Links: Forensic Resources

In the spirit of forensic education, we have compiled a variety of resources that should help newcomers and remind even the veterans of the vast opportunities out there for continuing our growth and evolution as forensics participants. We encourage you to get involved in these organizations. All have their merits and unique contributions to Forensics. I have found them all filled with great people who share our passion for communication education and am sure you will find the same.

National Communication Association

NCA is an umbrella organization with which most forensics organizations are affiliated. The annual NCA convention offers dozens of panels related to forensics, including research into almost every aspect of the activity, from coaching to fundraising. Even if you can’t attend the annual convention, they have an online index of all panel topics and presenters from which you can contact individuals and ask to have copies of their papers sent to you. This is a great resource for all things forensic, especially the latest trends and research from around the country.

http://www.natcom.org/

National Forensics Association

NFA sponsors the largest national championship tournament in the country the 3rd week of every April. An affiliate of NCA, NFA members present research panels annually at the NCA convention. NFA also is the sponsoring organization for Lincoln –Douglas Debate, and their website offers valuable information about that event as well as the entire organization.

http://www.bethel.edu/Majors/Communication/nfa/home.html

American Forensics Association

AFA sponsors the elite AFA-National Individual Events Tournament the first weekend of every April, distinguished by its rigorous qualification procedure. Each region of the country is divided into AFA “Districts”. District VII entails NJ, PA, MD, DE, VA, WV (NY and the New England states are District VIII). District VII sponsors an annual “District Workshop” (open to all schools from both District VII and VIII) the second weekend in September. The workshop offers a one day series of information sessions for students and coaches focusing an introductory and advanced aspect of public address, oral interpretation, limited prep events and (in recent years) Lincoln Douglas Debate. I strongly encourage newcomers and those with limited coaching experience and/or resources to attend! For more information on the workshop, or to be put on the District VII mailing list, contact District VII Chair, Lee Mayfield of James Madison University. (Lee’s email is mayfiecl@jmu.edu )

http://www.americanforensics.org/

Collegiate Forensics Association

CFA is an East Coast organization dedicated to serving primarily smaller, newer, and under-funded teams. The emphasis of CFA is on the EDUCATIONAL value of forensics competition and travel. CFA sponsors 3 tournaments annually. The CFA Fall tournament is hosted by a different member-school each year. The “Winter Weekend” is traditionally held in Montreal the last weekend in January. The Spring CFA Tournament is held in Ocean Beach Maryland the first weekend in March. For more information about CFA contact CFA President Carl Hyden (chyden@jewel.morgan.edu ) at Morgan State University or Dan Leyes at Brookdale CC (732-224-2530)

International Forensics Association

Dedicated to “Promoting Forensics Worldwide” the IFA sponsors a two-day tournament as part of a weeklong trip to a location outside the U.S. Recent locations have includes Vancouver, Paris, Rome, and Prague. For more information about the IFA, check the website or call Barbara Baron (President) at 732-224-2530.

http://www.brookdalecc.edu/pages/841.asp

Pi Kappa Delta

A Forensics Honorary Organization that sponsors a national tournament every other year, as well as Provincial tournaments. An Outstanding organization dedicated to promoting the educational value of Forensics for students, coaches, communication educators, and PKD alumni. See the website above for further details.

http://cotton.uamont.edu/~pkd/

Phi Rho Pi

National Honorary organization for two year schools. PRP sponsors a national tournament every April. See the website for additional information.

http://www.phirhopi.org/

Whitman College Forensics Website

An outstanding website full of links and valuable resources regarding everything from coaching and tournament management to fundraising. A goldmine of Forensics information! I strongly encourage you to check out all this site has to offer. One caveat…some of the information refers to HIGH SCHOOL forensics, and may not be accurate for intercollegiate competition. Still, there is a ton of collegiate information as well.

http://www.wcdebate.com/