What is Forensics?

          
           Forensics is, at its most basic, competitive speaking.  Student participants compete individually or in small groups in a category of their choice.  Wisconsin forensics offers 20 different categories ranging from persuasive speech (like debate) to poetry reading and acting.  In each category, contestants perform before a judge and compete against other performers.  Unlike some forensics that you may have been involved in at your middle school, High School forensics is competitive.  At the end of each tournament they will award an individual champion for each category, and a single winning school. 

The categories can be divided into two groups: Speech categories and Interpretive categories.

 Speech Categories

            Basically, each speech category defines a type of speech and the contestant is responsible for writing a speech that fits the category and presenting it before a judge in competitive rounds.  The speech is judged on quality of writing as well as strength of delivery.  Some speech categories call for a persuasive speech where the contestant takes a stand on an important issue and attempts to convince the audience that their stance is the proper one.  Other speech categories call for an informative speech where the contestant researches a topic of importance to them and educates the audience about it.  With ten different speech categories, you are sure to find the right one for you!

 Interpretive Categories

            The typical interp category defines a type of literature and the contestant is responsible for choosing a piece that fits the genre and performing it before a judge in competitive rounds.  Some interp categories call for a narrative selection, like a poem or short story, to be read to the audience, while others call for a play cutting or scene to be acted out for the audience from memory.  There are even categories that allow you to compose your own material.  With ten different interp categories, you are sure to find the right one for you!

When do we meet?

 Unlike some other competitive school activities, we never get together to practice as a team.  You are responsible for your own performance so you can practice on your own schedule.  The coaches will be available for several hours everyday after school if you would like some help.  The important thing is that you try to attend the tournaments every Saturday from mid January to about mid March.  Its ok if you miss a few tournaments, but try to make as many as you can.  Your team is relying on you.  Click here to view the Tournament Schedule

How are the tournaments scored?

 You only compete against other people in your same category.  Everyone in your category will be divided into groups of (about) six.  Each group will go into a separate room at the host school and perform, one at a time, for a judge.  The judge will then rank the performers.  The best performer will get a (1), the next best performer will get a (2), the third best performer will get a (3), and so on.  After everyone has performed, the groups are mixed up into new groups of (about) six and you will compete again against new people.  This pattern continues for three morning rounds. 

After round three you will have a lunch break while the scores are tabulated.  Each contestant in your category will have three scores from the three morning rounds.  The best you can do is 1,1,1.  The tournament officials identify the top seven(ish) contestants and those lucky students move on to the last round of competition called the Power Round.  If you go 1,1,1 you are guaranteed to Power, but scores of 1,2,3 or even 2,2,3 are usually good enough. 

During the Power Round you perform one last time.  The person with the best score after that round is the champion.  Everyone in Power Round receives a medal, but first, second and third place receive a trophy!