Forensics

February 10, 2010  
Filed under Sports

Some students dribble a ball down a court, others reach a high C on their instrument, and still others’ passion is slathering paint on a canvas. But Ali Sims’s passion includes yelling in foreign accents, embarrassing herself constantly, and embodying fictional characters. Sims’s passion is forensics.

“It’s a good way to express yourself, and I like to beat people and dominate at tournaments!” said Sims, who is a senior.

No, this is not the type of forensics you see on television that includes examining dead bodies and searching for hidden fingerprints. This type of forensics has to do with performing humorous duets or reading poetry.

“Forensics is competitive speaking and acting,” Angie Flax, forensics teacher, said.

Flax has been teaching at OHS for eleven years. And, according to her, there are “so many reasons” to keep on teaching.

“I like forensics because we can be spastic; we have fun and we laugh. I get to see students grow and mature. Yet, I am competitive. I like to win,” Flax said.

A forensics competition consists of multiple events for students to participate in.

One event is extemporaneous speech. In this type of speech, the contestant prepares a seven-minute political speech with a topic drawn at the competition. A contestant in this category should have a good amount of knowledge over political affairs to assist them in writing their speech. The presentation may or may not be written on note cards to assist the speaker. Junior Jeremiah Nesmith is a first-time participant in the extemporaneous speech category.

“I’m going to try it out to see if it’s fun and if I’m good,” Nesmith said. “I’m doing it because I don’t have to memorize anything, and I’m good at talking about political affairs.”

A second event is informative speech, in which the contestant writes their own speech, over an event or a learning experience, to inform or instruct the judges. This speech cannot exceed seven minutes and must be given by memory. Ryan McCall, freshman, is planning to compete with a speech he wrote about why you should not text and drive, and the dangers it causes.

“I don’t like speaking in front of people, but I feel like if I were to actually do this it would get rid of my fear,” McCall said.

Another forensics event is original oration. This is a speech written by the contestant for the purpose of persuading the judges to agree with a certain point of view. An original oration must be memorized and cannot be more than 10 minutes long.  Sophomore Michael DeLoSantos is performing an original oration about boogers. Why would he give a speech about boogers?

“I chose this subject because it’s unique and nobody cares to understand it fully. I mean, do you know very much about boogs?” DeLoSantos said. “There is a little bit of ironic humor, but it’s also informative. Like how boogers are made, and what happens when you eat them.”

Oral interpretation of poetry is another event. In this, the contestant is to select a published poem to perform. Entrants must use expression, experience and emotion to make their poem stand out to the judges. This event is typically one of the fullest, because the poem should not be memorized. Elizabeth Rein, senior, will be competing with a piece about Little Red Riding Hood and the three little pigs.

“I went with one of Roald Dahl’s poems last year and I did pretty well with it, so I found two of his to do again this year. They’re really funny, so I wanted to do them,” Rein said.

Another event is prose. In prose, the contestant performs a seven-minute piece of fiction or non-fiction. The piece must be published, and can be a short story, novel, news article, essay, etc. This is another popular event, because you can hold your script while you perform.

Humorous solo acting and serious solo acting are a couple more events seen in forensics tournaments. In these events, contestants perform a 10-minute, memorized selection. The selection performed must be a published work. Mychal Peterson, sophomore, is planning to compete in this category in upcoming tournaments. She likes serious solo acting because she doesn’t have to overact as much.

“My solo is about a girl who held a grudge against a classmate that beat her out for homecoming queen,” Peterson said. “I thought it was a moving story, and it has a good lesson.”

Duet acting is an event in which two students work together to perform a memorized, ten minute piece. The selection for a duet performance must be a published work and can be cut from a piece of literature.

Sims’s favorite event is a duet, because you have a partner you can rely on. It is also Flax’s personal favorite.

“I like the creativity,” Flax said. “Like, the possibilities are endless with a duo. I do see students go above and beyond.”

The final event is called improvised duet acting (IDA). In IDA, the two students will randomly draw two characters, a situation and a location. After they have drawn their topics, the students will have 30 minutes to prepare an original skit. This skit must be longer than four minutes, but should not exceed seven. Allison Williams, junior, said IDA is her favorite thing about forensics.

“I love improv, and I love how funny making a skit can be. And having a partner,” Williams said.

Williams is no newbie when it comes to IDA.

“Once I did an IDA with Logan Swafford at a tournament. He was a precise cop, and I was an athlete who professionally caught butterflies. I think it was a car chase on a street corner. It was probably my favorite IDA I’ve ever done,” Williams said. “Everything in it was really funny.”

Both Sims and Williams are experienced “forensicators.” Each has participated in it all their years at OHS, and each has set high goals for themselves this season.

“I hope to make it to state and qualify in as many events as I can,” Sims said. “And hopefully to nationals again.”

Williams also hopes to make it to state, but in IDA.

It is not only the experienced students that have something to look forward to this season. First-time participant, sophomore Megan Shirley said she likes being able to act crazy and to play someone she is not.

“I’m hoping to be able to break out of my shell, and to get good scores more often than not,” Shirley said.

Ryan Tipton, freshman, is also a newcomer to the class.

“I joined because I was told I’d be good at it,” Tipton said. “I want to get more experience toward acting and such.”

Sims and Williams have words of wisdom to share with those just starting out.

“Don’t give up!” Sims said to the rookies.

Williams said that if you are a beginner, you should try out as many events as you can, and pick the ones that fit you.

Forensics is a way to practice public speaking, break out of your comfort zone, and meet new people.

“I’m looking forward to a lot of things this season. This is the largest group I’ve ever had,” Flax said. “I want to go beyond what we’ve ever done. Be bigger and better.”

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Jaime Birzer

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