Badger High School Forensics Team Building a Tradition of Excellence in Public Speaking Special thanks to Coach Jankowski, Waterford H.S.

What is Forensics? A team dedicated to individual and group speaking events performed for competition A team dedicated to individual and group speaking events performed for competition

Why should I join? Provides important life-speaking skills Provides important life-speaking skills Meet fun and exciting people Meet fun and exciting people Win trophies and medals Win trophies and medals Impress colleges and employers Impress colleges and employers Express yourself!!! Express yourself!!!

What is the time commitment? Required Weekly practices: Required Weekly practices: –Tuesday-Friday (once a week for about 45 minutes) Individual rehearsals of performance Individual rehearsals of performance Saturday festivals /tournaments Saturday festivals /tournaments –Mid-January to Mid-March –Evening performance at Conference & Subdistrict –State UW-Madison in April See WHSFA or WFCA websites listed on Badger’s forensics page. FOR MORE INFO...

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

What can I expect at a meet? Bus departure around 6:45 a.m. Bus departure around 6:45 a.m. Three rounds of preliminary competition against students from other schools Three rounds of preliminary competition against students from other schools Munchies, socializing, and fun Munchies, socializing, and fun “Power” round of best speakers “Power” round of best speakers Awards ceremony – tournaments only Awards ceremony – tournaments only Return home with an occasional detour for a “fine” dining experience Return home with an occasional detour for a “fine” dining experience

How do I know which category to choose? ProsePoetry Farrago Storytelling Solo Serious & Humorous Group interpretation Play acting Public addressOratory Special OccasionRadio DemonstrationFour Minute Moments in History Extemporaneous Interpretation: Perform something by a published author  Many performers  Highly competitive Speech: Present an informative piece that you write  Small categories  Big trophy potential! 16 different categories!

Speech Categories Public Address: 6.5 to 8 minute speech on a contemporary issue Public Address: 6.5 to 8 minute speech on a contemporary issue –Working Teens:What impact, if any, does teen employment during the school year have on academic performance and co-curricular participation? –NASA:To what extent, if any, should the federal government continue to fund NASA? –Presidency:What qualities have made past presidents successful? –Downloading Music and MP3 File Sharing:To what extent, if any, should consumers be able to download and engage in MP3 file sharing without compensating the record artists and record companies? *May use one notecard!

Speech Categories … continued Special Occasion: 6.5 to 8 minute speech on one of these occasions (may be humorous or serious) Special Occasion: 6.5 to 8 minute speech on one of these occasions (may be humorous or serious) topics are…  A Presentation of a Gift or Award  A Speech of Protest  A Graduation Speech  A Speech to an At Risk Group *May use one notecard!

Speech Categories … continued Oratory: 6.5 to 8 minute persuasive speech on a significant topic Oratory: 6.5 to 8 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!

Speech Categories … continued Demonstration: 8 to 10 minute speech showing how to do something or explaining how something works 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!

Speech Categories … continued Moments in History: 5 to 6 minute speech on a topic occurring during the years of a specific time period Moments in History: 5 to 6 minute speech on a topic occurring during the years of a specific time period time period The Decade of the 1920’s –(ie. people, sports, inventions, monuments, entertainment, etc.) Four Minute: 4 minute informative speech on an interesting topic Four Minute: 4 minute informative speech on an interesting topic –30 second grace period *May use one notecard!

Speech Categories … continued Radio: 5 minute radio presentation 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 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

Interpretative Categories Prose: 6.5 to 8 minute selection 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 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!

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 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

Interpretative Categories … continued Storytelling: 6.5 to 8 minute story told from memory on these topics Storytelling: 6.5 to 8 minute story told from memory on these topics –A Native American Story –A Fractured Fairy Tale –A Scary Story –A True Story –A Story of Rivalry *Speaker sits in a chair to perform.

Interpretative Categories … continued Solo Acting: 6.5 to 8 minute memorized selection 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.

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

Interpretative Categories … continued Play acting: 2 to 4 people act out a scene or cutting from a quality, approved play 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.

Can if I miss a practice or meet? Practices are required each week. 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 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 the team throws away $25 for every missing entry!!!

Informational Meeting November 28, :00 p.m. Room 610 (see Mr. Zastrow or Mrs. Mabon if unable to attend)

Barnes and Noble bookstore trip Wednesday, December 5 Leave at 3:00 Return by 8:00