Past Winning Declamation Pieces

PAST STATE WINNING TITLES

(Results were taken from Illinois’ State Finals since the 2000-2001 season.  As these are State winners, and not necessarily Nationals winners, these pieces have proven to be of quality while not being as widely known as a Nationals title.  If the resource could be found, then a link has been provided.  Do note, because the author was not given with the published results, the resource provided has a slight chance of not being the exact piece used.  Extreme care was taken to provide as accurate information as was possible.  Also, duplicate listings of winning titles were omitted.)

2000-2001

At the Old Ballgame 

What's Wrong With Black English? by Rachel L. Jones - http://www.directessays.com/viewpaper/64717.html

Still Here

Living With The Look by Robert Hughes - http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-19703492.html

A Better Looking Dog

A Reel Doctor's Advice to Some Real Doctors from The Art of Public Speaking by Stephen E. Lucas - http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Art-of-Public-Speaking/Stephen-E-Lucas/e/9780073216508

2001-2002

Or Forever Hold Your Peace

Vassar College Commencement Address

The Problem of the Megaschool by Anna Quindlen - http://www.newsweek.com/2001/03/25/the-problem-of-the-megaschool.html

Just Like Grandma Used to Make

Soldiering On

The Obligation to Educate Our Children

2002-2003

Babar's Children

Oh, the Things I Know! by Dr. Al Franken - http://www.amazon.com/Things-Guide-Success-Failing-Happiness/dp/052594673X

It Was On Fire When I Lay Down On It by Robert Fulghum - http://www.amazon.com/Was-Fire-When-Lay-Down/dp/0804105820

Teaching the Virtues by William J. Bennett - http://www.school-for-champions.com/education/teaching_virtues.htm

A Case of Severe Bias by Patricia Raybon - http://lesliebai.wetpaint.com/page/A+Case+of+%22Severe+Bias%22

2003-2004

The Time is Now

Mother Tongue

A Nation At Risk - http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/NatAtRisk/risk.html

The Boy Scouts are Wrong

The Last Childhood by Carrie Knowles - http://www.amazon.com/Last-Childhood-Family-Story-Alzheimers/dp/0609806483/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281125398&sr=1-1

Insane in the Membrane: A Guy's Brain is Really Different

2004-2005

Winning the Cultural War by Charlton Heston - http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/charltonhestonculturalwar.htm

The Voice of Your Heart

Letter to a Daughter at Thirteen by Barbara Kingsolver - http://books.google.com/books?id=6P0mCF64NywC&pg=PA144&lpg=PA144&dq=%22Letter+to+a+Daughter+at+Thirteen%22&source=bl&ots=fQU09ikgre&sig=YaBweteq0J-tvOz5JSMHlKqNzSE&hl=en&ei=lG5cTPm9GYaCsQPL88zqDQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBUQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22Letter%20to%20a%20Daughter%20at%20Thirteen%22&f=false

Girls Will Be Girls

Rules To Live By:..From Someone Who's Been There And Done That by Callie Khouri - http://gos.sbc.edu/k/khouri.html

University of Michigan Commencement Address

2005-2006

Livin and Lovin

Kidsong

The Young Have To Be There by Abbie Hoffman - http://connection.ebscohost.com/content/article/1024530475.html;jsessionid=0AC4027BC6EC89D4B462D28FDC94BC0B.ehctc1

The Other America by Michael Harrington - http://www.amazon.com/Other-America-Poverty-United-States/dp/068482678X

2006-2007

Even The Crumbled Ones

"Baby Run On!" (by Glenda Hatchett) from A Hand to Guide Me by Washington, Daniel Paisner - http://books.google.com/books?id=ILdSeSY8FSQC&pg=PA109&lpg=PA109&dq=%22Baby+Run+On!%22+from+A+Hand+to+Guide+Me&source=bl&ots=rcwe87a9kq&sig=JFFhvFViiSa9WN3wEMkpQOsGeKs&hl=en&ei=4nRcTOXfNI3GsAOu4s3VCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CBIQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=baby%20run%20on&f=false

Say Yes!

Not a Genuine Black Man by Brain Copeland - http://www.amazon.com/Not-Genuine-Black-Man-Lily-White/dp/1401302335/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1281127912&sr=1-1

Children of the Storm by Elizabeth Peters - http://books.google.com/books?id=lx8iCUUSeKEC&dq=Children+of+the+Storm&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=EnZcTODbEYKWsgPXk6WyDw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CDYQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q&f=false

2007-2008

Journeys

From Disabilities to Abilities: The Miracle of Possibilities by Marlee Matlin (unable to locate)

Lesson for a Complicated Time by Katie Couric - http://www.williams.edu/home/commencement/2007/couric.php

It's Better Than Good

Class Day Speaker for the Aughty Aughts

Being Raised by a Single Parent

2008-2009

Ready To Live

Odditude by John R. Powers - http://www.hcibooks.com/p-3454-odditude.aspx

The Power of Four by Tom Hanks - http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/tomhanksvassar.htm

A Matter of Perspective

Address at the NAACP on the 50th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education by Bill Cosby - http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/billcosbypoundcakespeech.htm

The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination by J. K. Rowling - http://harvardmagazine.com/commencement/the-fringe-benefits-failure-the-importance-imagination

2009-2010

Being a Mr. G by J.A. Gamache - http://www.jagamache.com/en/tm/win4.htm

Matter of Perspective For all to See

To The Katrina Class of 2009 by Ellen DeGeneres - http://www.coffeedrunk.com/2009/05/26/ellen-degeneres-commencement-speech-at-tulane-university/

Greatest Days of Your Life...(so far) by Mark Scharenbroich - http://www.nicebike.com/info_speech.htm

The Wisdom of Big Bird by Caroll Spinney - http://www.amazon.com/Wisdom-Bird-Genius-Oscar-Grouch/dp/0375507817

On the Move by Bono - http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/bononationalprayerbreakfast.htm