Communication Commons^™

The Gradual Elimination Forensics Tournament, Duane Aschenbrenner

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

As our national tournaments become ever larger it is imperative that we devise a system of gradual round by round elimination rather than our current system of going from over 300 entries in an event to only 24 after four preliminary rounds. I would therefore propose that the following plan be implemented in at least one of our National Individual Events Tournaments during the spring of 1990.

Open Discussion On Use Of Workshops For Training Judges

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Discussion held at the Use of Workshops for Training Coaches/Judges session at the First Developmental Conference on Individual Events.

Recommendations From Training Judges Workshops, Anthony Schroeder

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Recommendations from the session on the use of workshops for training coaches and judges at the First Developmental Conference on Individual Events.

Workshops: A Direct And Interactive Forum For Forensics Coaches/Judges, Valerie Swarts, Elighie Wilson

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Forensics is an educational function set in an educational environment While the obligations and concomitant responsibilities are many, forensics personnel preeminently are serving a teaching function ... (McBath, 1975, p. 47)

Most would agree with the assumption that forensics serves primarily a pedagogical function. Consequently, forensics personnel often utilize opportunities for professional growth by actively participating in professional associations and contributing to research in the field. The unique concerns and opportunities in forensics, however, present a need for a more direct and interactive forum, such as workshops for forensics personnel.

A search of the literature has revealed very little emphasis …

Some Answers To Popular Questions About The Use Of Workshops For Training Individual Events Coaches And Judges, Clark D. Olson

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

The judging of individual events is a difficult task. Perhaps it is exceeded in difficulty by instructing others how to perform this difficult task. The purpose of this paper is to outline the specifics for the use of workshops for training judges and coaches. It will seek to answer the five "Ws" regarding this important task.

Open Discussion On Creative Events/Original Events

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Discussion held at the Creative Events/Original Events session at the First Developmental Conference on Individual Events.

Recommendations From Creative Events/Original Events, Michael Smith

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Recommendations from the Creative Events/Original Events Session at the First Developmental Conference on Individual Events.

Solving The Forensic Dilemma: Events Teaching Debate And Individual Events Skills, Roger C. Aden

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

"Uneasy alliance" is a phrase often used by news writers to capture the essence of a relationship between two dissimilar groups with a similar vested interest The forensic community, although not a frequent subject of news writers, nevertheless also suffers from a sort of uneasy alliance. This relationship is that between individual events and debate.

Even though both activities arise from Greek roots few would argue that, in general, the participants and coaches in the two activities as well as the activities themselves are quite different. Exceptions certainly do exist, but few programs provide a strong commitment to both activities …

Creative Events: An Historical Perspective For The Development Conference On Individual Events, Bruce Wickelgren

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

If one can assume that forensics as an organization must continue to change in order to remain alive, it is important to study the events that are used as well as how they became used on the national level. Before an event is adopted by a national organization, it is necessary to give the event a test-spin before adoption. For this reason, it is important for the forensic community to study the use of creative events.

Maintaining Integrity Ii: Further Thoughts On Ethics And Original Literature, Thomas G. Endres

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

I have previously argued (Endres, 1987) that allowing original literature in forensics oral interpretation is a bad thing. While I remain true to that sentiment, my focus of blame is shifting from the act itself to the state of the activity, i.e. it seems that lack of policy is the primary culprit which allows the use of original literature to impugn forensics integrity. The primary focus of this essay is on the ethical concerns surrounding the use of original literature, and how the introduction of policy may help preclude unethical behavior. This analysis will first recap arguments from my previous …

Perceived Attitudes Toward The Use Of Original Material In Forensics Oral Inerpretation: A Survey, Keith D. Green, Scott D. Ford

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

The issue of the use of original material in interpretation events has been informally debated by the Forensics community for years. Anyone who has taken part in these discussions is aware of both the diversity and intensity of questions held by Forensics coaches, judges, and students. The great scarcity of tournament policies toward the use of original material, the nearly total lack of previous research in this area, and the apparent increase in the use of original material all highlight a growing need for the Forensics community to familiarize itself with the complexities of this issue. The importance of consistency …

Conference Participants, Larry Schnoor, Vicki Karns

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

List of conference participants for Perspectives on Individual Events: Proceedings of the First Developmental Conference on Individual Events held in Denver, Colorado, August 18-20, 1988.

