Speech and Rhetorical Studies Commons^™

Maintaining The Status Quo: Recommendations For Preserving Public Argument In Parliamentary Debate, Steven L. Johnson

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Accompanied by praise and criticism, the growth of parliamentary debate in recent years has been exponential. As Robert Trapp, current President of the National Parliamentary Debate Association points out in his May 28, 1997 letter to the membership of the NPDA, "(f)rom 1994 to 1997, our Championship Tournament has grown from just over fifty teams to almost four times as many. Measured in numerical terms, the NPDA is a healthy infant." Given this growth, a discussion of the future of parliamentary debate seems appropriate.

Regardless of one's perspective of what parliamentary debate is, much has been written about what parliamentary …

Developing Functional Standards As A Means To Greater Accessibility In Nfa-Ld, John M. Devine

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

A consistent theme of debate league innovation and alternatives has been the attempt at an increased focus on "substantive" argument along with increased accessibility to the activity. The National Forensic Association's Lincoln-Douglas Debate (NFA-LD) is one of the more recent responses to the desire for an event which promotes topic specific argumentation, at a reasonable rate of delivery, which is accessible to students with no formal debate experience. NFA-LD's approach provides a reference point for examining the interaction of the league and event structure in the context of the desire for less speed, more substance, and, more accessibility.

The argument …

Returning To Our Roots: A New Direction For Oral Interpretation, Trischa Knapp

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

The text is dead--but not in some twist of Postmodern logic. Rather, an examination of current competitive oral interpretation practices reveals that, indeed, the text is dead in competitive forensics. Many texts in oral interpretation have been sacrificed to the idea of "theme" as witnessed by the recent trend toward interweaving different pieces of literature that revolve around a central theme. This practice involves dividing multiple pieces of literature to create, essentially, a new whole since no one piece retains its sense of completeness. Interweaving literature flies in the face of traditional oral interpretation practices, not just in the realm …

Challenging The Conventions Of Oral Interpretation, Christopher S. Aspdal

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

The forensic community is currently facing many difficult challenges. Many stigmas have been placed in the world of oral interpretation. The nature of oral interpretation is to educate students through the use of literature. Regardless of the literature used, students have the ability to grow from this material. However, we as coaches and judges have taken a more negative approach to this concept. Words such as recycle and trite have taken the place of more important words like education and research.

It is important for us to look at the reasons why we have taken this approach to oral interpretation …

Creating An Individual Events Judging Philosophy, Jeff Przybylo

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

What is an I.E. Judging Philosophy? It is a series of written statements concerning how the judge views Individual Events in general, variables in each events, and views concerning decision-making. It is a tool that judges, coaches, and graduate assistants can use to develop their views and attitudes concerning judging criteria. In addition, it can serve as a discussion starter for forensics classes, conferences, and graduate assistant training sessions. It is not intended to be shared with competitors ( as in debate).

Creating Space For The Physically Challenged Competitor In Individual Events, David L. Kosloski

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Recently I have written about the challenges of creating a space for physically challenged students in individual events competition (Kosloski, 1994). My research suggests that attitudes and inexperience among coaches and critics are preventing the total integration of physically challenged students into the forensics activity. Many coaches have admitted that while they will not discourage students with disabilities from participating in forensics, certain barriers make such participation difficult, if not impossible. These barriers include budget constraints, building/room accessibility, transportation, peer rejection, and judging concerns, among others. While increasing gender and minority diversity in forensics has recently been given much needed …

Professionalism And Forensics: A Matter Of Choice, Larry Schnoor, Bryant K. Alexander

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

In dealing with the topic of Professionalism and Forensics, much has been said about the various elements that go into the making of a forensic educator. This paper examines these elements by relating the choices that are involved in this educational activity. Opinions, probes, and questions are presented to challenge those involved in the education of a forensic professional to be aware of the choices that must be faced in determining the direction of a career and program in forensic education.

The Ghostwriter, The Lassez-Faire Coach, And The Forensic Professional: Negotiating The Overcoaching Vs. Undercoaching Dilemma In Original Contest Speeches, James J. Kimble

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

There has long been concern in forensic circles about coaches who allegedly write original speeches for their students. This essay argues that while such overcoachers are indeed acting unethically and uneducationally, their opposing number--undercoachers--are also acting undesirably. Perhaps most critically, both sets of coaches are acting unprofessionally. After breaking down the creative speech process into seven component parts, I suggest that there is a comfortable ground in between these two extremes, where a forensic coach can legitimately--and in a truly professional manner--contribute to a student's creative efforts without endangering either the student's learning process or any ethical boundaries.

