FORENSICS

Forensics, the art of debate, oratory, public speaking, and interpretation of literature, is another activity that teaches philanthropy concepts and content. In fact, the National Forensics League, the premiere high school forensics organization, states that its purpose is to promote these skills by “encouraging a spirit of fellowship.”

http://www.nflonline.org/AboutNFL/MissionVision

From the National Forensics League Web site, an abbreviated listing of sponsored events follows.

Where do you see connections to philanthropy concepts?

Student Congress
This is individual debate in a large group setting. Legislative debaters research and write pieces of Congressional legislation that they feel will better the society in which we live. At a tournament, debaters will then speak on the legislation while using proper parliamentary procedure.

Lincoln/Douglas Debate
This popular style of debating features one person on each side. Propositions of value are debated with the emphasis on developing logical argumentation rather than an accumulation of information. You will learn values analysis, argumentation skills, sound and ethical uses of persuasion, and clear audience centered communication.

Policy Debate
The Policy topic shall be the current national question. You and a partner will debate both sides of an interesting and controversial proposition for the entire season in the "Oregon" style, which includes constructive argument, cross examination, and refutation. Skills you will learn include research, policy analysis, case construction, refutation, questioning, organization and communication.

Public Forum Debate
You and a partner will debate controversial issues that are "stripped" from the newspaper headlines. A new topic will be announced the first day of each preceding month. A Public Forum Debate round begins with a flip of a coin between the competing teams to determine your side and speaker position. Public Forum will test your skills in argumentation, cross-examination, and refutation.

Original Oratory
As orator you will be expected to research and speak intelligently, with a degree of originality, in an interesting manner, and with some profit to your audience, about a topic you have chosen. Although many orations deal with a current problem and propose a solution this is not the only acceptable form of oratory. Your oration may simply alert the audience to a threatening danger, strengthen its devotion to an accepted cause, or eulogize a person. An orator is given free choice of subject and judged solely on the effectiveness of development and presentation.

Other categories include international Extemporaneous, U.S. Extemporaneous, Dramatic Interpretation, Humorous Interpretation, and Duo Interpretation.

Formal and co-curricular forensics develops civic engagement skills needed to be an "active private citizen working for the common good. Participants learn the skills of research and developing logical arguments, which helps students identify needs and create solutions—a primary skill for the nonprofit sector. Learners also experience viewing a problem from many sides and build critical thinking and negotiation skills needed in a democracy.

National Forensics League http://www.nflonline.org/AboutNFL/SpecialEvents