Do you like to write? Do you have a love for competition? Do you like the feeling of being the center of attention? Do you have the desire to even make a good speech even better? Forensics could help cultivate these talents and so many more! Let Mrs. Kegley know if you are interested!
Past Forensics participants have all come back and said how much they gain from competing in Forensics. Whether it is a Speech class in high school or college, being on-stage for a performance in a play or musical, or simply preparing for school and job interviews, Forensics helps! Forensics offers the chance for grade 6-8 students to compete individually while also helping their full team from their school. December is the time to begin planning and writing a Forensics piece.
Parent help is expected due to the need for judges at each meet (training is provided). It really becomes a family experience! Meets are Friday nights and Saturdays, six hours on the average for a meet. Students and Parents most come to the first information meeting in December to get things rolling!
State meet requirements are to compete at a minimum of three meets and average 37 out of 42 possible points. There will be six meets offered for our team to participate in. The schedule of meets will distributed in December. Meets begin in February. We do know the State Meet is March 24.
There are 16 categories in Forensics, which means we can find a category for everyone’s liking! Those categories are: Humorous Solo Acting, Oratory, Moments in History (1855-1875), Persuasive Speech, Group Interpretation, Demonstration, Infomercial, Serious Solo Acting, Informative Speech, Prose, Impromptu Speaking, Special Events, Group Acting, Storytelling, Poetry, and Group Interpretation Reading.
Monday, December 5 is a Student and Parent Meeting at 6:30 in the Chapel for all interested students from grades 6-8. Further questions may be directed to Mrs. Kegley.
Forensics Information
What is Forensics?
Forensics is an extra-curricular activity that gives you the opportunity to develop your communication skills through a variety of speaking experiences. The Bible mentions proclaiming, which is very much like the public speaking done in Forensics,
"Proclaim the power of God," Psalm 68:34.
What would I be doing?
You would select one of many categories and prepare a presentation. With the assistance of your coaches, you will practice for participating in Forensics meets held on Friday evenings or Saturdays in January through March.
When is the Forensic season?
The season runs from January through March:
January- Forms due and practice with your coach at weekly meetings, and on your own
February/March- Attend weekend meets, continue practicing with your coaches
March- Season ends with the State Meet in Oconomowoc.
What happens at a meet?
At Forensic meets, you will perform with other students who have prepared for a presentation in the same category. Your performance will be evaluated by a trained judge, based on a rubric uniquely designed for your category. The critiques are given to each student at the end of the meet. The information is for the student and their coach, and is not shared at the time of the performance. Numerical scores are given. Your total points may earn you a ribbon at a meet. Some meets will have an additional "Power" round for the top point earners, which they then compete for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place medals. The meets with "Power" rounds also total up team points for the potential of earning team trophies. If your average is 37 or higher for the season (three meets for the season) then you qualify for the state meet. We will need a trained parent coach for every five students (or fractional part of, so for three students registered, I need a judge at that meet) we take to a meet, parents are urged to assist (training dates will be coming for a "one-shot" two hour training session with other parent judges from other schools, one may be in Wauwatosa!)
Where are the Forensic meets?
The meets are at area schools. Parents must arrange for transportation like our athletic teams require. A sample schedule looks like this, and is from a previous year.
Sat. Feb. 5- Holy Apostles School, starts at 7:45, goes until about 1pm.
Sat. Feb. 12- Mequon Festival, starts at 7:45, goes until about 1pm.
Fri. Feb. 18- Longfellow Middle School, starts at 3:45, goes until 9:30pm.
Sat. Feb 19- Oak Creek East Middle School, starts at 7:45, goes until 1pm.
Fri. Feb. 25- Pilgrim Park Middle School, at 3:30, goes until 9:30pm.
Sun. March 6- Pius High School (sponsored by Woodlands School) 10:30, goes until 5pm
Sat. March 12- Longfellow Middle School, starts at 7:45 goes until 11:30.
