HCC Speech Tournament Contest Rules
Eligibility:
- The tournament is open to all current Houston Community College students (full-time and part-time) who maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher.
- Honors College students are eligible to compete; however, they will not be eligible for the tuition scholarship prizes.
Event Location and Check-In:
The Speech Tournament will be held at the Northline Campus. Upon arrival, participants and attendees must check-in at the registration table located in front of the auditorium.
Competition Format:
The tournament will consist of one round. Each participant will deliver their speech before a panel of judges. Participants will need to remain at the tournament until the end for awards and closing announcements.
Speech Topics:
Participants must prepare a persuasive speech on one of the following topics:
- You should/should not illustrate gratitude in a world of perceived entitlement
- Social media detoxes should/should not be a part of self-care routines
- Celebrities should/should not use their status to promote social or political causes
- Couples should/should not live together before marriage
- The drinking age should be lowered/raised
Speech Guidelines
Participants should prepare and deliver a persuasive speech on one of the designated topics listed below. Each participant is expected to research, write, and deliver his/her own speech, adhering to the following guidelines:
Speech Length: Speeches shall be limited to no more than six minutes in length.
Notes: Note cards are allowed for reference, but the speech should not be read verbatim.
Aids: Audio/visual aids are not permitted during the speech presentation.
Source Attribution: Participants should give proper credit to any source from which they derive information, following appropriate citation practices.
Attire: Business professional attire is required.
Podium and Microphone: Participants in the final round will present their speeches from a podium and are expected to use a microphone during the presentation.
General Expectations: All participants are responsible for adhering to the above rules. Failure to follow these guidelines may result in disqualification. We encourage students to showcase originality, professionalism, and effective communication skills during the competition.