Event Descriptions

Events in Forensics are typically divided into two broad categories: Debate Events and Individual Events. Moorpark College has a long tradition of competing in both categories of events. Within each of these broad categories, there are distinct subcategories as well.



Debate Events

Often students who feel like they are good "arguers" are drawn to this event, however, academic debate is much more than simply "arguing." It is a highly structured activity which focuses on the construction of well-supported, well-reasoned arguments in support of, or in opposition to, a particular resolution.

Team Debate: As its name suggests, team debate involves two teams of two individuals competing against one another. While there used to be different topics that were debated by NDT and CEDA debaters, recent actions have created the situation where both organizations will share one policy oriented topic. Debaters are required to argue both sides of the topic throughout the course of a tournament.

Lincoln/Douglas Debate:  Named for the famous debates between Abraham Lincoln and Steven Douglas, Lincoln/Douglas debate pits one individual against one other individual. On the Community College level the same topic is used as for team debate, L/D debaters going to NFA debate a different topic all year

Parliamentary Debate:  While relatively new as a form of debate in the forensics world, Parli, as it is known, is steeped in tradition. It is a team activity, pitting two teams of two individuals each against one another. Its form follows the British House of Parliament, and audience participation is encouraged during the course of the debate. Unlike both of the other forms of academic debate, Parli debaters have a different topic every round. They do not know what the topic will be until 15 minutes before the debate begins. Additionally, while debaters must be well read, no evidence is used in the debate.



Individual Events

Individual Events is the penumbra under which all other events in forensics fall, regardless of how many people are in them (2 in Duo, up to 12 in R.T.). Like debate, they are also broken into three categories, each of which are made up of a number of events. Those categories are Public Address, Limited Preparation, and Oral Interpretation.

Public Address

Public Address is probably what we would think of as the most traditional speaking event. It involves a speaker preparing and delivering a speech of their own creation . This speech should be well constructed, supported by solid evidence and reasoning, delivered from memory, and no more than ten minutes in length.

Persuasive: As its name suggests, this is a speech designed to persuade the audience. While the speech can be geared towards changing an audiences beliefs, it is most often a speech designed to move them to some sort of action.

Informative: A speech on a realistic, yet unique, subject designed to (big shock) inform the audience. Visual aids, while not mandatory, are typical in this type of speech and can be a great asset if well constructed.

After Dinner Speaking: An original humorous speech by the student, which can be either informative or persuasive in nature. The difference is the use of humor to get the message across.

Communication Analysis: A speech designed (usually with lots of help) to offer an explanation and/or evaluation of a communication event, such as a speech, speaker, movement, campaign, etc., through the use of rhetorical principals. This event is often seen as excellent preparation for students wanting to pursue a Masters in rhetoric.


Limited Preparation

Considered by many the most frightening of the speech events, these events are characterized by the lack of time a student has with a given topic. These events are also excellent preparation for many "real world" speaking situations.


Extemporaneous: Contestants have thirty minutes to research and prepare a seven minute speech answering one of three questions they have been given. Questions are drawn from current events and may focus on domestic or international subjects. Limited notes are permitted. Individuals in this event should probably be pretty familiar with world events, from politics to economics, to international relations.

Impromptu: A particularly brutal event. Contestants have seven minutes to both write and deliver a speech analyzing a quotation, proverb, etc. While this is truly speaking "off the cuff," Impromptu speeches should be no less structured or well reasoned than any of the Public Address events.



Oral Interpretation of Literature

Oral interpretation (or Interp) is close to, but is not, acting. The biggest difference is that actors become the characters in the literature, while interpers are supposed to suggest the character. While this description may sound both arbitrary and vague, it is intentionally so because it would be very difficult to find two people who completely agree on where interp ends and acting begins. There are some concrete conventions however. The use of a manuscript is required, and most people have adopted the use of "little black books" which contain the script. Interpers are supposed to give the illusion that they are "reading" from this script (yeah, right). Additionally, each selection or cutting is required be set up by an introduction. This introduction, written by the performer, should set up the rhetorical statement of the piece in some way (I know this is a controversial statement, but it's my web page - deal with it!). Most of the events are determined by the genre of literature performed.

Prose:  Typically, Prose is the interpretation of a short story or novel. It may, however, be drawn from essays, diaries, or journalistic sources.

Poetry:  This one is pretty self explanatory. If it's poetry it goes here. Except that poetry sometimes sounds like prose, sometimes contains dialogue, doesn't have to contain rhyme or meter, but Shakespeare's plays which are actually written in verse with very clear rhyme and meter don't go here. Confused? So are most of the people that compete in and judge this event.

Dramatic:  This is where Shakespeare's plays go. In fact all plays, teleplays, and screenplays go here. While monologues are often performed, it is not uncommon for an interper in this event to play all 17 (impressive, huh?) characters in a play. This is accomplished through a number of techniques which allow the actor, I mean interper, to quickly assume a different voice, and physical stance for each character.

Duo:  As the name implies, this event requires two competitors performing two, or more, characters.  Unlike a scene from a play, however, off stage focus is used. In other words both performers stand side by side as if they were looking at each other in a mirror. Duo selections must be from a play, teleplay, or screenplay.

Program Oral Interpretation (or POI): This is the most rhetorical of the interps. Students combine pieces of literature from at least two of the three literary genres (drama, poetry, prose.) The literature must fall under a general theme. There are two basic approaches to this event. The most traditional approach is to perform a small cutting (a teaser) set up the "theme" with an introduction, perform a second cutting, followed by an original transition, followed by another cutting, etc.. The second approach, sometimes referred to as Puree Of Interp, splices the literature together and uses a single introduction, not unlike creating a collage in art.

Reader's Theatre: This event is in many ways a combination of all of the other interp events. It is a n interp show performed by three to twelve people, with a maximum time limit of 25 minutes. It can be either a single piece of literature (from any genre) or a combination of all of the genres. Additionally, it includes blocking, retains the off stage focus of Duo, uses ensemble dress, often incorporates small sets, and sometimes uses singing and music. Currently, Phi Rho Pi is the only national tournament to offer this event.