These dates are very firm, locations may change depending on the team space availibility, as many schools go to one school for a meet. Simply missing the registration cutoff time may also prevent us from attending a meet. If less than four students sign up for a meet, our team will not be attending the meet. Some meets play host to over 300 students, coaches and judges! Most schools will set-up some kind of bake sale and snack food/drinks stations in their cafeterias, so people don't go hungry (bring a couple extra dollars to the meets for "food allowance").
Sat. March 26- Oconomowoc High School is the STATE MEET, 7:30am to 5:30pm.
Qualifications must be met to participate. To qualify, a student must have attended a minimum of THREE meets. The average score at those THREE meets must be 37 or higher (out of 42).
Why participate in Forensics?
As part of a school team, it provides a great opportunity to develop your public speaking skills, and it's FUN!
Who may participate?
All interested 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. Remember to open the dates on your calendars.
What is the cost?
A fee of $25.00 per student. If you register for more than five meets, an additional $4.00 per meet will be assessed. What does that mean? Let’s say you sign up for six meets, you will be assessed $25.00 + ($4.00 for the extra meet above and beyond the original 5) for a total of $29.00. Pre-registration fees are assessed when your head coach registers for a meet. Registration and a check must be sent three weeks prior to the meet. Once you tell me you will be attending a meet, I will register you. You cannot tell me two weeks before a meet you want to come to a meet. Your money is lost when we sign you up for a meet and do not attend that meet. The entire team strives for a team trophy, which we need a least five people competing on our team to qualify as a team, everyone counts on a team our size.
Can I juggle sports and Forensics? Or band and Forensics?
Perhaps you can, if you choose the Forensic meets you can participate in right away, and the athletic tournaments (band sessions) you can step out of. Schedules at tournaments are pre-set by the host school. You will need to attend the most amount of meets to work on your average of 37 or higher (out of 42 possible) for state qualification. A minimum attendance at three meets to earn your 37 average will be expected for state tournament participation from Our Redeemer students this year.
How do parents help?
1. Parents are urged to assist with coaching a category, one their child is in or one where their child is NOT involved in. Parental coaching of their own child allows for parents to coach at the best times for families. It is oftentimes difficult to schedule practices with Mrs. Kegley when you factor in athletic practices, games and instrument lessons. Mrs. Kegley is teaching second grade during the school day, with a schedule completely opposite of middle grade schedules, she is not available during the school day to coach Forensics students. Mrs. Kegley will provide the necessary rules and requirements for parents to coach their child effectively. Plus, she will answer questions about the categories.
2. Parents must assist with judging at meets to attain the requirement of one trained judge for every five students entered in the meet (head coaches of teams are needed to help tabulate the results at the meet and therefore are urged to NOT judge for the meets). There will be training sessions for parents to be come familiar with the judging regimen. The training is a pre-requisite. In the past, parents have said when they judge they really begin to understand the Forensics system and the competitive nature Forensics has.
3. Parents provide transportation to and from the meets.
4. Parents also provide snacks and some assistance in monitoring the Our Redeemer team location at meets (guarding the coat pile and finding the snacks when hungry Our Redeemer students finish speaking).
Who is my Head Coach?
Mrs. Kegley
What happens next?
Students need to return forms. Then Mrs. Kegley can get a category assigned to you. You start practicing your piece!
Where can I learn more?
Google FORENSICS and see what you find!
|
Event
|
# of People
|
Memory Aids
|
Time Allowed
|
Goal/Task
|
|
Demonstration
|
2 people
1 person may help in set-up and strike
|
4x6 card
Visual Aids
|
4-8 minutes
|
Write & demonstrate a skill or how to make something
|
|
Persuasive
|
1
|
4x6 card
|
7 minutes
|
Write & convince or propose idea to audience-any topic, cite sources
|
|
Informative
|
1
|
4x6 card
Visual aid.
