Badger High School Forensics Team

1. Badger High School Forensics Team Speak? Easy! Badger*4N6

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

3. Why should I join? • Provides important life-speaking skills • Meet fun and exciting people • Win trophies and medals • Impress colleges and employers • A chance to express yourself! • See Mrs. Machan and Mrs. Harms again 

4. What is the time commitment? FOR MORE INFO... • 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.

5. 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!

6. 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

7. 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

8. Interpretation: Perform something by a published author Many performers Highly competitive Speech: Present an informative piece that you write Small categories Big trophy potential! How do I know which category to choose? 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!

9. 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!

10. 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!

11. 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!

12. 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!

13. 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!

14. 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

15. 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!

16. 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

17. 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.

18. Interpretative Categories … continued • Solo Acting: 6.5 to 8 minute memorized selection • Qualitydramatic or humorous piece of literature. • May be a monologue or piece with a number of characters *This category has entry limitations.

19. 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

20. 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.

21. 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!

22. Can I miss a practice or meet? • Absences from a meet must be submitted (in writing) at least two weeksbefore 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!!!

23. Barnes and Noble bookstore trip MANDATORY Tuesday, December 4th Leave 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

24. 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

25. Need help with a topic? • Avoid topics like: • Death • Love • Favorite pet • Breakups • Edgar Allen Poe’s poetry