Waterford High School Forensics Team

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Waterford High School Forensics Team

• Building a Tradition of Excellence in Public
  Speaking

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What is Forensics?

• A team dedicated to individual and group speaking
  events performed for competition

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Why should I join?

• Provides important life-speaking skills
• Meet fun and exciting people
• Win trophies and medals
• Impress colleges and employers
• Express yourself!!!

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What is the time commitment?

• Required Weekly practices
• Wednesday 300-430
• Individual rehearsals of performance
• Saturday festivals /tournaments
• Mid-January to Mid-March (6-7 weekends)
• Evening performance at Conference Subdistrict
• State competition _at_ Madison in April

FOR MORE INFO...

• See WHSFA or WFCAforensics websites
• listed on Waterfords forensics page.

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What will practice include?

• Select piece and/or write speech for performance
• Revise wording / add content
• Improve organization
• Perform speech/piece for coach/peers
• Work on spoken delivery
• Improve blocking and movement
• Kindly critique others to improve performance

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What can I expect at a meet?

• Bus departure around 700 a.m.
• Three rounds of preliminary competition against
  students from other schools
• Munchies, socializing, and fun
• Power round of best speakers
• Awards ceremony tournaments only
• Return home with an occasional detour for a
  fine dining experience

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How do I know which category to choose?

• Interpretation
• Perform something
• by a published author
• Many performers
• Highly competitive

• Speech
• Present an informative piece
• that you write
• Small categories
• Big trophy potential!

• Prose Poetry
• Farrago Storytelling
• Solo Serious Humorous
• Group interpretation
• Play acting

• Public address Oratory
• Special Occasion Radio
• Demonstration Four Minute
• Moments in History
• Extemporaneous

16 different categories!!!
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Speech Categories

• Public Address 6.5 to 8 minute speech on a
  contemporary issue
• Internet Regulation Should the World Wide Web be
  regulated?
• Human Trafficking What, if anything, should be
  done to address the problem of human trafficking?
• China What impact did the 2008 Olympics have on
  the Chinese culturally, economically, and/or
  politically?
• Origin of Human Life What should public schools
  be required to teach?

May use one notecard!
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Speech Categories continued

• Special Occasion 6.5 to 8 minute speech on one
  of these occasions (may be humorous or serious)
• Speech to Gain Good Will
• A Roast Speech
• A Nomination Speech
• A Wedding or Anniversary Speech

May use one notecard!
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Speech Categories continued

• Oratory 8-10 minute persuasive speech on a
  significant topic
• Examples may include
• Medical issues
• Media controversies
• Cell phone/technology security
• Transportation efficiency/safety

May use one notecard!
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Speech Categories continued

• Demonstration 8 to 10 minute speech showing how
  to do something or explaining how something works
• Examples may include
• Dances
• Arts/crafts
• Maintenance
• Sign language

May use one notecard!
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Speech Categories continued

• Moments in History 5 to 6 minute speech on any
  topic between the years 1450 to 1650,
  Reformation, Age of Discovery and High
  Renaissance
• (ie. people, sports, inventions, monuments,
  entertainment, etc.)
• Four Minute 4 minute informative speech on an
  interesting topic
• 15 second grace period

May use one notecard!
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Speech Categories continued

• Radio 5 minute radio presentation
• News, weather, and sports
• Prepared 30 minutes before each round
• Reader performs by reading script and timing self
  
• with watch (no eye contact)
• Extemporaneous 6 to 7 minute speech
• Related to current events (news, politics, etc.)
• Prepared 30 minutes before each round
• Choose between 3 topics, one notecard permitted

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Interpretative Categories

• Prose 6.5 to 8 minute selection
• from quality prose literature which surrounds a
  specific theme or emotion.
• Introduction must be memorized.
• Poetry 6.5 to 8 minute selection
• of various quality poems which surround a
  specific theme or emotion.
• Introduction and transitions must be memorized.

Note these are huge categories!
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Interpretative Categories continued

• Farrago 8.5 to 10 minute selection of two or
  more literary genre of very high quality pieces
  surrounding a specific theme or emotion
• Themes may include
• Journey
• Change
• Courage
• Despair
• Introduction and transitions must be memorized

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Interpretative Categories continued

• Storytelling 6.5 to 8 minute story told from
  memory on these topics
• Hans Christian Anderson Story
• A Story with Numbers
• A Story with Poverty or Hardship
• A Music Story
• A Chinese Folktale

Speaker sits in a chair to perform.
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Interpretative Categories continued

• Solo Acting 6.5 to 8 minute memorized selection
• Quality dramatic or humorous piece of literature.
  
• May be a monologue or piece with a number of
  characters

This category has entry limitations.
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Interpretative Categories continued

• Group Interpretation 2 to 5 readers present a
  piece of literature through vocal and physical
  action
• This is not an acting category!
• 10 to 12 minutes
• Introduction/transitions must be memorized.

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Interpretative Categories continued

• Play acting 2 to 4 people act out a scene or
  cutting from a quality, approved play
• Must be memorized
• 10-12 minutes

This category has entry limitations.
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What if I miss a practice or meet?

• Practices are required each week.
• If you are sick, arrange a practice the next day.
• If you must be late, bring a pass from your
  teacher.
• If you fail to practice, you will not be allowed
  to compete.
• Absences from a meet must be submitted
• (in writing) at least two weeks before the
  event.
• If you are extremely sick, call the coach so that
  we do not worry.
• The team must pay for your entry whether or not
  you show up once the two week deadline has
  passed.
• Cost Each entry fee (7-10 person) judge fee
  (15 entry)
• That means our team throws away 25 for every
  missing entry!!!