Original Oratory (often shortened to "OO") is a competitive event in the National Speech and Debate Association, Stoa USA, National Catholic Forensic League, and other high school forensic competitions in which competitors deliver an original, factual speech on a subject of their choosing.
An orator is given free choice of subject and judged solely on the effectiveness of development and presentation.
Oratory topics are usually related to current problems in the world, and are delivered in a persuasive way as to motivate the audience to make a choice.
Some speeches may alert the audience of an imminent threat or inspire them to act now to initiate change.
In some states and leagues, alumni are not allowed to judge the school from which they graduated for up to four years to prevent biased judgement on one's former teammates.