Coach: Adon Ross

Forensics is an activity that gives 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students the opportunity to have fun while developing their speaking, oral reading, and acting skills. MJDS participates as part of the Middle Level Forensics Association of Wisconsin. Students may enter in one of the following categories: Demonstration, Group Acting, Group Interpretation, Impromptu Reading, Impromptu Speaking, Infomercial, Informative Speaking, Moments in History, News Reporting, Non-Original, Persuasive Speaking, Poetry, Prose, Solo Acting Humorous, Solo Acting Serious, Special Occasion or Storytelling. Some categories involve memorization while others allow students to read from a script. Material can be dramatic, persuasive, humorous, or informative. Participants can choose their own material or use a selection already prepared. Team members can compete as individuals, with a partner, or as part of a larger group. There are medals, trophies, and/or ribbons at every competition. The forensics season begins in December when students choose their pieces, and ends in February/March. Weekly practices begin in January and continue throughout the season. Because of religious observances, MJDS is able to participate only in a limited number of meets (many meets, including the State Meet, are scheduled on Friday or Saturday). Below is a Middle School student's explanation of why she enjoys forensics.


Middle School Forensics: Why Compete?
by Amanda Ack

Middle School forensics. There are no scholarship opportunities, no prestigious state tournament qualifications to go on your high school transcript. So, what is it exactly that drives a middle school student to compete in drama (and debate)? Well, there are a few simple factors that cause junior high forensic competitors to do their best.

The first factor is being part of a team. As the competition season goes by, a team's members will find themselves becoming more and more like a large family. By the end of the (forensics) year, a competitor may find that the other members of their team are just about as close to them as their actual relatives. Someone who has never competed simply cannot imagine the feeling holding up a tournament sweepstakes trophy and saying, "We won this -- the team won!"

The second reason to compete in Middle School forensics is the sense of individual determination and accomplishment. Medaling in an event is merely icing on the proverbial cake; true success happens when you know you've done your best, and have done all that you can to beat out your competition. There is nothing in the world that can take that feeling of accomplishment away from you.

The third and most important aspect is the mere essence of competing. Cheesy and clichéd as it may seem, it is very true. Nothing can ever top the thrill of standing up to perform a drama piece or stepping into a debate round. As a Middle School competitor, I can say with quite a bit of experience that once you attend a drama (or debate) tournament, you'll never be the same!

In conclusion, although Middle School forensics provides no scholarship opportunities or state team championships to put on your latest resume, it has just as much of an effect on a person's life.

Amanda Ack was a 7th grade student at Ardmore Middle School in Oklahoma when she wrote this piece, which has been adapted. Her coach was Mr. Anson Shuman. This article was written for the May 2007 issue of the National Forensics League Web site.