| Speech and Debate |
| Rotary 4-Way Test Speech Handout |
| Rotary 4-Way Test Speech
Due Date: Monday, January 8, 2007 Background Information: From the earliest days of the organization, Rotarians were concerned with promoting high ethical standards in their professional lives. One of the world's most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics is The Four-Way Test, which was created in 1932 by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor (who later served as RI president) when he was asked to take charge of a company that was facing bankruptcy. This 24-word test for employees to follow in their business and professional lives became the guide for sales, production, advertising, and all relations with dealers and customers, and the survival of the company is credited to this simple philosophy. Adopted by Rotary in 1943, The Four-Way Test has been translated into more than a hundred languages and published in thousands of ways. It asks the following four questions: "Of the things we think, say or do: 1. Is it the TRUTH? 2. Is it FAIR to all concerned? 3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? 4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?" Length of Speech: The speech should be not less than five minutes nor more than seven minutes in length. Penalty points will be assessed if the speech length is outside these limits. Content: The speech given by each contestant must be original in content and must show clearly the practical application of the Rotary Four Way Test to the subject of the speech and the lives of the age-group of the contestant when applicable. The topic for the speech is to be the student�s choice. However, the speech must show clearly the practical application of all four points of the Rotary Four-Way Test. Student who do not follow this guideline should not advance beyond the high school competition and cannot compete on the Regional or District levels. These are to be speeches and not dramatic presentations. Although enthusiasm, good eye contact, and movement are encouraged, the student should not go to extremes. Content should be relevant and in good taste. Topics should be interesting and relevant to the speakers� interests or experiences. The speech must be made without the use of notes. Props: No props are to be used. Audience participation will be considered a prop. To see an example speech, go to www.geocities.com/lrn4fn/speech If you have questions over break, please call me at (740) 369-9965. To email a draft to me for review, please send it as a Word document attached to an email to [email protected] |