Rules:

1. Open to High School Juniors and Seniors in that grade as of Feb. 1, 2007 are eligible to compete. In case of advanced students, non-traditional students or home-schooled students, the school must recognize the student as a Junior or Senior or the year the student will enter college will be used to determine eligibility.

2. Contestants are to research, write and present an original pro-life speech on abortion, infanticide, euthanasia or bio-ethics (stem cell research and/or cloning.)The speech should address one of these topics directly using other topics only as support.

3. The speech is to be 5 to 7 minutes in length. A contestant will be disqualified if the speech is timed to be under 4 minutes or over 8 minutes in length.

4. Appropriate gestures are allowed. Props are not allowed.

5. The contestant should use up to date, factual information.

6. The style should be appropriate to the message of the speech. A dramatic presentation is not acceptable. A dramatic presentation is considered anything that is read or performed that has been previously written by another author; a short story, a poem, etc. Although quotes to support a position or statement are appropriate, they may not dominate the speech and should be appropriately cited. Dramatic presentations are also defined, for the purposes of this contest, to include acting as a thing or another person, such as acting out the life of an unborn baby. This rule is not to be interpreted to rule out the use of emotion.

7. No copyrighted speeches shall be used in the contest.

8. Contestants may use notes.

9. The use of a podium is optional.

10. The use of microphones will not be allowed.

11. The contestant is scored in four areas: introduction, content, presentation and conclusion.

12. Competition is held through submission of VHS videotaped presentation mailed to Nebraska Right to Life High School Oratory Contest, P.O. Box 80410, Lincoln, Ne. 68501. DEADLINE FOR VHS POSTMARKED ENTRY: MAY 1, 2007.

A typed, double-spaced copy of your speech must also accompany the videotape. State your name, grade, school and hometown at the beginning of your videotape.

13. An independent panel of speech-related and pro-life judges selected by Nebraska Right to Life will judge the videotaped submissions and select the State winner. State winner must agree to compete in National Right to Life Teen Oratory Contest on June 16, 2007 in Kansas City. Nebraska Right to Life will provide a $500.00 prize to State winner to use for expenses to National. Nebraska Right to Life will also pay for State winner’s registration to the Teens for Life Convention. State winner’s parent(s)/guardian must accompany contestant and make own travel and hotel arrangements. State winner will be notified no later than May 12, 2007. Competitors who did not win will also be notified by then.

ANY QUESTIONS? CALL NEBRASKA RIGHT TO LIFE AT 402-438-4802.