Performance Studies Commons^™

Is It Prose Or Is It Drama? Distinguishing Events Based On Judging Criteria, Justin J. Rudnick, Anthony Peavy, Balencia Crosby, Alyssa Harter, Cristy Dougherty

National Forensic Journal

Genre distinctions have been a source of confusion and contention in the collegiate forensics community, particularly in terms of distinguishing between appropriate source material for prose and drama. As the most powerful indicators of current forensic performance evaluations, ballots help illustrate the judging paradigms shaping the community. To that end, we conducted a content analysis of preliminary-round prose and drama ballots from the 2014 NFA championship tournament to determine how judges distinguish between prose and drama. Results illustrate substantial similarities in how each event is evaluated by judges. We discuss implications for this distinction in the conclusion of this essay.

How Can Sotl Help Forensic Educators Assess Their Performance?, Leah White

National Forensic Journal

Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) is a movement among educators which seeks to acknowledge the work we do teaching as its own form of unique scholarship. SoTL argues the work we do as teachers can be peer-reviewed, critiqued and shared with others in our academic communities. The goal of this paper is to outline how forensic educators can use SoTL approaches to help build an argument about their scholarly activity as illustrated in coaching practice. SoTL provides a frame through which we can articulate the significance of this aspect of our scholarly performance.

Volume 36 - Full Volume

National Forensic Journal

No abstract provided.

Creating The Role Of O'Brien In 1984, Andoni Marinos

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This document is a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the Master of Fine Arts degree in theatre. It is a detailed account of author Andoni Marinos’s artistic process in creating the role of O’Brien in Minnesota State University, Mankato’s production of 1984 in the spring of 2018. The thesis chronicles the actor’s artistic process from pre-production through performance in five chapters: an early production analysis, a historical and critical perspective, a rehearsal and performance journal, a post-production analysis and a process development analysis. Appendices and works cited are included.

The Direction Of Why Torture Is Wrong, And The People Who Love Them, Donald Hart

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Hart, Donald C., M.F.A. Thesis. The Direction of Why Torture is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them. Mankato: Minnesota State University, Mankato, 2018.

This is a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment for the Master of Fine Arts degree in theatre. It is a detailed account of Donald C. Hart's artistic process in directing Why Torture is Wrong, and the People Who Love Them in the fall of 2017 for Minnesota State University, Mankato's department of Theatre and Dance. The paper chronicles the director's artistic process from pre-production through performance in five chapters: a pre-production analysis, a historical and critical …

Volume 35 - Editor's Note, Richard E. Paine, Emily M. Cramer

National Forensic Journal

No abstract provided.

Why Forensics Matters: The Development Of Emotional Competence In Competitors, Kelly Michael Young, Avery Henry, John Koch

National Forensic Journal

To explicate our justification for the value of competitive speech activities, we contend that participation in forensics develops critical emotional competencies in students. The narratives used in this study were part of the NSDA’s efforts to create materials that would introduce various individual events to beginning competitors. In 2016, through its Instagram account, the NSDA asked high school competitors to comment on a post about why they chose to compete in their individual events. The NSDA identified the best 12 responses and then interviewed those students. ping and performing pieces in individual events. After examining how signs of emotional competence …

Where Are They Now(?): Two Decades Of Longitudinal Outcome Assessment Data Linking Positive Student, Graduate Student, Career And Life Trajectory Decisions To Participation In Intercollegiate Competitive Debate, Jack E. Rogers, Nicole P. M. Freeman, Arthur R. Rennels

National Forensic Journal

In 1997, Rogers (2002, 2007) launched an ambitious cohort-based study to specifically measure student outcomes from forensic participation with direct, empirical comparisons between a debate and non-debate group over an extended period through college, graduate school, professional careers, and life-trajectory decisions. This monograph offers a continuation of those earlier studies in order to provide almost two decades of empirical performance data and outcomes. In order for the reader to place the current study in context, it is helpful to review a brief update of the applicable literature and a brief explanation of the previous two studies before attempting to interpret …

National Forensic Association: An Update From The President, Karen Morris

National Forensic Journal

No abstract provided.

The Humanistic Value Of Individual Events Participation, Leah White

National Forensic Journal

Forensic educators have long struggled to communicate the value of forensic participation to those not familiar with the activity. Drawing from literature in the field of counseling and student personnel, this paper argues participation in individual events is beneficial because it allows students to engage in what Baxter Magolda (2001) refers to as self-authorship among good company. Using interviews and autoethnographic methods, I investigate how participation in competitive forensics helps students meet personal growth needs. I conclude with suggestions for how forensic educators can communicate the student development goals achieved through forensic participation.

Reflections On Forensic Practice And Civic Education: What Are We Teaching? What Are We Learning?, R. Randolph Richardson

National Forensic Journal

No abstract provided.

Volume 35 - Front Matter, Nfa Journal

National Forensic Journal

No abstract provided.

Volume 35 - Full Volume, Nfa Journal

National Forensic Journal

No abstract provided.

Creating The Role Of Georgie Bukatinsky In "The Full Monty", Erin Horst

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This document is a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the Master of Fine Arts degree in theatre. It is a detailed account of author Erin Horst's artistic process in creating the role of Georgie Bukatinsky in Minnesota State University, Mankato's production of "The Full Monty" in the fall of 2016. The thesis chronicles the actor's artistic process from pre-production through performance in five chapters: an early production analysis, a historical and critical perspective, a rehearsal and performance journal, a post-production analysis and a process development analysis. Appendices and works cited are included.

