What is the Western Forensic Team all about?

We compete in Individual Events - an academic sport that involves many of the aspects of Drama, Theater, Acting, Public Speaking, and Speech. There is something for everyone in Forensics.  The Western Forensic team has between 5 and 8 competitions every year, often 1-day trips (usually Saturdays) within and across the state of Michigan.

In Michigan, there are two types of categories in which we compete in Forensics. There are six Public Address categories and six Interpretation categories. In addition to these 12 categories, there are two categories designated every year as introductory 9/10 categories. This means that there are two divisions in these two specific categories: one that is open to all students, and one that is only open to freshman and sophomore grade students.

Students prepare a presentation in one of the following categories for competition at tournaments.  Most students will compete with the same piece for the entire season.

Oratory

An oration is an original, persuasive speech thoroughly prepared and committed to manuscript form. The oration may alert the audience to a threatening danger or strengthen its devotion to an accepted cause, or eulogize a person, or present a solution to a problem.

Extemporaneous

Specific extemporaneous speaking topics for district, regional, and state programs will be supplied by the State Office. Topics for league and invitational tournaments are supplied by the Tournament Director. The Tournament will provide the judge(s) with a copy of the topics for extemporaneous speaking.

Informative

Students research a particular topic and write a speech (including visual aids) that will inform the audience about their topic.  Examples: Radios, Cheese, Donuts, Bras (Undergarments), etc.

Impromptu

Students are given a general topic that to be researched throughout the year, and they have 5 minutes to compose and deliver an opinionated response to an editorial.

Examples: Affirmative Action topics, Sports Issues in America, Africa, US Politics

Sales

Choose a real product, write and deliver a speech that convinces the audience to buy that product.

Examples: Q-Tips, Rolex Watches, Mercedes, Hanes Underware, U.S. Savings Bonds

Media Broadcasting

Students are given a pile of news reports(copy) and have 30 minutes to cut the information down to a 5 minute broadcast which they then deliver, including an original Editorial.

Prose

Students deliver a 5-8 minute selection of fiction or non-fiction in Prose format

Dramatic Interpretation (DI)

Students memorize and deliver a 5-8 minute selection from a play or screenplay.

Duo

Two students memorize and deliver a 7-10 minute interactive selection from any genre.

Multiple

3-8 students perform an interactive selection of material, similar to a one-act play.  15 minute time limit.

Poetry

Students memorize and deliver a 5-8 minute selection of Poetry in competition

Storytelling

Students memorize and deliver a 5-8 minute selection from children’s literature.