|
4 minutes
|
Write & inform audience using facts-any topic-cite sources
|
|
Impromptu Speaking
|
1
|
None
|
Plan for 2 minutes then 4 minutes speaking
|
Prepare a speech on a common topic in 2 min. & speak on topic for 4 minutes
|
|
Moments in History
(1855-1875)
|
1
|
4x6 card
One visual aid
|
6 minutes
|
Write informative speech on a topic from these decades ONLY, think beyond American History
|
|
News Reporting
|
1-3
|
News read from a prepared manuscript and visuals
|
10 minutes-includes set-up and strike
|
Prepare & present TV news style program (no ads), must be current
|
|
Special Events Presentation
|
2
|
4x6 card
Visual Aids
May include costumes
|
6 minutes-includes set-up and strike
|
Write & present creative speech: Vacation Blog, Salute a Hero, Entertainment Review, Special Events Coverage, or Gossip! Gossip! Gossip!
|
|
Infomercial
|
1-2
|
4x6 card
Product/visual aids
|
8 minutes-includes set-up and strike
|
Write & present TV style commercial selling imagined product or service
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Storytelling
|
1
|
None
|
8 minutes
|
Tell a narrative in your own words, should not sound memorized
|
|
Non-original Oratory
|
1
|
Full script or memorized
|
8 minutes
|
Interpret a speech originally written by someone else
|
|
Poetry
|
1
|
Manuscript required
|
8 minutes
|
Read a poem (s) with meaning & emotion-not memorized
|
|
Prose
|
1
|
Manuscript required
|
3-8 minutes
|
Read a prose piece with meaning & emotion-not memorized
|
|
Solo Acting Humorous or
Serious
|
1
|
None
|
8 minutes
|
Act a short scene, may be humorous or serious.
|
|
Group Acting
|
4
|
None
|
8-12 minutes
|
Act a short scene. Blocking required.
|
|
Group Interpretive Reading
|
4
|
Manuscript on black cardstock
|
5-10 minutes
|
Interpret a professionally written script with focus on audience – no body nor eye contact with group
|
Do you like to write? Do you have a love for competition? Do you like the feeling of being the center of attention? Do you have the desire to even make a good speech even better? Forensics could help cultivate these talents and so many more! Let Mrs. Kegley know if you are interested!
Past Forensics participants have all come back and said how much they gain from competing in Forensics. Whether it is a Speech class in high school or college, being on-stage for a performance in a play or musical, or simply preparing for school and job interviews, Forensics helps! Forensics offers the chance for grade 6-8 students to compete individually while also helping their full team from their school. December is the time to begin planning and writing a Forensics piece.
Parent help is expected due to the need for judges at each meet (training is provided). It really becomes a family experience! Meets are Friday nights and Saturdays, six hours on the average for a meet. Students and Parents most come to the first information meeting in December to get things rolling!
State meet requirements are to compete at a minimum of three meets and average 37 out of 42 possible points. There will be six meets offered for our team to participate in. The schedule of meets will distributed in December. Meets begin in February. We do know the State Meet is March 24.
There are 16 categories in Forensics, which means we can find a category for everyone’s liking! Those categories are: Humorous Solo Acting, Oratory, Moments in History (1855-1875), Persuasive Speech, Group Interpretation, Demonstration, Infomercial, Serious Solo Acting, Informative Speech, Prose, Impromptu Speaking, Special Events, Group Acting, Storytelling, Poetry, and Group Interpretation Reading.
Monday, December 5 is a Student and Parent Meeting at 6:30 in the Chapel for all interested students from grades 6-8. Further questions may be directed to Mrs. Kegley.
Forensics Information
What is Forensics?
Forensics is an extra-curricular activity that gives you the opportunity to develop your communication skills through a variety of speaking experiences. The Bible mentions proclaiming, which is very much like the public speaking done in Forensics,
"Proclaim the power of God," Psalm 68:34.
What would I be doing?
You would select one of many categories and prepare a presentation. With the assistance of your coaches, you will practice for participating in Forensics meets held on Friday evenings or Saturdays in January through March.