Conference Schedule, Larry Schnoor, Vicki Karns

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Conference schedule for Perspectives on Individual Events: Proceedings of the First Developmental Conference on Individual Events held in Denver, Colorado, August 18-20, 1988.

Table Of Contents For Perspectives On Individual Events: Proceedings Of The First Developmental Conference On Individual Events, Larry Schnoor, Vicki Karns

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Table of contents for Perspectives on Individual Events: Proceedings of the First Developmental Conference on Individual Events held in Denver, Colorado, August 18-20, 1988.

Lending A Helping Hand: Some Suggestiong For "Common Sense Meddling", James K. Dittus

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Scholarship in forensics tends to be directed at the experienced coach and the more developed program. However, it is important to remember that there does exist lesser developed and new programs directed by inexperienced directors. This paper suggest some very basic steps the forensics community could take to help these programs develop, including: workshops for new directors, mentor-type assistance, the provision of a division for competition among less advanced students, and more scholarship in the "basics" of program administration.

A Value Approach: Some Notes Toward The Educational/Competitive Aspects Of Forensics Programs, Jan J. Younger

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

This study attempted to investigate the educational/competitive values in co-curricular forensics programs. The study made two major assumptions (1) that individual events programs should be linked to the curriculum and (2) that the identification and development of educational values would contribute to the improvement of forensic instruction.

It was the purpose of this study to offer an examination of five current studies in higher education suggesting curricular reform. These studies included; (a) Involvement in Learning: Realizing the Potential of American Higher Education (1984), (b) Project on Redefining the Meaning and Purpose of Baccalaureate Degrees (1985), (c) The report entitled "To …

The Ethical Use Of Evidence In Public Address Events, Sheryl A. Friedley

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

As we enter the decade of the '90s and round the corner heading toward the 21st century, American appear to be more concerned than ever about the issue of "ethics." This continued interest in studying moral behavior has lead to the development of more explicit codes of conduct in business, professional, and educational settings. In keeping with this interest, the forensic community has continued to consider the ethical standards that should be established for use of evidence in public address events.

National Individual Events Tournament Qualifying Legs: An Ideas Whose Time Has Passed, Clark D. Olson

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

The national individual events tournament hierarchy has a significant impact on practices at invitational tournaments. Regardless of which national affiliation one holds, participants are constantly being bombarded with questions of "7/12?" or "How many legs?" It is the contention of this essay to examine the role that the national hierarchy has had with regard to the at-large qualification method, examine an alternative, and provide implications for an alternative qualifying method.

Community College Programs: How Have The Afa Nationals Affected This Population?, Mike Wartman

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

The attached position paper was presented at the 75th annual meeting of the Speech Communication Association. It was presented to surface issues relating to differences in perceptions regarding national forensics competition. The panel at which this paper was given attracted a very small number of audience members and reactors. Consequently, the ideas in the paper have not received much attention. For the purpose of the philosophical concerns topic area relating to organizational hierarchies of Individual Events associations, this paper is offered to examine issues relating to various organizational groups within the forensics community. Although it specifically addresses national competition, the …

Telling The Story Of The Informally Trained Coach/Judge, Colan T. Hanson

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

This theoretical article explores the implications of the informally trained coach/judge on the future of forensics. Issues addressed are those involving the relationship between informal training and the financial stability of the forensic program; the perceived professional standards associated with the forensic educator; and the impact on the educational facilitator role played by the coach/judge in the forensic community. The analysis of this paper suggests that the forensic community if placing the forensic professional and the activity itself at risk in the future, if informal training becomes the main means of preparing the next generation of coach/judge participants.

