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California State University, Chico

Speech and Debate Team (Forensics)

The Chico State Speech and Debate team is an Instructionally Related Activities (IRA) funded program and a course offered through the Communications Studies Program (CMST 139A-C and CMST 339A-C). The team is a full-service intercollegiate forensics program. 

The term “full-service” designation means that we have competitors in both policy debate and individual event competitions. The term “intercollegiate” means we compete in tournament settings against other two- and four-year institutions of higher education.

The team offers competition in cross-examination, team policy debate, and individual events.

Why Join?

Being a part of the Chico State Speech and Debate team is a chance of a lifetime. The team offers an academic setting in which participants can also enjoy social interaction. You will get to know other students here at CSU Chico, as well as students from other colleges and universities.

Team Wiki

The Chico Speech and Debate Team's Wiki provides you with important information about the Chico State Speech and Debate Team. Find resources to help you write and perform competitively successful speeches and debates, and some other fun and interesting stuff!

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Chico State Today
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    Speech and Debate Team (Forensics) students pose for portraits

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is Forensics?

    A term for competitive speech and debate programs.

    How much does it cost to be on the Forensics Team?

    Most costs for competition are covered by CSU Chico. The University pays for travel to and accommodations at tournaments.  It also covers entry and judging fees for participants. You will receive a small per diem for food when traveling as well.

    Is there traveling involved if you are on the team?

    In order to compete against other institutions of higher education, the CSU, Chico Speech and Debate team travels to regional and national competitions.  These competitions typically take place Friday through Sunday, and some will require traveling on Thursday and/or Monday. This travel is school sanctioned, but it is important to keep up in classes and notify professors of your travel schedule well in advance in order to guarantee instructors will excuse you for the travel.

    Where does the Chico State Forensics team travel to?

    Often times it is primarily throughout California, but if you are successful and exceed in the particular event you are participating in you may travel to many places throughout the United States. In the past, Students have traveled to Ohio, Texas, Florida, Wisconsin, Arizona as well as other states.

    Mission Statement

    The Chico State Forensics Team is committed to advancing the benefits of speech and debate on a local, state and national level. This is, first and foremost, an educational activity with an emphasis on critical thinking, research, written and oral communication.

    On a local level, coaches and competitors will serve the campus by offering a rookie tournament each semester in order to give a maximum number of Chico State students the opportunity to compete. In the greater Chico community, the team will facilitate opportunities for local community members to participate in public speaking, engage in public discussion and debate, and improve their public speaking and argumentation skills.

    Regionally, the Chico State forensics team will establish and continue an active commitment to both the expansion and revitalization of speech and debate in the Northern California Forensics Association.  Nationally, the team will make every effort to send competitors to key tournaments across the country, establishing Chico State as a nationally respected forensics program. The out-of-region tournaments will be selected each year in order to maximize student exposure to the top competitors, universities and coaches in the country.

    Competition Events

    The team competes regionally and nationally in between 13-25 tournaments per year.

    Informative Speaking: An original, factual speech by the student on a realist 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.  

    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 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 night club act, an impersonation, or comic dialogue. Audio-visual aids may or may not be used to supplement and reinforced the message. Minimal notes are permitted. Maximum time limit is 10 minutes. 

    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. 

    Prose Interpretation: An original or selections of prose material of literary merit, which may be drawn from more than one source. Focus of this event is on the development of the narrative/story. Play cuttings and poetry are prohibited. Use of manuscript is required. Maximum time is 10 minutes including introduction. 

    Impromptu Speaking: An impromptu speech, substantive in nature, with topic selections varied by round and by section. Topics will be derived from quotations. Speakers will have a total of 7 minutes for both preparation and speaking. Timing commences with the acceptance of the topics sheet. Limited notes are permitted.  

    Extemporaneous Speaking: Contestants will be given three topics in the general area of current event, 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. Student will speak in listed order. Postings of topics will be staggered. NOTE: Lap tops will be permitted in extemp draw, but this is for information retrieval from files on your computer  no on-line access is allowed. Bring batteries. The host does not supply electric outlets.

    Drama Interpretation: A cutting that represents one or more characters from a play or plays of literary merit. The focus of this event is on the development of characterization. This material may be drawn from stage, screen, or radio. Use of manuscript is required. Maximum time limit is 10 minutes including introduction. 

    Duo Interpretation: A cutting from a play or plays of literary merit, humorous or serious, involving the portrayal of two or more characters presented by two individuals. The 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.  

    Program Oral Interpretation: A program of thematically-linked selections of literary merit, chosen from two or three recognized genres of competitive interpretation (prose/poetry/drama). A primary focus of this event should be on the development of the theme through the use of narrative/story, language, and/or characterization. A substantial portion of the total time must be devoted to each of the genres used in the program. Different genre means the 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.) Only one selection may be original. Use of manuscript is required. Maximum time limit is 10 minutes including introduction. 

    Poetry Interpretation: A selection or selections of poetry of literary merit, which may be drawn from more than one source. A primary focus of this event should be on the development of language. Play cuttings and prose works are prohibited. Use of manuscript is required. Maximum time limit is 10 minutes including introduction.

    Policy debate is a form of research-based speech competition in which teams of two advocate for and against a resolution that typically calls for policy change by the United States federal government. It is also referred to as cross-examination debate (sometimes shortened to Cross-X, CX, or C-X) because of the 3-minute questioning period following each constructive speech. Affirmative teams generally present a plan as a proposal for implementation of the resolution.

    Testimonials

    Kelsey McCaffrey

    Kelsey McCaffrey

    As a transfer student going to a four year for the first time, it is a daunting task trying to fit in with a group, it is daunting task trying to fit in with a group who have two years of experience in making friends and getting involved on campus. I joined the speech and debate team because of my previous experience at Santa Rosa Junior College and their debate team. I fell in love with the activity and wanted to push myself further in the last two years I have at college.  My experience on the Chico State Speech and Debate team has made me grow immensely as a person.  The amount of support from my coaches, both in and out of class, has given me the confidence and resources to try new things like running for student government or making the MUN New York team because of my speaking ability. Everyone should try speech and debate, especially at Chico State because of how much it allows you to grow as a person and a speaker. My speaking abilities I have learned from this team have made me stand out in job interviews. It makes me different from the rest and gives me credibility employers are looking for.

    Brenna Purcell

    As a recent graduate from Chico State, I consider my decision to join the speech and debate team at Chico State to be one of the best choices that I made in my college career. I improved my public speaking skills and enhanced my confidence when speaking in crowds. These may seem like obvious benefits from joining, but what was less expected was the incredible friendships I made while there. Through the program I made connections with people I would never have met, thought about ideas I would have never conceived of, and went to places I would never have gotten to go. Last but not least, I was supported by a wonderful coaching staff that not only helped guide me within the team, but in life. I consider myself lucky to have had the chance to be a part of such a wonderful group.