University of Wisconsin-Madison Forensics Team

The University of Wisconsin–Madison Forensics Team (also known as the UW–Madison Speech Team) is a student-run, nationally competitive individual events (speech) team located at the University of Wisconsin–Madison

University of Wisconsin–Madison

The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...

. Forensics competitors hone the communication skills of writing

Writing

Writing is the representation of language in a textual medium through the use of a set of signs or symbols . It is distinguished from illustration, such as cave drawing and painting, and non-symbolic preservation of language via non-textual media, such as magnetic tape audio.Writing most likely...

, speaking, researching and brainstorming

Brainstorming

Brainstorming is a group creativity technique by which a group tries to find a solution for a specific problem by gathering a list of ideas spontaneously contributed by its members...

. The team competes in events which span the areas of public speaking

Public speaking

Public speaking is the process of speaking to a group of people in a structured, deliberate manner intended to inform, influence, or entertain the listeners...

, limited preparation and interpretation.

History

The University of Wisconsin–Madison

University of Wisconsin–Madison

has had a forensics program at various times in the school’s history. In 1989 and 1990, the team finished first and second, (Division I) in the country at the prestigious National Forensic Association

National Forensic Association

The National Forensic Association is a national intercollegiate organization designed to promote excellence in individual events and debate. The NFA sponsors the NFA Nationals as well many other regional tournaments throughout the year. The 2008 NFA national tournament was hosted by Tennessee...

National Tournament. These first-ever national placings were accompanied by five individual events national champions and an overall pentathlon champion (Stephanie Kaplan, 1990). Despite these successes, budget cuts forced the team to be discontinued in 1991.

Rebirth of the team

Recognizing the importance of a forensics program, freshmen Christopher Klundt, Brian Schaefers, and Lindsay Barone restarted the program in 2001. Working with a small group of interested undergraduates, they scraped together support for travel, worked without a coach, and spent over $800 per person "out of pocket" to offset the costs of competition.

After gaining some financial support from the Associated Students of Madison (the University's student government) and the Letters & Science Honors Program, the team was able to afford a coach and subsidized travel. This resulted in a third place state finish, a 51st place finish at the American Forensic Association

American Forensic Association

The American Forensic Association was founded in 1949 in Chicago. It took over the National Debate Tournament from the United States Military Academy in 1966...

National Individual Events Tournament (AFA-NIET), and a 16th place finish at the National Forensic Association

National Forensic Association

National Tournament (Div. I).

Recent history

In 2007 the team had its best finish since reforming in 2001, placing third (Div I) at the NFA National Tournament and 23rd at the AFA-NIET. Along with these two team finishes, the UW–Madison had their third national final round appearance in just two years, with the Duo team of Emily Barsness and Thom Rehwaldt, who placed 5th.

Coaching

The team's part-time coach is Ben Jedd. The team's volunteer coaches are Vishal Jain (of Louisiana State University

Louisiana State University

Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, most often referred to as Louisiana State University, or LSU, is a public coeducational university located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The University was founded in 1853 in what is now known as Pineville, Louisiana, under the name...

), team founder Christopher Klundt, and other UW-Madison alumni.

Platform Speeches

Platform Speeches are designed to either persuade or inform an audience on a topic of interest. They are original speeches, prepared before the tournament, memorized, and are 10 minutes in length. Multiple sources should be cited throughout the speech. Audio-visual aids and/or handouts may or may not be used to supplement/reinforce the message.

Persuasion: An original speech by the student designed to inspire, reinforce, or change the beliefs, attitudes, values, or actions of the audience.
Informative: An original, factual speech by the student on a realistic subject to fulfill the general aim to inform the audience.
Rhetorical Criticism: Also known as 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.
After-Dinner Speaking: An original humorous speech by the student designed to persuade, inform, or analyze. The speech should not resemble a night club act, an impersonation, or comic dialogue.

Limited Preparation

Limited Preparation events are designed to evaluate a speaker’s ability to construct a speech in a limited amount of time. They are prepared on the day of the tournament, with prep time determined by event.

Impromptu Speaking: An impromptu speech, serious in nature with topic selections varied by round, section by section. Topics will be of proverb nature. Speakers will have a total of 7 minutes for both preparation and speaking. Timing commences with the acceptance of the topic sheet. Limited notes are permitted. Each speaker in a section will choose to speak from one of the same two topics offered.
Extemporaneous Speaking: Speakers will be given a choice between several questions 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. Speech must be supported with evidence from news publications and magazines. Maximum time limit for the speech is 7 minutes. Limited notes are permitted. Posting of topics will be staggered.

