Speech and Rhetorical Studies Commons^™

After Dinner Speaking: Problems, Causes, And Still No Solutions, Brandi Lawless

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

I was judging a round of After Dinner Speaking last weekend, hoping for a laugh. Some competitors were successful through their use of wit, others used cheesy lines, and the last student was probably supposed to be entered in Persuasion. It was extremely difficult and frustrating to fill out the ballots. Should I have voted for the funniest person, the funniest looking person, or the most significant topic with some jokes thrown in at the end like laws on a California proposition? This is a question facing many individual events judges today, while the students competing in this event are …

The Day The Music Died: Encouraging Prosodic And Emotional Analysis In The Oral Interpretation Of Poetry, Chad Kuyper

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

This paper examines issues unique to the coaching and oral interpretation of poetry, focusing on the role of prosodic analysis in creating a meaningful interpretation. Contending that current forensic practice produces interpretations that do not value the uniqueness of poetry as a literary genre, this paper proposes a coaching method that encourages the student to examine both prosodic and emotional elements within the selection. A review of literature of oral interpretation textbooks from a variety of time periods is provided, examining the prominence placed on different styles of poetic analysis, and comparing these advocated techniques to current forensic practice. This …

So Much Drama: In Support Of A Shift From Dramatic Duo To Duo Interpretation, Michael Chouinard

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Dramatic Duo has become a poster child for the forensics world, appealing to crowds both in and out of the community, while providing its participants with challenges and opportunities not found in other interpretive events. However, the current event description contains ideas that might be viewed as contradictory, valuing interpretation over acting, yet limiting students to dramatic sources of literature (stage, screen, and radio). This paper proposes a change from Dramatic Duo to Duo Interpretation, allowing material of any genre to be used in competition. Implications of both a pedagogical and competitive nature will be explored. This paper does not …

Gasp! Faint! Cry!: Making Dramatic Interpretation A Book Optional Event Or Not, Amber Kuipers

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Imagine yourself, for a moment, in a classroom where six other competitors are talking and eagerly waiting for their next Dramatic Interpretation (D.I.) round to begin. The judge surfaces from the depths of the judging room, coffee in one hand, ballots in the back pocket, pen stuck behind his ear appearing as though he has not slept since the tournament began, and takes a seat back row center. The room is silenced as the authority settles in and then calls the first competitor's name. She stands and walks to the front of the room. The metaphorical lights dim as she …

Maintaining And Enhancing Institutional Relevance: Long-Term Program Sustainability In An Era Of Increased Intra-Institutional Competition For Resources, Brendan B. Kelly

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

The preservation and growth of intercollegiate forensic programs does not, and should not, depend on the singular factor of competitive results. The value of a program is rooted, in great part, in intra-institutional factors. This paper puts forth an assertion related to increasing the institutional value of forensics programs. Emphasis is placed on expanding the scope of the program goals and framing the success of a program on a non-competitive basis. The intra-institutional framing of program identity as "centers of excellence" functions as a central tenet.

Constructing A Vision In A Small Group: A Narrative Analysis Of A Forensics Team, Ryan Lauth

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

In an effort to replace many of the forensics programs that are lost every year to budget cuts and coaching changes, many in the forensics community are making an effort to build new teams. Through the observation of team meetings and interactions I have used small group theory to analyze the vision the new team at Miami University has constructed. Hopefully, other coaches can use this information to develop a unifying vision that can foster team growth.

