Badger High School Forensics

TeamSpeak? Easy! Badger*4N6

What is Forensics? A team dedicated to individual and group

speaking events performed for competition

Why should I join?Provides important life-speaking

skillsMeet fun and exciting peopleWin trophies and medals Impress colleges and employersA chance to express yourself!See Mrs. Machan and Mrs.

Harms again

What is the time commitment?

Required Weekly practices: – Monday-Thursday (once a week for about 30 minutes)– No practice after 4pm– ABSOLUTELY NO FRIDAY PRACTICES!– 3rd Wednesday is staff meetings at both schools

~ practice starts at 3:30pm Saturday festivals /tournaments

– Mid-January to Mid-April – Evening performance at Conference & Sub

District (March)– State competition @ UW-Madison in April

See WHSFA or WFCA websites

listed on Badger’s Forensics page.

FOR MORE INFO...

How do I secure my spot on the team?

Submit your informational paperwork Submit a copy of your speech

outline, piece, stories, etc.

PAPERWORK IS DUE BY NOVEMBER 28TH

PRACTICES START NOVEMBER 26TH

YOUR SPOT IS NOT SECURED UNTIL YOU

HAVE BOTH TURNED IN!

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

What can I expect at a meet?

Bus departure around 7:00 a.m. Three rounds of preliminary competition

against students from other schools Munchies, socializing, and fun – bring a

lunch or buy snacks there “Power” round of best speakers Awards ceremony – tournaments only 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 interpretationPlay acting

Public addressOratory

Special Occasion Radio

Demonstration Four Minute

Moments in HistoryExtemporaneous

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

2012-2013 topics: Sports-related injuries – what , if anything,

should be done to reduce brain injuries caused by sports/athletics?

Political Partisanship – what, if anything should be done to reduce the level of partisanship in state and nat’l gov’t?

Great Lakes – to what extent, if any, should the GLC consider sale or sharing of water with other parts of continent?

The Draft - To what extent, if any, should a military draft be re-instituted by the US government?*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)

2012-2013 topics: Present a book talk on at least two books for

younger students to the local book club or local library board for a summer reading program.

You, as maid of honor/best man, are to speak at your sibling's wedding.

Present a speech at a local organization about your recent experience as a foreign exchange student.

Address your local school board concerning a school policy students want to change.

*May use one notecard!

Speech Categories … continued

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

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.

2012-2013 time period is 1901-1913 – Turn of the

Century to the Eve of the Great War– (ie. people, sports, inventions, monuments,

entertainment, politics, world issues, etc.)

Four Minute: 4 minute informative speech on an interesting topic– 15 second grace period *May use one notecard!

Speech Categories … continued

Radio: 5 minute radio presentation– News, weather, and sports – Different speech 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.)– Different speech prepared 30 minutes before each round– Choose between 3 topics, one notecard permitted

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!

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

Interpretative Categories … continued

Storytelling: 6.5 to 8 minute story told from memory on these topics

2012-2013 story topics:-A story from Greek or Roman mythology.-A story involving a ghost.-A war of military story.-A story involving trickery or deceit.

*Speaker sits in a chair to perform.

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.

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. THIS CATEGORY IS NOT OPEN TO

FIRST YEAR PARTICIPANTS

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 IS NOT OPEN TO FIRST YEAR PARTICIPANTS*This category has entry limitations.

Can 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 that week.YOU WILL STILL BE REQUIRED

TO ATTEND AND SUPPORT THE TEAM!

Can I miss a practice or meet?

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!!!

Barnes and Noble

bookstore tripTuesday,

December 4thLeave at 3:00

Return by 8:00 • Dinner at Kopp’s (bring money for enormous

burgers and ice cream)• Look over Barnes and Noble books for ideas• Starbucks coffee!• Socialize with other team members

Edmodo group for team! group ID number is b82jef Go to edmodo.com Create an account if you don’t have

one Join the group We will update on this site, post

scores from meets, etc. This is the coaches’ way of

connecting to you without “friending” you on Facebook

Need help with a topic? Avoid topics like:

– Death– Love– Favorite pet– Breakups– Edgar Allen Poe’s poetry