Give a persuasive speech clearly presenting one side of one of an exciting and topical issue (for or against).
Topic and timing in the 6-8 Years category
Argue for or against the statement “it’s better to live in the countryside than the city” in a speech lasting 2 minutes.
What we reward
- A clear and reasonable stance for or against your issue
- Well chosen points which are clearly explained and supported by relevant evidence
- Language choices which engage the audience and add power to the speech
- Facial expressions and body language which support the successful communication of the words
- A well-thought out structure with a clear beginning, middle and end.
Pick your side! Entrants from previous years should note that we no longer accept a balanced argument presenting both sides of the argument in this category. Those of you who debate can think of this as being like a really good standalone First Proposition / Opening Government speech. Balance is still very important to us, though, and you can be rewarded for this skill in our Speaking to Inform and News Report categories.
Enter as an individual
Individuals can enter Presenting an Argument (6-8 Years) in one of the events below. A session given as 0800 UTC / 0900 BST starts at 0800 Coordinated Universal Time (formerly known as ‘Greenwich Mean Time’) and 0900 British Summer Time.
- Events with a red border take place in the afternoon/evening in Asia and Australasia, and in the morning in Europe and Africa
- Events with a blue border take place in the afternoon/evening in Europe and Africa, and in the morning or early afternoon in the Americas
- If you’re confused about timings and time zones, you can read more about festival scheduling.
Saturday 11 May at 0800 UTC / 0900 BST
Sunday 12 May at 1600 UTC / 1700 BST
Wednesday 15 May at 0900 UTC / 1000 BST
You will be asked to provide more information about the entrant (name, date of birth, any special educational needs or disabilities) before you check out.
Once you’ve entered, you can start getting ready for your session. You can use our handy tips to prepare for the Festival. Or why not book one of our 1-to-1 or small group practice sessions?
Enter a group
In previous years, we’ve had everything from a small club of 6 students, to institutions with over 150 entries, maximising participation in oratory from across their school. This year, if you like, we can also try to pair you with another group from a different country.
In any one session, you can enter both different age groups and any mix of categories across either Poetry/Prose/Acting or Public Speaking/News. Sessions longer than an hour can be broken up so each student doesn’t have to be on the Zoom call for too long.
Age ranges and rules
- All entries are subject to our friendly and encouraging rules.
- Entrants must be within the age bands on the first day of the festival. For example, to qualify as “6-8 Years Old”, you must have your 6th birthday on or before 9 May 2024, and your 9th birthday must be after 9 May 2024.
Book an online coaching session
Would you like to book a Zoom coaching session for some extra help preparing for the Festival? One of our fun and engaging expert coaches will help you practise for your category in 1-on-1 Zoom sessions, or with up to three of your friends. You’ll build your skills, and gain confidence for your Festival performance.
- Coaching costs £25 per 30 minute session, or
£25 per session£20 per 30 minute session: Get £5 off every half hour coaching session if you purchase them at the same time as entering any of our Oratory Festival categories! (Discounts will be applied at the checkout, you can book as many coaching sessions as you like).
Any questions?
If you’ve any questions about entering this category, or anything else to do with the International Oratory Festival, you can contact us at entries@oratoryfestival.com, or by using the form below.