Speech and Rhetorical Studies | Open Access Articles

A Little Help From My Friends: A Relational Health Communication Competence Approach To Social Support For Forensic Educators, Heather J. Carmack, Todd T. Holm Jan 2015

A Little Help From My Friends: A Relational Health Communication Competence Approach To Social Support For Forensic Educators, Heather J. Carmack, Todd T. Holm

National Forensic Journal

The purpose of this study was to examine factors that impact forensic educators’ perceived social support, including communication competence, job stress, and job burnout. Communicatively competent educators reported higher levels of administrative and family support than forensic educators who did not report high levels of communication competence. Educators who reported high levels of stress and burnout report lower levels of support from supervisors, coworkers, and family compared to educators who reported low levels of stress and burnout. Female coaches reported lower levels of support from supervisors, coworkers, and families, compared to male coaches. Educators with a large coaching staff reported …

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“…And Finally Examining Some Implications”: (Mis)Use Of Evidence In Informative Speaking, Ben Walker, Hilary Rasmussen Jan 2015

“…And Finally Examining Some Implications”: (Mis)Use Of Evidence In Informative Speaking, Ben Walker, Hilary Rasmussen

National Forensic Journal

In 1983, Bob Frank published his critique of evidence use in Persuasive Speaking at the 1981 NFA championship tournament. While many similar critiques have been done since then, this analysis attempts to update Frank’s critique in the light of modern informative speaking. The authors analyzed the 2011 NFA Informative Speaking final round speeches, examining the use of evidence. This article presents those findings and offers points of discussion for the forensic community.

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Editors' Note, R. Randolph Richardson, Kathy Brittain Richardson Jan 2015

Editors' Note, R. Randolph Richardson, Kathy Brittain Richardson

National Forensic Journal

No abstract provided.

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Older, Wiser, Novice: Nontraditional Students And Collegiate Forensics, Laura Pelletier Jan 2015

Older, Wiser, Novice: Nontraditional Students And Collegiate Forensics, Laura Pelletier

National Forensic Journal

There is a growing trend in nontraditional college student enrollments in the United States. Due to the constraints on nontraditional students’ time, they are often unable to spend as much time on campus as traditional students and to fully partake in campus life. Co-curricular activities, such as forensics, can be time consuming activities which may seem like an impossible fit for their already busy schedules. Because there are a growing number of nontraditional students, it is worth researching how much of what we do in the forensic community assumes that our students are only part of a traditional student body. …

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Volume 33 - Full Volume, Nfa Journal Jan 2015