Interpretation Events

Interpretation Events are intended to present a piece of literature in an entertaining and moving manner. A piece should explore the entire range of emotions associated with any literature. Events are prepared before the tournament and memorized, but the speaker must hold script in the form of a “black book.” Maximum time is 10 minutes including original introduction.

Prose: A selection of prose material of literary merit, which may be drawn from more than one source. Play cuttings are prohibited. The focus of this category should be the development of a story.
Poetry: A selection or selections of poetry of literary merit, which may be drawn from more than one source. Play cuttings are prohibited.
Dramatic Interpretation (DI): A cutting which represents one or more characters from a play or plays of literary merit. This material may be drawn from stage, screen, or radio. The focus of this category should be the development of a character.
Program Oral Interpretation (POI): A program of thematically-linked selections of literary merit, chosen from a variety of sources. The focus of this category should be the development of a specific theme.
Duo: A cutting from a play or a thematically-linked program, humorous or serious, involving the portrayal of two or more characters presented by two individuals. The material may be drawn from stage, screen, radio, or any other written media. Focus should be off-stage and not to each other.

Finalists

NFA National Tournament

1987: Barb Seidl (Informative, 2nd)
1987: Mark Saxenmeyer (Informative, 3rd)
1988: Stephanie Kaplan (Extemp Speaking, 4th)
1988: Stephanie Kaplan (Rhetorical Criticism, 2nd)
1988: Barb Seidl (ADS, 4th)
1989: Betsy Heffernan (Persuasive, Champion)
1989: Stephanie Kaplan (Rhetorical Criticism, Champion)
1990: Stephanie Kaplan (Impromptu Speaking, 5th)
1990: Stephanie Kaplan (Informative, Champion)
1990: Stephanie Kaplan (Rhetorical Criticism, Champion)
1990: Stephanie Kaplan (Persuasive, Champion)
2007: Emily Barsness and Thom Rehwaldt (Duo, 5th)
2008: Anna-Lisa Dahlgren (Experimental Event: Biographical Informative, 4th)

AFA-NIET

(1978–1990, Listings Incomplete)

1986: Graham Hartley (ADS, Champion)
1988: Barb Seidl (Informative, Champion)
1988: Barb Seidl (Sales Speaking, 2nd)
1988: Stephanie Kaplan (Sales Speaking, 5th)
1988: Nathan Jenkin (Extemporaneous Speaking, 2nd)
1988: Nathan Jenkin (Persuasive Speaking, 5th)
1989: Stephanie Kaplan (Communication Analysis, Champion)
2006: David Sargent (Drama, 6th)
2006: Emily Barsness (Prose, 6th)

Individual Sweepstakes

NFA National Tournament

1988: Stephanie Kaplan (5th)
1989: Stephanie Kaplan (2nd)
1990: Stephanie Kaplan (Champion)

AFA-NIET

1988: Barb Seidl (5th) (highest ranked speaker not from national champion Bradlely University that year)

Team Sweepstakes

NFA National Tournament

1985: Open Division - 15th
1986: Open Division - 8th
1987: Open Division - 5th
1988: Open Division - 4th
1989: Open Division - 5th
1989: Div I - Champions
1990: Open Division - 6th
1990: Div I - 2nd
1992: Div I - 7th
2004: Div II - 16th
2005: Div I - 8th
2006: Div I - 6th
2007: Div I - 3rd
2008: Div I - 6th
2009: Div II - 7th

AFA-NIET

1970-1991: Data Not Available For All Years
1988: 2nd
1989: 4th
2004: 51st
2005: 33rd
2006: 26th
2007: 23rd
2008: 26th
2009: 50th

Development of the Team (A Timeline)

1991

The 1989 Division I National Champion UW–Madison Forensics Team is discontinued due to budget cuts.

January 2002

Christopher Klundt, Adam Klann, and AJ Hofland traveled to the Indiana Championships at Indiana University to videotape all the forensics categories as well as to interview coaches and competitors.
Collegiate Forensics League of UW student organization founded.

February - April 2002

Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...

, Ripon College
Ripon College (Wisconsin)
Ripon College is a liberal arts college in Ripon, Wisconsin, USA. It offers small class sizes and intensive mentoring to students. Ripon has a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa--one of the nation's most prestigious honor societies. Alumni have high rates of success in the workforce as well as acceptance...

, and UW–Eau Claire express interest in helping start the program.

Summer 2002

Associated Students of Madison Operations Grant received for $2000.
Volunteer coach, Cara Peterson agrees to help out in the beginning of the season.

