League Policies

1. A. General Rules for All Speeches (see above or ncfca.org/rules/speech-general-rules)

   B. Academic Integrity

   1. Citations. All material presented in the narrative sections must be either the competitors’ original work or include the source(s) for any supporting material. Plagiarism is not permitted.
      1. 1. Verbal mention. Sources must be verbally mentioned.
         2. Works Cited Page. Sources must be included on a Works Cited page in the Format 1 script.
   2. Current Season. Speeches used for competition in a prior season may not be used in any other competition season.
   3. Recited Script. The submitted script must be recited during all competition rounds.
   4. Championships. During the Regional Championship or the National Championship, competitors must perform the same piece that they performed when they earned the invitation to compete at the championship tournament.
   5. Delivery. The vocal and physical delivery must primarily be developed by the competitor, but competitors may choose to present in the style of the original orator(s).

   C. Content, Preparation, and Presentation

   1. One or More Literature Selection. One (1) or more published, non-fictional oration selections must be presented.
      1. Word count. A selection must include at least 50 words.
   2. Cutting the Oration Selection.
      1. No new sentences. Single words from separate sentences may not be strung together to create new sentences. An author’s sentences may not be changed except for:
         1. combining or rearranging phrases from several nearby sentences.
      2. No new words. Competitors may not add words to the author’s text except for:
         1. taking a single word from another part of the author’s text for scene or paragraph transitions or character identification.
         2. repeating an author’s words even when the author does not do so.
         3. pronoun substitution, verb conjugation, or changing word form
      3. No new characters. Reassigning one character’s lines to another existing character from the oration selection is permitted, but creating new characters (including changing the name and/or gender of an existing character) is not permitted.
   3. Narrative Sections.
      1. Word count. Up to 350 words may be added in the narrative sections.
      2. Source and date. The original orator and historical date of each oration selection must be verbally mentioned as part of the narrative section immediately before each oration selection and included in the word count.
      3. Introduction. The introduction is required.
      4. Conclusion. A conclusion may be added and must be the final words presented.
      5. Clear distinction. Clear distinction must be made from the oration selection.
      6. Original dialogue. Original dialogue must not be assigned to an orator.
   4. Teaser. A short teaser from the literature selection may precede the introduction.
   5. Music.
      1. Singing.
         1. Word count. Singing may comprise up to 150 words of the speech.
         2. Source. Only lyrics in the author’s text may be used within the oratory selection. Lyrics from the author’s text or another source may be used in the narrative sections. (Note that Rule B.1.a-b applies.)
      2. Tunes. Any tune (humming, whistling, etc) may be used at any time in the speech and must be verbally mentioned in the introduction. (Note that the Works Cited Rule B.1.b applies.)
   6. Script use. Competitors must announce script use before the speech begins.
      1. Non-championship tournaments. Script use will result in a four-rank penalty.
      2. Championship tournaments. Script use at a Regional or National Championship will result in disqualification from the event.
   7. Script Submission. Every interpretation speech requires two types of scripts: the Format 1 and the Format 2.

   D. Timing

   1. Speech Time. Speech time is limited to ten (10) minutes. Competitors must show their timepiece (set to count up) to the judges before starting their speech and after turning off their timepiece at the end of their speech. The timepiece must be started before beginning the speech and kept running until the conclusion of the speech.
   2. Time Slot. Competitors must present their speech during their prescribed 15-minute slot and are not permitted to infringe on the next competitor’s scheduled time.

   E. Online General Rules (see below or ncfca.org/rules/online-general-rules)

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