When is the Forensic season?
The season runs from January through March:
January- Forms due and practice with your coach at weekly meetings, and on your own
February/March- Attend weekend meets, continue practicing with your coaches
March- Season ends with the State Meet in Oconomowoc.
What happens at a meet?
At Forensic meets, you will perform with other students who have prepared for a presentation in the same category. Your performance will be evaluated by a trained judge, based on a rubric uniquely designed for your category. The critiques are given to each student at the end of the meet. The information is for the student and their coach, and is not shared at the time of the performance. Numerical scores are given. Your total points may earn you a ribbon at a meet. Some meets will have an additional "Power" round for the top point earners, which they then compete for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place medals. The meets with "Power" rounds also total up team points for the potential of earning team trophies. If your average is 37 or higher for the season (three meets for the season) then you qualify for the state meet. We will need a trained parent coach for every five students (or fractional part of, so for three students registered, I need a judge at that meet) we take to a meet, parents are urged to assist (training dates will be coming for a "one-shot" two hour training session with other parent judges from other schools, one may be in Wauwatosa!)
Where are the Forensic meets?
The meets are at area schools. Parents must arrange for transportation like our athletic teams require. A sample schedule looks like this, and is from a previous year.
Sat. Feb. 5- Holy Apostles School, starts at 7:45, goes until about 1pm.
Sat. Feb. 12- Mequon Festival, starts at 7:45, goes until about 1pm.
Fri. Feb. 18- Longfellow Middle School, starts at 3:45, goes until 9:30pm.
Sat. Feb 19- Oak Creek East Middle School, starts at 7:45, goes until 1pm.
Fri. Feb. 25- Pilgrim Park Middle School, at 3:30, goes until 9:30pm.
Sun. March 6- Pius High School (sponsored by Woodlands School) 10:30, goes until 5pm
Sat. March 12- Longfellow Middle School, starts at 7:45 goes until 11:30.
These dates are very firm, locations may change depending on the team space availibility, as many schools go to one school for a meet. Simply missing the registration cutoff time may also prevent us from attending a meet. If less than four students sign up for a meet, our team will not be attending the meet. Some meets play host to over 300 students, coaches and judges! Most schools will set-up some kind of bake sale and snack food/drinks stations in their cafeterias, so people don't go hungry (bring a couple extra dollars to the meets for "food allowance").
Sat. March 26- Oconomowoc High School is the STATE MEET, 7:30am to 5:30pm.
Qualifications must be met to participate. To qualify, a student must have attended a minimum of THREE meets. The average score at those THREE meets must be 37 or higher (out of 42).
Why participate in Forensics?
As part of a school team, it provides a great opportunity to develop your public speaking skills, and it's FUN!
Who may participate?
All interested 6th, 7th and 8th grade students. Remember to open the dates on your calendars.
What is the cost?
A fee of $25.00 per student. If you register for more than five meets, an additional $4.00 per meet will be assessed. What does that mean? Let’s say you sign up for six meets, you will be assessed $25.00 + ($4.00 for the extra meet above and beyond the original 5) for a total of $29.00. Pre-registration fees are assessed when your head coach registers for a meet. Registration and a check must be sent three weeks prior to the meet. Once you tell me you will be attending a meet, I will register you. You cannot tell me two weeks before a meet you want to come to a meet. Your money is lost when we sign you up for a meet and do not attend that meet. The entire team strives for a team trophy, which we need a least five people competing on our team to qualify as a team, everyone counts on a team our size.
Can I juggle sports and Forensics? Or band and Forensics?
Perhaps you can, if you choose the Forensic meets you can participate in right away, and the athletic tournaments (band sessions) you can step out of. Schedules at tournaments are pre-set by the host school. You will need to attend the most amount of meets to work on your average of 37 or higher (out of 42 possible) for state qualification. A minimum attendance at three meets to earn your 37 average will be expected for state tournament participation from Our Redeemer students this year.