Fall 2002

Students begin competing in October, placing 6th out of 15 teams at the first tournament (12 students attended, along with Cara Peterson).
5 tournaments were attended in the fall, 5 students qualified for the NFA national tournament, and at least one student made finals at every tournament.
Collegiate Forensics League of UW gets office space with other student organizations in Union South.

Spring 2003

Team travels (expenses paid by students) to California for a West Coast regional tournament.
Volunteer coach resigns due to lack of time.
Team takes 4th place at state, with several individual finalists.
Team travels to the Novice National Tournament and places 3rd in Division I overall sweepstakes. Dave Sargent places 2nd in Individual Sweepstakes and is the National Duo Champion (partner Samantha Sostarich).
Further discussion with Dean Fitzpatrick provides promising contact with L&S Honors Department (director: Cyrena Pondrom).

Summer 2003

Honors agrees to sponsor the team.
ASM operations grant received for $1000.

Fall 2003

Only two tournaments affordable and 3 students qualify for the NFA national tournament.
Honors grants the team ~$8000 to pay for coaching and tournament expenses in the spring semester.
Ben Jedd expresses interest in helping coach.

Spring 2004

Ben Jedd signs on with Honors as a part-time paid coach.
Team travels to 3 regional tournaments, placing 1st in Small Team Sweepstakes at the Jackson Purchase Swing in KY.
Active competitors increases to 11 students, and the team placed 3rd at the State tournament.
8 students qualify for and attend the NFA National Tournament, where the team placed 16th in Division II.
7 students attend the District qualifying tournament for the AFA National Tournament, and 4 students qualify (including 2 District champions).
Team places 51st in the country at the AFA National tournament in Long Beach, CA.

Fall 2004

Recruitment succeeds, and active student participation is holding steady at about 15 students (another 25% increase).
Successfully attend 7 tournament weekends, while earning 5 qualifications for the AFA National Tournament and 15 for the NFA National Tournament.
Permanent office space granted in 4116 Helen C. White (College Library).

Spring 2005

MCSC grant accepted for $800 to be used for minority recruitment opportunities.
Team places third at state tournament, with two state champions and 2nd place overall speaker (Christopher Klundt).
5 students qualify for the AFA National Tournament in a total of 15 events. Emily Barsness is District Champion in ADS.
8 students qualify for the NFA National Tournament in a total of 21 events.
Team wins TCFL tournament Feb. 15th.
Team places 8th (Div. I) at the NFA National Tournament, and has one quarterfinalist (Christopher Klundt - Informative Speaking).

Spring 2006

Team places 2nd at Wisconsin State Tournament.
Team places 26th at the AFA National Tournament, and has two National Finalists. These are the first UW–Madison finalists since 1990.
National Finalist: David Sargent, 6th in Drama (AFA).
National Finalist: Emily Barsness, 6th in Prose (AFA).
Team places 6th (Div. I) at the NFA National Tournament
Quarterfinalist: Anna-Lisa Dahlgren and Thom Rehwaldt (Duo)

Spring 2007

Team places 2nd at Wisconsin State Tournament. Margin between 1st and 2nd place is only 14 points.
Team places 23rd at the AFA National Tournament, and has numerous quarterfinalists.
Semifinalist: Anna-Lisa Dahlgren (Communication Analysis)
Team places 3rd (Div. I) at the NFA National Tournament, and has numerous quarterfinalists.
National Finalist: Emily Barsness and Thom Rehwaldt, 5th in Duo (NFA).

Summer 2007

Team teaches a public speaking course through the UW PEOPLE Program.

Spring 2008

3 UW students qualify for the AFA National Individual Events Tournament in Austin, TX.
15 students qualify for the NFA National Tournament in Nashville, TN.
Team places 2nd at the Wisconsin State Tournament.
Team places 26th at the AFA National Tournament.
Semifinalist: Anna-Lisa Dahlgren (Communication Analysis)
Team places 6th (Div. I) at the NFA National Tournament, and has numerous elimination rounds.
Semifinalist: Anna-Lisa Dahlgren (Persuasion)
Semifinalist: Anna-Lisa Dahlgren and Mark Ruff (Duo)
National Finalist: Anna-Lisa Dahlgren, 4th in Experimental Event: Biographical Informative (NFA).

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.

History

Rebirth of the team

Recent history

Coaching

Platform Speeches

Limited Preparation

Interpretation Events

Finalists

Individual Sweepstakes

Team Sweepstakes

Development of the Team (A Timeline)

See also

External links