Despite the long and impressive competitive success at Miami University, the turnover in the coaching staff has also resulted in a high turnover …

Helping Programs Survive: Utilizing The Concepts Of Sustainability As Viable Means Of Program Growth, Brian R. Klosa

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

One of the many responsibilities and duties of a forensics coach is conducting long range planning for their respective program. Recruiting students and retaining them is paramount to surviving. When numerous programs across the country have ceased to exist, examining this issue takes on paramount important. In the past, the forensic community has engaged into important discussion about the growth of programs within our activity. However, I adamantly believe directors at smaller programs need to shift their focus from growth to developing a philosophy of sustainability. This paper will defend this position by describing the concept of sustainability as it …

The Peoria Recommendations: Suggestions On Promotion, Tenure And Evaluation For Directors Of Forensics, Michael Dreher

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

This document, therefore, seeks to strike a balance between prescriptive and descriptive. While departments and institutions vary as far as standards of evaluation, tenure, and promotion are concerned, this document seeks to advance the work of former and current forensic educators such as Ann Burnett, MaryAnn Danielson, Tom Workman, David Williams and Joe Gantt to raise the kinds of questions that directors (and assistant directors) should ask of themselves and their programs, and to suggest questions that should be asked of forensics professionals 2 when it comes to their evaluation. In that light, these recommendations serve both to further the …

Finding Strength In Numbers: A Collaborative Team Approach To Directing Forensic Programs, Scott Jensen, Gina Jensen, Thomas Serfass

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Much has been written regarding pressures facing directors of forensics and forensic educators in general. Most of these pressures are associated with managing a slate of professional responsibilities that exceed those of most professional educators, along with balancing professional and personal lives. While much attention has been paid to the role of the director of forensics as an educator, colleague, and mentor, less has been written regarding the director as a manager of professional colleagues. Similarly, little discussion is found within forensic scholarship regarding the challenges and opportunities associated with multiple staff members within a single forensic program.

We advocate …

Retention, Retention, Retention: Keeping Our Colleagues In The Trenches, Joel Hefling

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Over a period of years (thirty or more, probably), a number of coaches have left forensics. Some have retired from education. Some have retired from coaching. Some have left coaching to pursue other academic interests. Some of those individuals have returned to positions that are solely teaching positions. Others have moved into administrative positions, at a departmental level, or at a college or university level. Invariably, those individuals have left "holes" to be filled. Filling the positions is not necessarily a concern or a problem.

Positions can and have been filled by competent coaches and educators. The "natural" attrition provides …

The Pitfalls, Perils, And Promise To Increasing Forensic Research, Daniel Cronn-Mills

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Based on the above statement by Harris, Kropp, and Rosenthal (1986), I feel compelled to qualify my opening sentence to this article. I opened by stating "Research, in fact, provides the foundation for all we do in forensics." A more truthful statement is that "research should provide the foundation for all we do in forensics." I am not convinced this is the case.

Overcoming Obstacles To Scholarly Engagement, Edward A. Hinck

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

This paper reaffirms the idea that scholarship is essential to advancing the professional and knowledge based identity of the forensic community. To develop a vision for future scholarly activity, the paper outlines some possible areas for consideration in developing writing and research programs, reviews some of the obstacles that stand in the way of a more active community of forensic scholars, and offers solutions that hold promise for advancing the mission of scholarship in the intercollegiate forensic community.

Table Of Contents For The 2008 National Developmental Conference On Individual Events, Daniel Cronn-Mills

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Table of contents for Conference Proceedings: National Developmental Conference on Individual Events 2008.

Nce-Ie 2010 Participants, Daniel Cronn-Mills, Larry Schnoor

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

List of participants for the 2010 National Developmental Conference on Individual Events.

Resolutions, Daniel Cronn-Mills, Larry Schnoor

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Includes:

• What are Our Goals as Forensics Educators for the Public Speaking Events?
• Overview of Director of Forensics and Burnout
• A Pedagogical Reframing of the Ballot
• Changing the structure of the ballot
• Scheduling Tournaments
• Lincoln Douglas Scheduling
• Redistricting the AFA-NIET
• Culture of Qualification for the AFA-NIET
• Forensics and Service Learning and Community
• Service Learning
• Forensics/Assessment
• Community
• What are Our Goals as Forensics Educators for the Oral Interpretation Events?
• Resolved: The performance of literature events be re-categorized as follows
• Forensic Leadership
• Possible Assessment Tools

Assessment In Forensics: It's A Dirty Job But We Need To Do It!, Kittie Grace

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Cognitive, affective, and behavioral assessment are all necessary measures to understanding the effectiveness of any collegiate major or forensics team. As the Director of Forensics at Hastings College, I use all three measures to assess the strength of the current program and to track trends regarding the team. This discussion focuses on presenting different ways to assess your programs to increase depart-mental and institutional support for your forensics pro-grams.

