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This is THEA's only Speech Contest & only one with Cash Awards!

Winners Recognized & Presented Cash Awards on THEA’s Rally Day at the State Capitol on Tuesday, March 25, 2025

ABOUT THE COMPETITION:

This is a special Apologetics Speech Contest, sponsored by Tennessee Home Education Association, THEA for THEA members with students ages 8-18, held in conjunction with THEA's Homeschool Rally Day at the State Capitol, Tuesday, March 25, 2025.

As in previous years the two divisions of student competitors, Senior Varsity, ages 13 + up, and Junior Varsity, ages 8-12, will participate in this Apologetics Platform Speech Contest with different Apologetics questions to answer in their speeches and with different rules and guidelines specific and appropriate to each age group.

The Junior Varsity Worldview Apologetics Platform Speech Competition for Ages 8-12

The SLH Apologetics Platform Speech Competition deals with issues of the Christian faith. The goal of this Speech is to motivate students to study their Christian faith and be prepared to articulate a defense of what they believe. I Peter 3:15.  Junior Varsity students prepare a 3-minute maximum speech on one of the topics listed below.

The Junior Varsity Contest in Speech and Debate is defined as a Platform Speech Competition, which means it is a speech written and memorized by JV student. Only the 1^st Place winner presents their memorized speech to the homeschoolers gathered for Rally Day.

To compete in this Contest, students ages 8-12 write a 3-minute maximum speech answering one of the six Apologetics questions below. Your speech is first presented to our Judges as a written speech. We encourage you to practice it aloud to make certain it is no longer 3 minutes when presented orally, as the First Place Winner will present their speech as a part of the Rally Day program in the House of Representatives Chamber.

JV Apologetics questions for the 2025 SLH Speech:

Choose one question to answer in your Speech:

1. What does it mean that God is omnipresent? Why is this important?
2. Why did Jesus have to die?
3. Can a person do enough good in their life to get into heaven?
4. What is God’s grace and why is it important?
5. What is the Gospel, and why is it the core of the Christian faith?
6. What is prayer and why is it important? 

 The Senior Varsity Worldview Apologetics Platform Speech Competition for ages 13 - 18

To compete in this Contest, Senior Division students will prepare an 8-minute maximum Platform Apologetics Speech. Learn more about the Platform Apologetics Speech from the Ballots and the Judge’s Worksheet in the attachments.

The questions for the Senior Varsity Platform Apologetics Speech include some of the questions used for Stoa tournaments, our National Speech & Debate League. Those students familiar with the Stoa Apologetics Questions will recognize that these are not all from the same category of questions but are chosen from multiple categories.

**We also want to be certain students are aware that the SV Sara Lee Harris Apologetics Speech is first a Platform (written & memorized, not a Limited Prep) Speech and is also a scaled down version, an 8-minute version of the 10-minute Speech in Stoa tournament competitions.

SV Apologetics questions for the 2025 SLH Speech: 

Choose one question to answer in your Speech:

1. What is the meaning of the sovereignty of God? Why is this important?
2. What does it mean that Jesus Christ is the Messiah? Why is this important?
3. Does God reveal Himself to man? And if so, how?
4. Can morality exist without God?
5. How can a person find purpose in life?
6. If God is omnipotent and holy, how could He allow so much sin and suffering in the world?

Awards:

The Awards schedule for the Sara Lee Harris Worldview Speech Contest is:

Senior Varsity, ages 13 - 18:        

•   1st place-$500
•   2nd place-$200
•   3rd place-$125

Junior Varsity, ages 8-12:          

•   1st place-$100
•   2nd place-$50
•   3rd place-$25

How to Participate in the Sara Lee Harris Apologetics Speech Contest

• Submit Your Speeches Electronically
• Students must e-mail 2 copies of their typed speech to THEA at these e-mail addresses: [email protected] and carbon copied to [email protected]. TYPE: "Sara Lee Harris Speech Contest" in the SUBJECT LINE of your emails, so we don't overlook your speech! If your email does not have "Sara Lee Harris Speech Contest" in the SUBJECT LINE, it will not be entered into this Contest.  The two copies of your speech can be sent as an attachment to your e-mail or typed into the body of your e-mail.
• One copy must have all the student's identification information along with the question they are answering in their speech.
• The 2nd copy can be in or attached and sent to the same two email addresses above but must have NO personal identification on it. This copy will go to the Judges. THANK YOU!!

Your speeches must be submitted to THEA to [email protected] and carbon copied to [email protected] by 5:00 p.m. CST on Monday, February 24, 2025.  We do not require audio copies of your speeches, only e-mailed submissions. Speeches not submitted on time will not be considered. 

Judging Criteria 

The criteria judges will use in evaluating both the Junior and Senior Varsity Sara Lee Harris Apologetics Speeches include an analysis of the content of the Speech and how effectively the question chosen is answered.

The judges will evaluate the Apologetics speeches by whether the speech is logical and well-reasoned. This is not primarily a devotional speech, but a well-reasoned, logical defense of a Biblical position.

Questions Judges will consider about your speech content include:

• Did the student provide a researched defense of Biblical truth appropriate to their age group? 
•  Did the student answer the topic / question selected for their speech?
• Did the student present a captivating introduction?
• Did the student integrate the topic with a clear thesis statement?
• Is there a cohesive body of thought?
• Did the student support assertions with outside evidence?
• Did the student properly cite sources?
• Most importantly, did the student provide a biblical basis for their position?
• Did the student demonstrate a thorough, working knowledge of their topic, of Scripture and other sources?
• Did the student appropriately use analysis and reasoning, presenting a logical, well-reasoned flow of ideas? 

Judges are encouraged to use the Senior Varsity Apologetics Speech Ballot and the Junior Varsity Apologetics Speech Ballot as they evaluate your speeches, though these are not shared with students, but only for our judges. The criteria regarding vocal and physical presentation, vocal pitch, rhythm, pitch, inflection, volume, facial expression, eye contact, pronunciation, energy, professional appearance, etc., obviously CAN NOT be used as judging criteria for either the JV or the SV SLH speeches. These speeches are judged based on their content and how effectively and thoroughly they answer the specific Apologetics questions.  Failure to address the topic or answer your question is, of course, a major flaw in your speech.

Don’t forget that this SLH Senior Varsity Speech is ONLY 8 minutes in length, not 10 minutes, and this SLH Junior Varsity Speech is ONLY 3 minutes in length, not 5 minutes!

Winners will be contacted on Wednesday, March 12, 2025.  Results will be posted to the THEA, www.tnhea.org website on Thursday, March 13, 2025.