Resolutions From The Third National Development Conference On Individual Events (Addressing Individual Events, Nfa-Ld, & Parliamentary Debate): August 13-16, 1997, Rice University, Houston, Tx, Shawnalee A. Whitney

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Resolutions from the 1997 National Developmental Conference on Individual Events.

EDITOR'S NOTES: Each new resolution is indicated with a •. Titles of panels or sessions that developed resolutions are indicated. Most resolutions were developed in panels and were brought to the legislative session for approval or rejection by the entire group. Resolutions that were developed by the entire group in the Keynote and Legislative Sessions are grouped together. All resolutions appearing in this document were endorsed by a vote of those attending the conference. Resolutions from the Keynote and Legislative Sessions are listed first. Other resolutions are listed in the …

Conference Attendees, Shawnalee A. Whitney

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

List of conference attendees for the 1997 National Developmental Conference on Individual Events.

Conference Schedule, Shawnalee A. Whitney

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Conference schedule for the 1997 National Developmental Conference on Individual Events.

Table Of Contents For The 1997 National Developmental Conference On Individual Events, Shawnalee A. Whitney

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Table of contents for Conference Proceedings: National Developmental Conference on Individual Events 1997.

Conference Notes, Daniel Cronn-Mills

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Notes on the 2008 National Developmental Conference on Individual Events.

Schedule Of The 2008 National Developmental Conference On Individual Events, Daniel Cronn-Mills

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Schedule for the 2008 National Developmental Conference on Individual Events.

Participants, Daniel Cronn-Mills

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

List of conference participants for the 2008 National Developmental Conference on Individual Events.

Resolutions, Daniel Cronn-Mills

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

The resolutions listed below were a product of the various panel sessions that met during the conference. A number of sessions produced resolutions similar in nature. The redundant resolutions were combined into this list. The resolutions were discussed during the general assembly and voted on by the participants in attendance. All resolutions are non-binding on state, regional, and national associations. All resolutions were passed along to the appropriate associations for consideration and deliberation.

Challenges And Opportunities For Forensics Programs: Offering Debate And Individual Events, Edward A. Hinck

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

The purpose of this paper is to inquire into the forces that might account for this shift in the focus of programs, to consider some of the values served by broad-based programs, and identify some of the challenges faced by directors of programs that strive to offer opportunities in both debate and individual events. Despite some sentiment that narrowly focused programs deliver the greatest degree of educational impact for the resources invested, in some instances broad-based programs might play a central role in the educational mission of a department or college. On these grounds, the forensic community should embrace diversity …

Facilitating Dual Service Programs: Imperatives For The Future Of Forensics, Terry L. West

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

I do not recall the last time I was at any sort of gathering of directors of forensics for any length of time when the discussion did not at some point turn to the issue of program mortality. Everyone has a story to tell of a program that recently ended, or is at risk of doing so. The most difficult moment in my own forensic career came only three years ago, when secret political maneuverings by a couple of self-aggrandizing administrators (who have since flown from their positions) put an end to a forensics program that was over 100 years …

Understanding The Hyphen: Addressing The Debate-Ie Divide, Brian Swafford

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

At the 2008 National Forensics Association National Championship Tournament, a special meeting was held for the coaches of Lincoln-Douglas (LD) debaters. At this meeting, those in attendance attempted to voice concerns about both the perceived "slights" and the actual structures in place (like sweepstakes formulas, awards, and qualifications) from the larger NFA community, made up of individual events (IE) coaches. Issues like limited judge strikes or mutually preferred judging, changing the schedule so that debaters did not go first and last on competition days, and allowing for oral comments by judges were all discussed. But at the heart of this …

Relating To Publics: An Additional Role Of The Director Of Forensics, Ryan Lauth

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Without fostering effective relationships with students, departments and administrators, a forensic program can easily succumb to budget cuts. This paper attempts to analyze the relationships that must be managed for a director of forensics to run a successful program. To this end, a review of the literature is given, an analysis of this literature is conducted and research questions are given that will further enrich future inquiry into the public relations role of the director of forensics.

The Liminal Graduate Student, Adam Gonzales-Weightman

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

The purpose of this paper is to expand individual event (IE) terminology. Expanding the terminology in which our IE community uses is essential to the growth of the IE community. This paper was inspired by people in the IE community who have realized how important it is to expand IE research and academic publications.

