Forensics is the term used to describe the four speaking events that along with debate form the competitive element of Cultural Convention. During the convention each speaker is identified by a number and must participate in a minimum of three rounds. In these preliminary rounds each speaker is adjudicated by three judges, and on the basis of ranking achieved in each preliminary round, a group of six speakers per event advances to the finals. Certificated of excellence are awarded to each finalist, while the top three speakers receive medals. The champion school is awarded the traveling plaque, which they keep until the following convention.
Many forensics speakers participate in more than one event or combine a forensics event with, for example, debate or drama. The maximum number of events any one person can participate in is three. The forensics events are:
Each contestant draws two topics for each round and then selects one. The contestant will have 30 minutes to prepare a speech of between 5-7 minutes in length. Source materials are derived from periodicals or magazines such as Time, Newsweek, Asiaweek and the Economist amongst others and must be provided by the contestant. Extemporaneous speakers specialize in current events and are skilled at creating speeches that explore world Issues. The speaker is judged 70% on the content (adequacy of the introduction, the effectiveness of speech construction and conclusion) and 30% on delivery.
Impromptu speaking requires a speaker to be quick, flexible, eloquent and entertaining. Two topics are presented to each speaker and after choosing one they have one minute to briefly outline a speech of between 3-5 minutes in length. As soon as the topic card is out of the envelope timing starts. During the rounds it is very interesting to hear the different styles of speeches and the different slants given to the topics. As with extemporaneous speaking the speaker is judged on the adequacy of the introduction, the effectiveness of the speech's construction and conclusion as well as the delivery of the speech itself. The evaluation is weighted 60% for content and 40% for delivery.
Oral Interpretation is the skill of bringing to life the essence of a selected reading of a poem or prose through the use of the voice. During the reading the speaker is required to make visual contact with the script at least once per page. Costumes, make-up and lighting are not permitted.
In oral Interpretation the performance focuses on:
Each presentation lasts between 5-7 minutes. The adjudication is judged: 60% for delivery, 20% for Interpretation, 15% overall effectiveness and 5% for the introduction.
Speakers in this category develop a persuasive oration (speech) around a topic they have an interest In. Original oratory requires the speaker to determine and research a topic, and to write and deliver a speech of 5-7 minutes in length. The speech must be an original work and contain no more than 150 words of quoted material.
The key element in original oratory is the concept of persuasion. Whilst original oratory speeches can be on a serious topic, they do not have to be serious. The speech may deal with a problem, propose solutions, alert the audience to a potential danger, strengthen dedication to an accepted cause, or present a eulogy.
Each speech is evaluated using a weighting of 65% for content and 35% for delivery.
Each school must enter two debate teams consisting of two persons each. One of the two-member teams is designated as the "A" team, considered to be the stronger of the two, while the other is designated as the "B" team. Prior to the convention, all of the schools are given a list of possible topics. A ballot is taken and the topic with the most votes is designated as the topic for the convention. This year the debate topic is:
That a lesser developed nation's right to develop ought to take priority over its obligation to protect the environment.
IASAS Cultural Convention conducts a Lincoln-Douglas form of debate. Lincoln-Douglas (LD), named after the seven famous debates conducted in the United States in 1858, debates about a question of VALUE rather than a policy. For this reason LD is often referred to as Value Debate. Teams are prepared to debate either on the affirmative or the negative side.
There are five preliminary rounds with each team debating as the affirmative and the negative two or three times. Teams are then selected for the semi-finals on the basis of win-loss records. The winners of the semi-finals will advance to the final round. All of the finalists and semifinalists receive medals, while the championship team is awarded the IASAS debate traveling plaque. All four finalists receive medals.
You can download the schedule for IASAS Forensics & Debate in PDF format
Design and construction by Aidan Holm