (OO) allows students to express their ideas, persuade an audience, and explore topics they are passionate about. Unlike interpretation events, where speeches are performed from pre-written works, Original Oratory is entirely self-written, giving competitors complete freedom to choose their topic, structure their arguments, and develop a unique voice.
The main goal of OO is to persuade and/or inspire the audience on a particular issue. This could be a social cause, a current event, a personal experience, or a philosophical idea. A successful oratory is built around a clear thesis, supported by evidence, reasoning, and emotional appeals, and delivered in a way that is engaging, authentic, and memorable. Competitors are judged not only on the content of their speech but also on delivery, organization, and the ability to connect with the audience.
Most Original Oratory speeches follow the following structure:
1. Introduction – Captures audience's attention, introduces the topic, and establishes your thesis/primary point.
2. Body – Supporting evidence/story to support said primary point
3. Conclusion – Reiterates the thesis, emphasizes key takeaways, and leaves the audience with a lasting impression.
Crafting an OO speech requires critical thinking, acting, and careful writing. Competitors must use their own personal experiences and connect them to real world issues through statistics and data to support a particular issue/topic. The speech should flow naturally, with strong transitions and clear connections between ideas, so that it feels both polished and authentic.
Original Oratory challenges students to combine creativity with persuasion. Because the speech is entirely your own, it allows you to develop a personal style, experiment with storytelling, and showcase your personality. Strong OO speeches often balance logical reasoning with emotional resonance, giving judges a reason to care about the topic while also being convinced by the argument.
Original Oratory not only strengthens public speaking skills, but also encourages independent thinking, research skills, and self-expression. By writing, refining, and delivering a speech entirely of your own creation, you learn how to persuade, inspire, and leave a lasting impact; skills that extend far beyond the competition setting.
Here is the winning Original Oratory speech from the 2025 National Speech and Debate Tournament.