National Forensic League

A typical high school student overhears a very  eloquent teen shouting, “I am excited for our NFL competition this Saturday”, and some teens look at him, puzzled. “Is he talking about football?” A hint of curiosity dwindles in the air. That suddenly diminishes as the eloquent teen talks about speech and debate. The typical high school student walks away, leaving the eloquent teen with his teammates talking about their pieces and cases.

National Forensic League is an academic organization where students can showcase their writing and speaking aptitude in several categories. They typically compete once or twice a month on a Saturday and pour forth their hearts after weeks of preparation.

Led by Mrs. Jovita Manzanilla, the organization had been topping the competition ever since it was introduced. There are a total of six categories that our school competes in: Original Oratory, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Extemporaneous, Dramatic Interpretation, Duo Interpretation, and Humorous Interpretation.

• Original Oratory

  • Students deliver a self-written, ten-minute speech on a topic of their choosing. Limited in their ability to quote words directly, competitors craft an argument using evidence, logic, and emotional appeals. Topics range widely, and can be informative or persuasive in nature. The speech is delivered from memory.
    
    

• Lincoln-Douglas Debate

  • In this one-on-one format, students debate a topic provided by the National Speech & Debate Association. Topics range from individual freedom versus the collective good to economic development versus environmental protection. Students may consult evidence gathered prior to the debate but may not use the Internet in round. An entire debate is roughly 45 minutes and consists of constructive speeches, rebuttals, and cross-examination.

• Extemporaneous Debate

  • A one-on-one format, Extemporaneous Debate consists of two students who will argue a specified topic with limited preparation time. Students are given a minimum of thirty minutes to prepare for each debate and are notified if they are for or against the provided resolution. This quick-moving debate takes roughly 20 minutes to complete.
    
    

• Dramatic Interpretation

  • Using a play, short story, or other published work, students perform a selection of one or more portions of a piece up to ten minutes in length. With a spotlight on character development and depth, this event focuses on the student’s ability to convey emotion through the use of a dramatic text. Competitors may portray one or multiple characters. No props or costumes may be used. Performances can also include an introduction written by the student to contextualize the performance, and state the title and the author.
    
    

• Duo Interpretation

  • Two competitors team up to deliver a ten-minute performance of a published play or story. Using off-stage focus, competitors convey emotion and environment through a variety of performance techniques focusing on the relationships and interactions between the characters. No props or costumes are used. Performances can also include an introduction written by the students to contextualize the performance and state the title and the author.
• Humorous Interpretation

  • Using a play, short story, or other published work, students perform a selection of one or more portions of a piece up to ten minutes in length. Humorous Interpretation is designed to test a student’s comedic skills through script analysis, delivery, timing, and character development. Competitors may portray one or multiple characters. No props or costumes may be used.