Howdy there Off Topic! I was a bit bored so I decided to start a Forensics thread. Why would I do such a thing? Well, I'm in Forensics and I think it is a wonderful experience and it's also really quite fun.

Some background:
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The National Forensic League is a non-partisan, non-profit educational honor society established to encourage and motivate American high school students to participate in and become proficient in the forensic arts: debate, public speaking and interpretation. NFL is the America's oldest and largest high school speech and debate honor society. Since 1925, NFL has enrolled over 1.3 million students in fulfillment of its motto, "training youth for leadership."

The organization is the central agent for coordination and facilitation of heightened public awareness of the value of speech communication skills, development of educational initiatives for student and teacher training, excellence in interscholastic competition, and the promotion of honor society ideals.

NFL is one of four major U.S. national organizations which direct high school competitive public speaking events. (The other three are the National Catholic Forensic League or NCFL, the National Christian Forensics and Communications Association or NCFCA, and Stoa USA.) The NFL Board of Directors meets twice a year for rules revision. It votes on each rule change, which affects the entire high school forensics community.

The word "forensic" is an adjective meaning "of public debate or argument." The word is derived from the Latin word forensis, meaning "of the forum." The sense of the word "forensic" that means "pertaining to legal trials" dates from the 17th century (Oxford English Dictionary) and led to the use of the word "forensics" in reference to legal evidence.

I first got into Forensics in 8th grade, when I decided to do Impromptu Speaking, where you are given three possible topics. You then have to choose one and are given two minutes to prepare (with one notecard) and then give a two to four minute speech. I continued my career in Radio Speaking in high school, where you are given a packet of news stories and a half an hour to take said stories and make a five minute radio broadcast out of them.

So, has anybody participated in Forensics? If so, in what category? Any questions?

I thought this was going to be about forensic "science" and I was going to spend a few days bashing my head into the wall about how most of it is bollocks. But seeing as that's not what your thread is about...

Is it like debate team where it's less about debate and more about rapid speaking with air gulps? Because I always found that to just be odd.

I thought this was going to be about forensic "science" and I was going to spend a few days bashing my head into the wall about how most of it is bollocks. But seeing as that's not what your thread is about...

Is it like debate team where it's less about debate and more about rapid speaking with air gulps? Because I always found that to just be odd.

No, the way we're scored isn't based off how much we spew out (except in Congressional Debate and Extemporaneous Speaking, from my understanding), rather, it's about enunciation, rate (slow enough to understand, not so slow as to be boring), and delivery. Then there's time limits and whatnot, but after the first meet or two, those really stop mattering as you get your act/piece/preparation down pat.

No, the way we're scored isn't based off how much we spew out (except in Congressional Debate and Extemporaneous Speaking, from my understanding), rather, it's about enunciation, rate (slow enough to understand, not so slow as to be boring), and delivery. Then there's time limits and whatnot, but after the first meet or two, those really stop mattering as you get your act/piece/preparation down pat.

So it's like a proper debate club! That sounds much more interesting and I wish I knew about it when I was in school. I took one look at the other type of omgihavetotalksofastletmelist50pointsin30seconds debate that I wanted nothing to do with it.

So how is competition done?

So it's like a proper debate club! That sounds much more interesting and I wish I knew about it when I was in school. I took one look at the other type of omgihavetotalksofastletmelist50pointsin30seconds debate that I wanted nothing to do with it.

So how is competition done?

Well, tournaments usually occur on Saturdays, starting pretty early (like debate). There are three "Normal" rounds. In these rounds you and your competitors will be in the same room (with a few exceptions, Radio Speaking and Extemporaneous Speaking are the only two with just you and the judge). You give your speech, the judges rank you on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being the best and five being the worst, even if there are more than five people in the room. If you make a ceratin cut in total ranking, say 5 total for your places (like two first places and a third place, for example), you go to Power Round, which ultimately determines what ranking you get for the meet. In the power round, any other competitor can watch, regardless of if they are in the category or not (which makes Solo Humorous extremely crowded). Then there's the award ceremony and you go home.

I did extemporaneous speech for three years when I was in high school. I learned a fair amount about foreign affairs, but I never did master the art of not saying "uh" every 3 seconds. The highlight of my speaking career was just barely squeaking into the state semifinals and then getting scored last by all six judges. It was fun anyway. :thumbsup:

Well, I'm baffled! Isn't this forensics? To a "T".


edit: though not vocal and not live, so...

Those of us in Model UN used to beat up the kids in the Debate club. I think they wailed on those in Forensics.

I heatedly endorse anything that gets children interested in public speaking.

Those of us in Model UN used to beat up the kids in the Debate club. I think they wailed on those in Forensics.

I find this funny, mostly because in my school the debate team is the largest of the three, MUN is second and Forensics third, we sometimes don't even qualify for small team awards (mostly because our school is split in half, with separate teams and everything.

I'm amazed (though I shouldn't be) how much times change. My contemporaries and I studied advanced subjects like: spitting, swearing and stealing each other's bicycle parts.

I'm in forensics, Radio naturally. Strangely similar to your name ;). State was this weekend and I made semi-finals and beat the two other people from our school.

I'm in forensics, Radio naturally. Strangely similar to your name ;). State was this weekend and I made semi-finals and beat the two other people from our school.

Yeah, good job today, by the way. I missed semi-finals by 1 point :(

I'm amazed (though I shouldn't be) how much times change. My contemporaries and I studied advanced subjects like: spitting, swearing and stealing each other's bicycle parts.
There still are people who study these subjects and not any of the "scholarly" activities. They aren't especially likely to get into college, or stay in college if they do get there, or earn much money later on though. :p

Yeah, good job today, by the way. I missed semi-finals by 1 point :(

Thanks. And that totally sucks. If it makes you feel better, I'm sure the people in the draw room missed your wit ;) Not to mention I decided to give myself my friend's call numbers at the way end. "join me next week on 97.3!" Ugh:cringe:. Plus you have like what one more year. I'm a senior. :P

There still are people who study these subjects and not any of the "scholarly" activities. They aren't especially likely to get into college, or stay in college if they do get there, or earn much money later on though. :p
Well, true.

Makes me wonder, though.

Just where are the answers to life's big questions more likely to be found?

In dusty tomes or round the back of the bike sheds?:)

(perhaps both are equally likely places?)