Justifying Forensic Programs To Administrations Using Humanistic Outcomes, Chad Kuyper

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

This paper will review literature concerning forensic learning outcomes, drawing a distinction between traditional "academic" learning outcomes and more "humanistic" out-comes that function at an intra- and interpersonal level. This paper will also examine avenues coaches can use to defend the most beneficial aspects of their programs to administrators.

Founding Practice: Examining Intercollegiate Competition As Assessment, Brendan B. Kelly

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Intercollegiate forensics is, at its core, a form of teaching. Like other pedagogical elements within higher education, the practice is now, and will increasingly be, subject to institutional assessment requirements in higher education. The conventional argument that the evaluation processes inherent in intercollegiate forensics competition will demonstrate the effectiveness of teaching and learning in forensics pedagogy is false. The assessment practices within the frame-work of competitions are part of the teaching processes. Forensics pedagogy, therefore, must align itself with institutional assessment components. This essay argues for the roots of that alignment to be tied to an academic learning compact that …

Forensics Leadership: An Isocratean Vision, R. Randolph Richardson, Kathy Brittain Richardson

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Contemporary forensic students and educators owe much to the leaders of the latter half of the twentieth century who rediscovered the educational benefits of speech competition, founded several collegiate programs and professional organizations, and established numerous tournaments and perfect-ed their management in a time of great technological change and challenge. A long list of noteworthy women and men who sacrificed inordinate amounts of time, money, often careers and professional standing, and more, for the benefit of forensic activity deserve recognition, appreciation and honor. The spirit of sacrifice that characterized the founding generation of leaders and those who immediately followed is …

Advocating High School Speech Communication Education: Sowing Stronger Seeds For The Future, Adam J. Jacobi

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

This paper presents a case for the necessity of speech communication as part of the core curriculum for secondary schools in the United States. In considering research-based pedagogical practices, as well as outcomes-based assessment, communication education focuses students’ critical thinking and competency in the two most overlooked zones of literacy: listening and speaking. To that end, the National Communication Association (NCA) and its special interest organizations, such as those focused on forensics are urged to support efforts to require speech communication as a graduation requirement, to require those courses be taught by teachers certified in communication, and to encourage NCA …

The Bloomington Recommendations: Improving Forensic Leadership By Continuing The Conversation On Evaluating The Forensics Professional, Michael Dreher

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

This paper seeks to both provide structure and formalization to the process of assessment, as well as to answer the question, "Is it possible to run a 'successful' program that’s not based in competitive success?" These recommendations serve both as a companion document and as an expansion of the recommendations previously made with regard to promotion and tenure (Dreher, 2010). The Peoria Recommendations dealt with questions to be asked of all forensic educators, documentation of teaching, research, and service, and questions to be asked by internal and external reviewers, and are summarized in appendix 1. This paper will provide further …

Student Research As A Method For Developing New Forensics Leaders, Ben Walker

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

For years, a call for more forensic research has echoed across the nation. While some respond to the continued challenge, many others have not. Numerous programs have disappeared from the collegiate forensic map over the years, with the questioned legitimacy and effectiveness of forensic programs and forensic professionals cited as the reason for their disappearance. In order to maintain a strong participation of programs, students, and coaches, we must develop strong leaders who, through research, will promote and stabilize forensics in the collegiate scene. As forensic leaders, it is our responsibility to nurture students into leadership positions where they, through …

Helping Out The "Newbies": A Call For Broader-Based Professional Development In Forensics, Christopher J. Fenner

