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American Legion January 17, 2008 PURPOSE The purpose of the American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest is to develop a better understanding and appreciation of the Constitution of the United States on the part of high school students. Other objectives of the contest include the development of leadership qualities, the ability to think and speak clearly and intelligently, and the preparation for acceptance of the duties and responsibilities, the rights and privileges of American citizenship.
ELIGIBILITY Eligible participants in The American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest shall be citizens of or lawful permanent residents of the United States. All contestants must be bona fide students herein described as any student under the age of twenty (20) on the date of the National Contest who is presently enrolled in a high school or junior high school (public, parochial, military, private or state accredited home school) in which the curriculum of said high school is considered to be of high school level, commencing with grade nine (9) and terminating with grade twelve (12). Students must be enrolled in high school or junior high school during the time of participation at any level of The American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest. Further, to participate in the California contest, students must be residents of the state of California. Students whose parents or guardians are legal residents of another state must participate in that state. HOW TO ENTER There is no application required to enter. Contact Bob Ammann 838-0135 SCHOLARSHIPS The Department of California awards $4,600 annually for Oratorical Scholarships to the six finalists in the Department Finals. Scholarships are as follows:
District contestants competing in the preliminary round who do not advance to the State finals may receive a $100.00 scholarship. In addition to the Department scholarships, a $1,500.00 scholarship is awarded to each first round Department winner who participates in the National Contest. Each first round winner who advances to and participates in the second round, but does not advance to the Final Round will receive an additional $1,500. National scholarships awarded to the three finalist in the Final Round are as follows:
PREPARED ORATION The subject to be used for the Prepared Orations in the Oratorical Contest must be on some phase of the Constitution of the United States which will give emphasis to the attendant duties and obligations of a citizen to our government. The same subject and oration used in the Department Contest must be used in the National Contest. The prepared oration must be the original effort of each contestant and must not take up less than eight minutes or more that ten minutes for delivery. It must be delivered in the English language In the Prepared Oration, as well as in the Assigned Topic discourse, quotations must be indicated as such. Where quotations are more than ten words in length, the author's name must be given in the manuscript and cited orally. ASSIGNED TOPIC The Assigned Topic discourse must not consume less than three (3) minutes or more than five (5) minutes for delivery. The purpose of the Assigned Topic discourse is to test the speaker's knowledge of the subject, the extent of his research, and the ability to discuss the topic as related to the basic principles of government under the Constitution. All Contestants at each contest level are required to speak in the English language on the same Assigned Topic. CONTEST REGULATIONS
ASSIGNED TOPICS FOR YEAR 2008
The Assigned Topic Discourse must not consume less than three (3) minutes or more than five (5) minutes for delivery. The purpose of the Assigned Topic Discourse is to test the speaker's knowledge of the subject, the extent of his or her research, and the ability to discuss the topic as related to the basic principles of government under the Constitution. The Assigned Topic shall be drawn by the contest official in full view of the audience immediately before the last speaker begins delivery of his/her Prepared Oration and will be made known to the audience and each contestant approximately five (5) minutes prior to the time of delivery. The topic will be on some phase of the Constitution of the United States, selected from Articles and Sections as listed under Assigned Topics for the current year's contest. All contestants at each contest level are required to speak in the English language on the same Assigned Topic.
For information: Contact Bob Ammann 838-0135
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