Final Forensics Meet is
Saturday, March 16.
Jan.31- St. Kilian's meet- Who's going? SO, HS, JF, EB and JB
Sat. Feb. 9- Glen Hills meet- Who's going? HS, ET, EB
Fri. Feb. 15- Longfellow Middle School- Who's going? SO, HS, JF, ET, EB, JB, MH
Sat. Feb 16- Woodlands School/Pius XI meet- Who's going? HS, ET, EB
Thur. Feb. 21 meet- St. Frances Cabrini meet in
West Bend- Who's going? SO, JF, JB
Last meet!!
Sat. March 1 meet- Oak Creek West- Who's going?
SO, JF, ET, EB, JB, MH
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 November through March:
November- Information meetings and signup
December- Select category/piece and begin preparation
January- Practice with your coaches at weekly meetings, and on your own
January/February/March- Attend weekend meets, continue practicing with your coaches
March- Season ends with the State Meet (location TBA)
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 (five meets this school year, 2004-2005) then you qualify for the state meet. We will need a trained parent coach for every five students 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 will be in Wauwatosa!)
Where are the Forensic meets?
The meets are at area schools. Parents must arrange for transportation like our athletic teams require. Our schedule looked like this last year:
Thur. Jan 25- St.Killians, Hartford, starts at 3:45pm goes until 7:00pm
Sat. Jan. 27- Greenfield Middle School, starts at 7:45 goes until 1pm.
Sat. Feb. 3- Webster Transitional, Cedarburg, starts at 7:45 goes until about 1pm.
Sat. Feb. 10- Badger Middle School, West Bend, starts at 7:45 goes until about 2pm.
Fri. Feb. 16- Longfellow Middle School, Wauwatosa, starts around 4pm and goes until 9:30pm.
Sat. Feb. 17- Pius XI, starts at 7:45 goes until 3pm.
Thu. Feb 22- Possible meet at Pilgrim Park Middle School.
Fri. Feb. 23- Milwaukee School of Languages, starts around 4pm and goes until 9:30pm.
Sat. Feb. 24- St. Matthias (near 92nd and Beloit Rd), starts at 7:45 goes until about 2pm.
Sat. March 3- Oak Creek West Middle School, begins around 7:45 goes until about 3pm.
Sat. March 17- State Tournament (location TBA), times TBA.
These dates are very firm, locations may change depending on the team space availibility, as many schools go to one school for a meet. Most meets send an invitation to attend and we may not get invited to all of these meets. 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").
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 $5.00 per student per meet covers the costs of the meets. 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 then you 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 our small sized team.
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 are being asked to give Forensics commitment before you even know of athletic commitments. 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 is coaching this year's team! With three years of experience in Forensics at Our Redeemer, implementing Forensics for Kids and coaching the East Troy High School Forensics team, Mrs. Kegley brings a wealth of knowledge for our team.
What happens next?
Students and parents need to attend the Forensic Informational.
It is Thursday, November 29 at 7pm, in room 103.
Packets of information will be handed out at that time to each family. It should last around 45 minutes.
Where can I learn more?
Check out the Forensics website at: mlfaforensics.org
The following is a chart outlining the various categories and their general requirements.
|
Event
|
# of People
|
Memory Aids
|
Time Allowed
|
Goal/Task
|
|
Demonstration
|
1
1 person may help in set-up and strike
|
4x6 card
Visual Aids
|
10 minutes-includes set-up and strike
|
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
|
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
( ??? ) Decade to be announced!
|
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
|
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
|
|
Impromptu Reading
|
1
|
Selection provided by host school
|
6 minutes
|
Interpret a selection with a 30 min. individual prep.
|
|
Extemporaneous Storytelling
|
1
|
None
|
8 minutes
|
Student finds own selections on:
Cinderella story, food, American tall tale, talking animal, friendships
|
|
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
|
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
|
|
7-12 minutes
|
Act a short scene. Blocking required.
|
|
Group Interpretive Reading
|
4
|
Manuscript on black cardstock
|
7-12 minutes
|
Interpret a professionally written script with focus on audience – no body nor eye contact with group
|