How do parents help?
1. Parents are urged to assist with coaching a category, one their child is in or one where their child is NOT involved in. Parental coaching of their own child allows for parents to coach at the best times for families. It is oftentimes difficult to schedule practices with Mrs. Kegley when you factor in athletic practices, games and instrument lessons. Mrs. Kegley is teaching second grade during the school day, with a schedule completely opposite of middle grade schedules, she is not available during the school day to coach Forensics students. Mrs. Kegley will provide the necessary rules and requirements for parents to coach their child effectively. Plus, she will answer questions about the categories.
2. Parents must assist with judging at meets to attain the requirement of one trained judge for every five students entered in the meet (head coaches of teams are needed to help tabulate the results at the meet and therefore are urged to NOT judge for the meets). There will be training sessions for parents to be come familiar with the judging regimen. The training is a pre-requisite. In the past, parents have said when they judge they really begin to understand the Forensics system and the competitive nature Forensics has.
3. Parents provide transportation to and from the meets.
4. Parents also provide snacks and some assistance in monitoring the Our Redeemer team location at meets (guarding the coat pile and finding the snacks when hungry Our Redeemer students finish speaking).
Who is my Head Coach?
Mrs. Kegley
What happens next?
Students need to return forms. Then Mrs. Kegley can get a category assigned to you. You start practicing your piece!
Where can I learn more?
Google FORENSICS and see what you find!
|
Event
|
# of People
|
Memory Aids
|
Time Allowed
|
Goal/Task
|
|
Demonstration
|
2 people
1 person may help in set-up and strike
|
4x6 card
Visual Aids
|
4-8 minutes
|
Write & demonstrate a skill or how to make something
|
|
Persuasive
|
1
|
4x6 card
|
7 minutes
|
Write & convince or propose idea to audience-any topic, cite sources
|
|
Informative
|
1
|
4x6 card
Visual aid.
|
4 minutes
|
Write & inform audience using facts-any topic-cite sources
|
|
Impromptu Speaking
|
1
|
None
|
Plan for 2 minutes then 4 minutes speaking
|
Prepare a speech on a common topic in 2 min. & speak on topic for 4 minutes
|
|
Moments in History
(1855-1875)
|
1
|
4x6 card
One visual aid
|
6 minutes
|
Write informative speech on a topic from these decades ONLY, think beyond American History
|
|
News Reporting
|
1-3
|
News read from a prepared manuscript and visuals
|
10 minutes-includes set-up and strike
|
Prepare & present TV news style program (no ads), must be current
|
|
Special Events Presentation
|
2
|
4x6 card
Visual Aids
May include costumes
|
6 minutes-includes set-up and strike
|
Write & present creative speech: Vacation Blog, Salute a Hero, Entertainment Review, Special Events Coverage, or Gossip! Gossip! Gossip!
|
|
Infomercial
|
1-2
|
4x6 card
Product/visual aids
|
8 minutes-includes set-up and strike
|
Write & present TV style commercial selling imagined product or service
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Storytelling
|
1
|
None
|
8 minutes
|
Tell a narrative in your own words, should not sound memorized
|
|
Non-original Oratory
|
1
|
Full script or memorized
|
8 minutes
|
Interpret a speech originally written by someone else
|
|
Poetry
|
1
|
Manuscript required
|
8 minutes
|
Read a poem (s) with meaning & emotion-not memorized
|
|
Prose
|
1
|
Manuscript required
|
3-8 minutes
|
Read a prose piece with meaning & emotion-not memorized
|
|
Solo Acting Humorous or
Serious
|
1
|
None
|
8 minutes
|
Act a short scene, may be humorous or serious.
|
|
Group Acting
|
4
|
None
|
8-12 minutes
|
Act a short scene. Blocking required.
|
|
Group Interpretive Reading
|
4
|
Manuscript on black cardstock
|
5-10 minutes
|
Interpret a professionally written script with focus on audience – no body nor eye contact with group
|