Forensics at APU

Event Descriptions

Forensics at Azusa Pacific University has the unique ability to equip you for success in life. Our priority is to give you the tools to succeed, whether that be in speech or debate events. APU has an outstanding reputation in both individual events and debate.

Listed below are descriptions for the events in which Azusa Pacific University competes. Please contact Amy Jung (Director of Forensics) at 626-815-6000 x. 3716 for more information. We would love to talk about forensics!

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INDIVIDUAL EVENTS

PLATFORM SPEAKING EVENTS

INFORMATIVE SPEAKING – An original, factual speech by the student on a realistic subject to fulfill the general aim to inform the audience. Audio-visual aids may or may not be used to supplement and reinforce the message. Multiple sources should be used and cited in the development of the speech. Minimal notes are permitted. Maximum time is 10 minutes, including introduction.

PERSUASIVE SPEAKING – An original speech by the student designed to inspire, reinforce, or change the beliefs, attitudes, values, or actions of the audience. Audio-visual aids may or may not be used to supplement and reinforce the message. Multiple sources should be used and cited in the development of the speech. Minimal notes are permitted. Maximum time limit is 10 min.

COMMUNICATION ANALYSIS – An original speech by the student designed to offer an explanation and/or evaluation of a communication event such as a speech, speaker, movement, poem, poster, film, campaign, etc. through the use of rhetorical principles. Audio-visual aids may or may not be used to supplement and reinforce the message. Manuscripts are permitted. Maximum time limit is 10 minutes.

AFTER DINNER SPEAKING – An original, humorous speech by the student, designed to exhibit sound speech composition, thematic coherence, direct communicative public speaking skills, and good taste. The speech should not resemble a nightclub act, an impersonation, or comic dialogue. Audio-visual aids may or may not be used to supplement and reinforce the message. Minimal notes are permitted. Maximum time limit is 10 minutes.

INTERPRETATION EVENTS

PROSE INTERPRETATION – A selection or selections of prose material of literary merit that may be drawn from more than one source. Play cuttings and poetry are prohibited. Use of manuscript is required. Maximum time is 10 min., including introduction.

POETRY INTERPRETATION – A selection or selections of poetry of literary merit that may be drawn from more than one source. Play cuttings and prose works are prohibited. Use of manuscript is required. Maximum time limit is 10 minutes, including introduction.

DRAMATIC INTERPRETATION – A cutting that represents one or more characters from a play or plays of literary merit. This material may be drawn from stage, screen, or radio. Use of manuscript is required. Maximum time limit is 10 minutes including introduction.

PROGRAMMED ORAL INTERPRETATION (POI) – A program of thematically linked selections of literary merit, chosen from two or three recognized genres of competitive interpretation (prose, poetry, drama). A substantial portion of the total time must be devoted to each of the genres used in the program. Different genre means that material must appear in separate pieces of literature (e.g. a poem included in a short story that appears only in that short story does not constitute a poetry genre). Use of manuscript is required. Maximum time limit is 10 minutes, including original introduction and/or transitions.

DUO DRAMATIC INTERPRETATION – A cutting from a play, humorous or serious, involving the portrayal of two or more characters presented by two individuals. This material may be drawn from stage, screen, or radio. This is not an acting event; thus, no costumes, props, lighting, etc. are to be used. Presentation is from the manuscript and the focus should be off-stage and not to each other. Maximum time limit is 10 minutes, including introduction.

LIMITED PREPARATION EVENTS

EXTEMPORANEOUS SPEAKING – Contestants will be given three topics in the general area of current events, choose one, and have 30 minutes to prepare a speech that is the original work of the student. Maximum time limit for the speech is 7 minutes. Limited notes are permitted.

IMPROMPTU SPEAKING – A speech that is delivered in an impromptu fashion, typically serious in nature, with topic selections varied by round. Topics may include lyrics, maxims, quotations, one word abstracts, or other creative categories. Speakers will have a total of 7 minutes for both preparation and speaking, beginning with the receipt of their topic. Minimal notes are permitted.

DEBATE EVENTS

PREAMBLE – from the APU Director of Forensics
Many, many different debate formats exist for intercollegiate academic debate. Azusa Pacific University’s Director of Forensics values all of these forms and encourages the expansion of ALL forms of debate. However, budgets (especially APU’s) are limited, and we respect whatever choice a program must make. APU is able to participate in two forms of debate – National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA), which sponsors parliamentary style team debate (two person) and National Forensics Association, which sponsors Lincoln-Douglas (one person), stock issues policy debate. What follows is a brief description of these events.

NPDA DEBATE – adapted from various sources
An extemporaneous contest of wit and rhetorical skill modeled after the British Parliament. Two person teams debate a different resolution every round without the use of printed evidence. Debaters may refer to written materials such as briefs, dictionaries, and almanacs in Prep Time, but may not actually read such materials during the round. Debaters also may not utilize any prepared research material in the chamber, even during preparation time, only outside the room.

Parliamentary debate focuses on knowledge of current events and philosophical issues. Debate teams are assigned to defend a specific side of a controversial issue. Six speeches comprise NPDA-style academic parliamentary debate – four constructive speeches, where new arguments can be introduced into the debate and two rebuttals, where only summaries of the debate may be offered.

NFA L-D DEBATE – adapted from the NFA webpage
A one-person, persuasive, policy debate on traditional stock issues. It is a communication event, by which we mean the philosophy of the activity is consistent with that which governs other individual events. Competitors in NFA Lincoln-Douglas will be evaluated on their analysis, use of evidence, and ability to effectively and persuasively organize, deliver, and refute arguments. Rapid-fire delivery, commonly called "spread delivery," is considered antithetical to the purpose and intent of this event.

The official decision-making paradigm of NFA LD is that of Stock Issues: Harm (Advantage or Goals), Inherency, and Solvency. The affirmative is required to meet three initial burdens. The affirmative must prove: 1. the harm of the present system or that a comparative advantage or goal can be achieved over the present system; 2. the inherency which prevents solving those harms or achieving those advantages or goals; and, 3. the proposed plan's ability to solve the harm or achieve the advantage or goal claimed by affirmative. The negative may attack any of these issues, but need only win one to win the debate. The negative may also challenge the jurisdiction (topicality) of the affirmative proposal or argue that disadvantages to the proposal outweigh its benefits.