Perceptions Of Past Competitors: Presentation Of The Data, Leah White, Larry Schnoor, Grant Anderson

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

In the past five years several well established forensic programs in our region have been discontinued. The reasons given to justify these decisions often centered on a lack of resources available to sustain the programs. Certainly the presence of scarce resources in an academic setting is understandable, but what many current coaches and competitors found especially concerning was the perceived lack of resistance by faculty at those institutions who were themselves once forensic competitors and coaches. In fact, in some cases former competitors were active and vocal supporters of the decision to end their institution‟s forensic program. The idea for …

How Is That Helpful?: An Analysis Of Ballot Helpfulness, Janis K. Crawford, Gregory E. Moser

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

The study confronts several issues relating to the helpfulness of ballots from different types of judges. An analysis was performed to analyze 135 ballots from several collegiate forensic tournaments held throughout the United States. Coaches, graduate assistants and hired judges were compared.

"No, It Has Nothing To Do With Csi": Using Public Relations To Promote New Forensic Programs, Christopher J. Fenner

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Directors of new forensic programs are commonly faced with the challenge of building program support within communities that have little, if any, prior knowledge of competitive forensics. The diversity of forensic events, organizations, and awards can make message development and program promotion a daunting task. The organizing schemata of a public relations campaign and an understanding of college and community media needs can be powerful tools for a new program director. This report provides forensic directors with specific strategies and tactics for implementing a public relations campaign to build program support.

Uncertainity In Spontaneity: Toward An Epistemic Impromptu, Michael Steudeman

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

This paper reviews the recent argument that forensics is epistemic, suggesting that those who adopt that metaphor could serve themselves better by approaching impromptu speaking as an epistemic exercise. It draws upon Pat Gehrke's critique of debate pedagogy to form a framework to analyze impromptu as it is currently performed-and its obsession with starting from the truth, espousing all views with certainty, and adhering to a linear model of analysis. Finally, it offers several options for those impromptuers wishing to break the mold, arguing that the so called "mistakes" made by beginning impromptuers could, with practice, lead to more insightful …

Performing For The Audience: Putting The Public Back Into Individual Events Training, Scott Wells, Denee Janda

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Forensics would benefit from utilizing more nontraditional judges at tournaments. The paper argues for creating more diverse judging pools. Specifically, the benefits and challenges of including community judges are addressed. Although the issue of including more nontraditional judges has been raised in the literature on debate, there has been less discussion in the Individual Events community.

New Wine In Old Wineskins: Questioning The Value Of Research Questions In Rhetorical Criticism, Richard E. Paine

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Recent years have seen a trend toward the inclusion and heightened valuing of research questions in competitive Rhetorical Criticism (Communication Analysis). The inclusion of this content element is quite a new phenomenon on the national-level competitive circuit. In fact, the absence of such research questions in competitive speeches was highlighted by Ott as recently as 1998. But by 2007-2008, the inclusion of a research question was established as essentially de rigueur for a vast number of judges. For example, consider the ballots received this past year by a competitively successful rhetorical criticism entry I coached. At one tournament, all five …

Re-Examining Competition And Education In Collegiate Forensics: Establishing The Need For A Pedagogical Prerogative Perspective, Randy Richardson, Brendan B. Kelly

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

The authors examine the dominant metaphors used to guide collegiate forensics practice during the last four decades. The interplay between education and competition serve as a focus for the analysis. The authors establish the need for a pedagogical prerogative perspective as a means of enhancing the educational value of intercollegiate individual events.

An Optimum Balance Of Forensic Goals: Balancing Competitive And Educational Ends Through Forensic Honoraries, Scott Jensen

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

The myriad benefits found through participation in forensics are well documented. Few co- or extracurricular activities boast the range of opportunity and benefit that are found through forensics. At the same time, this diversity within the activity creates tension for some programs that struggle with the best approach to forensic participation. Few would argue that forensics is at the same time educational and competitive. The argument that evolves from this duality of mission is which, if any, is more important or prevalent. Answering this question has led to multiple associations, a wealth of scholarship, and the conclusion that there is …

The "Culture Of Qualifying" Revisited: What Is The "End" Of Forensics, Daniel A. West

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Ten years ago, at the last developmental conference, I again asked Larry’s question to the greater forensics community. In my paper on the "Culture of Qualifying," I contended that the focus AFA schools place on qualifying for nationals resulted in three problems: pulling slots, hunting for legs and a reduction in the quality of regular season tournaments. Another ten years have passed, and not much has changed. The "Culture of Qualifying" still exists. And I am left wondering: Where do we go from here?