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Many Directors of Forensics follow a clear path from student competitor to graduate coaching assistant before holding a professional position. Often this traditional route rep-resents the full training a future DOF may receive. While this experience is invaluable, as a primary means of education it does not account for those starting programs without such a background, or those taking on a director position at an institution with a significantly different emphasis or philosophy than encountered in their training. This paper posits that a focus on training & mentoring is needed at the national level in order to facilitate a broader …

Should Collegiate Forensics Parent Organizations Take The Lead In Recruiting New Schools To The Speech Activity?, Scott Wells, Jessica Samens

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

This paper argues that the health of college forensics could be greatly strengthened with increased membership. This paper also posits that forensics parent organizations on the state, regional, and national level are uniquely positioned to recruit new schools to the speech activity. Finally, this essay details plausible approaches for enticing and fostering new programs.

A Proposal For The Re-Categorization Of Interpretation Events, Leah White

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

began to seriously consider the need for this proposal in 2009 when the AFA-NIET National Committee was faced with evaluating a potential violation of the rules related to Dramatic Interpretation (http://www.mnsu.edu/cmst/niet/minutes/November09.htm). The violation centered on differing interpretations of what texts are included within the parameters of the event description. In response to the controversy, many called for a revision of the Dramatic Interpretation event description in hopes of making it more specific, thus preventing future disputes. My assessment of this, as well as other more regional controversies, has led me to believe that many of the concerns related …

What Are We Doing?: An Argument To Change A Name, Ryan Lauth

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Despite years of heated debate over the relevance and future of the oral interpretation events, our performances have evolved to an extent that the definition of oral interpretation no longer applies. In an effort to address the necessity of a change in the name of the largest genre of events, this paper details the separation of title and practice in interpretation before offering a solution.

Breaking The Formula: Integrating Performance Studies Into Interpretation Preparation, David Brennan

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Forensic educators and students spend much of their time trying to perfect a new definition of "good performance" without appreciating said performance or participating in the exchange process. While many studies have examined the most common interpretation ballot comments, the results and suggestions of those studies have not changed how students perform interpretation. This is where performance studies research may come into play. The author proposes ways to incorporate performance studies research into interpretation event practice and performance. Additionally, the author also suggests several new coaching techniques to bring an educational appreciation for interpretation performances.

Thoughts On Limited Prep: Problems And Solutions, Ryan Lauth

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

The formulaic nature of the limited preparation events is keeping many of our students from accomplishing the learning objectives of public speaking. Simply changing judging paradigms will likely fail to prevent these formulas from winning in the future because, to some extent, they are based on applying sound practices in a simple way. However, the abuse of these formulas is leading many students to learn detrimental speaking habits. This paper attempts to discover new ways of approaching the limited prep events in order to develop methods for better educating students through the most commonly applicable speech genre.

Thinking Outside The Can: Restoring The Value, Teaching And Practice Of Limited Preparation In Limited-Prepartin Events, R. Randolph Richardson

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech. - Mark Twain

The humor in Twain's often-referenced quotation is more readily apparent to those outside of the forensics community than to those within. Ironically, a student addressing this quotation in competition would likely disagree with the quotation, because, well, it seems like one should. Two "arguments" would ensue—one trumpeting the importance of preparation, and a second reaffirming the value of free speech. After hearing these truisms "supported" by Festinger's Theory of Cognitive Dissonance, the Dalai Lama's new PR strategy of emptiness, Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, and …

A Case For Limited Preparation: It's Not As Easy As You Think, Janis Crawford, Mae Pierce

Proceedings of the National Developmental Conference on Individual Events

Limited preparation events are useful tools that offer students many transferable skills. Because of these skills, we feel that limited preparation events should be the cornerstone of any forensics program. We also believe that repeated exposure to limited preparation events leads to a reduction in communication anxiety. We will examine the current climate of limited preparation events, the many benefits of limited preparation events and the way limited preparation can be incorporated into the educational environment. We hope to convince others of the critical role limited preparation events play in creating a well-rounded speaker.