Technical Direction Of Frankenstein 1930, Isaac Sawle

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This document is a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the Master of Fine Arts degree in theatre. It is a detailed account of author Isaac Sawle’s technical direction process for Minnesota State University, Mankato’s production of Frankenstein 1930 in the fall of 2016. This thesis chronicles the author’s process from pre-production through post-production in five chapters: an early production analysis, a historical and critical perspective, a process journal, a post-production analysis and a process development analysis. Appendices and works cited are included.

Limited Time: Meeting Judge Expectations And Pedagogical Standards In Rhetorical Criticism, Jessica Benham

National Forensic Journal

Since the creation of Communication Analysis/Rhetorical Criticism as an event in competitive college forensics, forensic research has critiqued the depth of analysis in Communication Analysis/Rhetorical Criticism speeches, with many arguing that effective analysis was impossible due to the ten-minute time limit. Considering this criticism, spanning three decades, I argue time has come for an increase to the time limit, allowing students to more effectively analyze artifacts, to better understand the methodology they employ, and to make changes to the structure of their speeches in response to the critiques of other scholars. Such a change would increase the educational impact of …

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

National Forensic Journal

No abstract provided.

The Teaching Of Creativity: Process, Product, Environment, And Assessment, Todd T. Holm

National Forensic Journal

Teaching creativity is an issue gaining more attention. Businesses and universities alike are looking for ways to promote creative and innovative thinking. As universities look for ways to teach and assess creativity, interscholastic speech and debate competition should be held up as a model for such efforts. Through a combination of iterative performances, the mastering of domain knowledge, an environment that encourages/rewards creativity, and feedback based on the Consensual Assessment Technique, forensics offers an ideal environment for students to learn the process of developing creative products.

Volume 34 - Full Volume, Nfa Journal

National Forensic Journal

No abstract provided.

Volume 34 - Front Matter, Nfa Journal

National Forensic Journal

No abstract provided.

Inroads To Outrounds: A Hofstedian Approach To Newcomer Integration Into The Culture Of Forensics, Chad Kuyper

National Forensic Journal

This study examines how newcomers to forensic competition in intercollegiate forensics integrate themselves into the larger community of competitors. Specifically, this study takes an intercultural approach and frames the forensic organization as a culture unto itself into which new arrivals must assimilate. To shed further light on this culture, this study determines where members of “forensic culture” are positioned on Hofstede’s cultural spectra. By modifying Hofstede’s original Values Module Survey and administering it to current competitors from around the country, insight can be gleaned into the cultural attitudes of the forensic organization, and the values that guide the practice of …

Traversing The Terrain: Paths And Roadblocks To Conscientization In Forensic Competition, Alyssa Reid

National Forensic Journal

Paulo Freire (1973) articulated the notion of conscientization in his groundbreaking book Pedagogy of the Oppressed as the faculty of observing contradicting messages communicated by overarching power within societal, political, and economic structures and second, actively opposing oppression in those structures. Intercollegiate forensic competition is often the place where students are provided an outlet to achieve conscientization. The profound process or speaking problems into existence not only develops the competitor but provides a unique opportunity to spark further critical discussion. However, the conversations often remained trapped in the speech world. Therefore, it is important to expand the scope of our …

Directing Time Stands Still, Michael Bradley Sheeks

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This document is a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the Master of Fine Arts degree in theatre. It is a detailed account of author Michael Sheeks’s artistic process in directing Time Stands Still in the fall of 2015. The thesis chronicles the director’s artistic process from pre-production through performance in five chapters: a preproduction analysis, an historical and critical perspective, a process journal, a post-production analysis and a process development analysis. Exhibits and works cited are included.

Creating The Role Of Frederick Barrett In Titanic: The Musical, Adam Val Yankowy

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This document is a thesis submitted in fulfillment of the master of Fine Arts degree in Musical Theatre. It is a detailed account of author Adam Yankowy’s artistic process in creating the role of Frederick Barrett in the Minnesota State University, Mankato’s production of Titanic: The Musical in the Fall of 2015. The thesis follows the actor’s process beginning with the early production analysis in the first chapter. The actor then discusses the work in its historical context followed by a detailed journal of the acting process in chapters two and three. Chapter four is the post-production analysis and the …

The Sound Design Of Antigone, Luke Jacob Walchuk

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This document is a project submitted in partial fulfillment of the Master of Fine Arts degree in theatre. It provides an account of author Luke Walchuk’s process in creating and implementing the sound design for Minnesota State University, Mankato’s production of Antigone in January and February of 2016. The paper gives a chronological overview of the designer’s process in four chapters: an early production analysis, a historical and critical perspective, a process journal, and a post-production analysis. A fifth chapter provides a process development analysis of the designer’s career as a student of theatre. Appendices featuring production paperwork and other …

Mask Work And Improvisations: A Classroom Adaptation Based On The French Tradition, Marcia Berry

Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota Journal

Both historically and currently, mask work provides excellent body training for actors and mimes. This article offers a brief history of French mask work as well as step-by-step instructions for a mask workshop that moves students from simple to abstract mask improvisations. The mask workshop also functions as an icebreaker and builds class camaraderie.

Exploring Literary Characters In Classroom Performance, Gerald Lee Ratliff

Communication and Theater Association of Minnesota Journal

Original classroom exercises are an invaluable instructional tool to actively engage students in analysis and performance of dramatic and non-dramatic literary texts. The basic principle of classroom performance emphasizes a critical and creative teaching perspective that stimulates student responses to the aesthetic, emotional and intellectual content of a literary text. Selected exercises that promote a more theatrical impulse in the study and performance of literary texts present meaningful opportunities for students to give vocal and physical visualization to the actions, attitudes and emotions of literary characters and, ultimately, enriches the classroom learning experience.

Volume 33 - Front Matter, Nfa Journal

National Forensic Journal

No abstract provided.

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

National Forensic Journal

No abstract provided.

“…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.