Department of Communication

FORENSICS TEAM

The NSU Speech and Debate Team offers students the opportunity for competition on a local, state and national level as well as offering experience in contest administration and judging at high school forensic meets sponsored by NSU.

We offer the opportunity to travel and develop communication and life skills that are invaluable.

We participate in a wide range of speaking events which include:

Interpretation Events:

Prose Interpretation

Poetry Interpretation

Dramatic Interpretation (DI)

Dramatic Duo

Program Oral Interpretation (POI)

Public Address Events:

Persuasive

Informative

After-Dinner

Communication Analysis

Limited Preparation Events:

Extemporaneous

Impromptu

Debate:

Lincoln Douglas Debate

Parliamentary Debate

TEAM MEETINGS

The NSU Speech and Debate Team meets in Seymour Hall 116 every Monday night at 4:00 pm. Everyone is welcome. We discuss the upcoming weeks events, practice schedules, service opportunities, and a variety of other things as well.
Come join us!

For more information contact:
Kevin Sackreiter, Director of Forensics
Seymour Hall 105A
Phone: 626-7706
E-Mail: sackreiterk@northern.edu

Persuasive:
A speech designed to persuade the audience, usually using the problem-solution approach; 10 minute time limit.

Informative:
A speech that heightens the audience's awareness of some subject on which the speaking demonstrates the audience has a need to know; 10 minute time limit.

After-Dinner:
A humorous speech designed to entertain the audience while at the same time making a significant point; 10 minute time limit.

Communication Analysis:
A speech in which the speaker describes, interprets, and evaluates a significant speech, collection of speeches, or other form of rhetoric; 10 minute time limit.

Prose Interpretation:
An original interpretation of prose literature; use of manuscripts is required; 10 minute time limit, including introduction and any transitions.

Poetry Interpretation:
An original interpretation of a poem or a selections of poems; use of manuscripts is required; 10 minute time limit, including introduction and any transitions.

Dramatic Interpretation (DI):
An original interpretation of dramatic literature performed by one individual portraying two or more characters; use of manuscripts is required; 10 minute time limit, including introduction and any transitions.

Dramatic Duo:
An original interpretation of a cutting from a play involving two characters performed by two individuals; this is an interpretation, not an acting even; use of manuscripts is required; 10 minute time limit, including introduction and any transitions.

Program Oral Interpretations (POI):
A program of thematically linked selections chosen from at least two of the three recognized genres of interpretation (prose, poetry, drama). A substantial portion of the time must be devoted to each of the genres used in the program; use of manuscripts is required; 10 minute time limit, including introduction and transitions.

Extemporaneous:
A five-to-seven minute speech on a current events topic, delivered after a half-hour preparation period.

Impromptu:
Students have seven minutes to prepare and deliver an impromptu speech, usually on a familiar saying or significant quotation.

Lincoln Douglas Debate:
Offered at some tournaments; intercollegiate. Lincoln Douglas is a one person, persuasive, policy debate on traditional stock issues; please see a coach for specific rules of this event.

Parliamentary Debate:
Also offered at some tournaments; please see a coach for specific rules of this event.

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FORENSICS TEAM