Creed Contest Guidelines

Oklahoma TSA Creed Competition

Purpose

The purpose of the Creed contest is to provide a means for first-year TSA members to demonstrate their ability to write and recite the TSA Creed.

Guidelines

A. Eligibility For Entry

1. Entries are limited to three per chapter.

2. Eligibility for oral competition is dependent upon writing the creed, including the
title, with 100 percent accuracy, including correct punctuation, no word omissions,
and correct spelling.

B. Time Limitations

1. Written portion--Students will be allowed 15 minutes to complete the written
portion.

2. Oral portion--While this is not a "timed" event, each contestant will be given
adequate time to recite the creed.

C. Specific Regulations

1. To qualify for the oral portion, students must first complete the written portion. They will be given 15 minutes to write the creed. No written material or notes may be taken into the contest area. The judges will divide the papers and check for wrong words, omissions, and misspellings. All contestants with perfect papers will go on to the oral semifinals, provided the number is less than 22. If there are more than 21, the three judges will each rate the contestants’ neatness on the following scale: poor, 3 points; fair, 5 points; good, 7 points; excellent 10 points. The judges will total these, and the top 21 will go on to the semifinals. Names of semifinalists will be posted.

2. The contest coordinator will introduce the contestant by entry number only. The contestant may begin by saying, "The Technology Student Association Creed..."

3. No written material or notes may be used.

D. Procedure

1. Registration--Contest participants must register for the event in accordance with procedures established in this booklet.

2. Contest participants should assemble in the general area of the contest prior to the time designated for the contest.

E. CRITERIA FOR JUDGING

1. Each judge will complete, without consultation, a rating sheet for each entry. The rating sheet points for oral competition will be assigned based on the following:

a. 1st paragraph -- number of words missed

b. 2nd paragraph -- number of words missed

c. 3rd paragraph -- number of words missed

d. 4th paragraph -- number of words missed

e. 5th paragraph -- number of words missed

f. 6th paragraph -- number of words missed

g. Clarity and enunciation -- 7 points

h. Projection and Force -- 10 points

i. Poise (confidence, body control, posture) -- 5 points

j. Personal Appearance, Grooming -- 10 points

Appropriate Attire

2. Scoring: For the six paragraphs, there are 168 points -- one point for each word. Should a contestant fail to say the word, he or she will lose a point. There well be 32 points for clarity, projection, and force of speech. Total possible score will be 200 points.

3. The contestant may say a word wrong or may use a different word, but will be penalized for it.

4. Contestants saying a paragraph out of order will be notified at the end of the paragraph so that if they realize the mistake, they can go back and correct it with the loss of only 10 points.

5. Points awarded will be totaled and the rating sheets given to the contest coordinator.

6. The contest coordinator will add the total points of each judge’s sheet to ascertain the highest rating for first-, second-, and third-place awards.

7. All judges’ ratings and results are to remain confidential.

8. Stated below is the official version of the Creed to be used for competition.