Inter-Judge Agreement: An Analysis Of The 1990 Nfa And Afa-Niet National Individual Events Tournaments, Jon C. Bruschke, K. Jeanine Congalton, Robert H. Gass

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Given the increasing concern about the judge's role in individual events tournaments, and given the paucity of literature specifically pertaining to inter-judge agreement, we sought to analyze the degree of inter-judge agreement at two national level tournaments which employ multiple judge panels in preliminary rounds. The results of the 1990 National Forensics Association Tournament and the 1990 American Forensic Association - National Individual Events Tournament serve as a basis for the analysis.

A Question Of Oral Questions: Why Aren't Judges Allowed To Query Competitors?, Erik T. Kanter

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

In the following paper, I will: first examine both the potential benefits and disadvantages of allow the option of oral questioning; second, show how questioning can be integrated into the judging of individual events; and, finally, proposed a timetable and an agenda for integration both at the local and national levels.

Mentoring Relationships And Programs: Applications To The Forensics Community, Cynthia R. Carver, Cindy Larson-Casselton

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Mentoring activities and programs have gained increasing attention and endorsement in a variety of business and academic areas. This paper proceeded with the premise that mentoring may possess untapped potential for the forensic community. Starting with a survey of experienced and novice coaches to assess the existence of and attitudes toward mentoring activities, the paper then moves to conclusions and recommendations for the expanded use of mentoring as a method to advance or promote our forensic coaches and judges.

When We Don't Know How To Get Where We're Going...Perhaps It's Time We Find A Map, Sharon Porter

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

This paper will outline four issues that are indicative of the concerns of the forensic community. The lack of focus and the nonexistence of a clear line of responsibility between the American Forensic Association, the Speech Communication Association-Forensic Division and the Council of Forensic Organizations serve as impediments in accomplishing these and other goals. Since the restructuring of the forensic organizations offer promise for correcting these difficulties, guidelines for the restructuring process will be advanced. Finally, a possible model will be advocated which could bring about a more effective administrative structure for collegiate forensics.

Strategic Recruitment, Keith Denslow

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

This paper suggests that the process of recruitment should be more closely examined. Examples of current methods of recruitment will be reviewed, a framework for a systematic recruitment campaign will be suggested, and practical techniques displayed.

Implications Of The Informal Training Of Coaches And Judges, Robert L. Davenport

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

This paper will support the thesis that more training of forensics coaches and judges, whether formal or informal, needs to take place in order to address many of the concerns of the forensic community in regard to inequities in coach/judge expertise and to philosophical inequities in the criteria for events by which coaches and judges fulfill their supervisory and evaluatory responsibilities in helping students become more effective communicators.

What I Think You Should Do Is..., Joel L. Hefling

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

If we conclude that veteran coaches and judges have had little or no formal training, and novice coaches and judges have had little or no formal training, then a number of implications begin to develop. For the sake of clarity, and to follow forensic conventions, let us examine several of those implications, first from the perspective of coaches, and then from the perspective of judges, and finally from the perspectives of the students. Then we may be able to draw some final conclusions for the forensic community as a whole.

Helping The Inexperienced Director, Alice J. Jaswal

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

This paper is not a research project or an experimental study. It is based on my own experiences, on discussions with I.E. directors who felt they lacked adequate training, and on discussions with "seasoned' directors who have aided new directors and new programs.

What The Rules Mean: Using Defined Judging Guidelines To Augment Informal Training, J.G. Harrington

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

This paper proposes one approach to those problems and suggests how it could improve judging, as well as giving coaches and competitors a useful tool for improving their presentations. What I propose is that tournament directors prepare simple, non-binding judging guidelines for each event at their tournaments. Judging guidelines could do more that give novice judges a set of standards to apply to each event; they could also prepare a way for the forensic community to begin to agree, in a basic way, on what we expect from competitors. In light of the generally ad hoc approach we now take …

Perspectives Of A Forensic Coach's First Year, Nancy Anderson Haga

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Perspectives of Nancy Haga from Longwood College (VA) on becoming a first year forensic coach.