The Oregon State University (OSU) Forensics Team competes regionally, nationally, and internationally in individual events and parliamentary debate. Individual events are public speaking and oral interpretation events that students prepare ahead of competitions. Parliamentary debate is an extemporaneous form of two person debate where students are given a new topic each round.
Students prepare for parli by keeping abreast of current events and participating in practice debates before competitions. The team is coached by the Director of Forensics, Mark Porrovecchio, and two assistant coaches (graduate students in the Department of Speech Communication’s MAIS program). The team is open to any undergraduate student in good academic standing.
The primary purpose of participation in forensics is to gain skills in public speaking and argumentation. Forensics participation is one of the primary extra-curricular activities employers look for on resumes since it means an applicant possesses self-confidence, communication skills, organizational and time management skills. Many famous political, religious, and cultural leaders have forensics competition in their background.
The OSU Forensics Team in a Student Involvement organization. Funded by the Educational Activities Committee of Oregon State, the team pays for registration fees, transportation, and housing while at competitions. This ensures that the team is open to all regardless of financial background. Consequently, anyone who wants to improve all-important communication skills can do so through participation on OSU's team
The OSU Forensics team began in 1868, the only extra-curricular activity at Oregon Agricultural School. Debate, along with the Alumni Association, are the only things that remain of that original school. Over the years, OSU has been both innovative in its educational approach and successful in competition. In the 1920s, the team did 6 week long debate tours of Europe and the East Coast
We are a member of the National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA). Recently, our debate teams have finished as high as 16th in the nation in Parliamentary Debate and 33rd in the WORLD! We are a member of the American Forensics Association (AFA). Students have finished as high as 3rd in their division at the National Individual Events Tournament (NIET) held each year. We are also a member of the Northwest Intercollegiate Forensics League (NIDL), a regional organization that stresses the development of public-centered argumentation and debate skills.
In 2006, OSU hosted the NPDA Tournament, where schools from across the United States fielded their best teams. Every year we also host the Earl Wells Memorial Speakeasy, an Individual Events and Parliamentary Debate Tournament, that draws schools from the Pacific Northwest and from as far away as Texas. Most importantly, forensics is a way to have fun and make great friends in an education setting.
"Forensics" is a word rooted in the Western world's classical experience.
The Greeks organized contests for speakers that developed and recognized the abilities their society felt central to democracy. These exercises acquired the title "forensics," derived from the Latin term for ensis and closely related to forum.
Because the training in this skill of public advocacy, including the development of evidence, found one of its important venues in the law courts, the term "forensic" has also become associated with the art and science of legal evidence and argument. The Oregon State Forensics Team researches and trains in the earlier and more global skills of argument and public advocacy.
We continue to seek greater understanding of the history and practice of reasoned discourse as a sound basis for public involvement.
We invite you to work your way through our website to see the many activities that our team members pursue in the service of improving the quality of public advocacy not just for themselves, but also for society.
Our principle is the power of individuals to participate with others in shaping their world through the human capacity of language.
Our commitment to argument expresses our faith in reason-giving as a key to that power.
Our commitment to advocacy expresses our faith in oral expression as a means to empower people in situations of their lives.
Our research studies the place of argument in advocacy in these situations of empowerment.
Our teaching seeks to expand students' appreciation for the place of argument and advocacy in shaping their worlds, and to prepare students through classrooms, forums, and competition for participation in their world through the power of expression.
Our public involvement seeks to empower through argument and advocacy.
Joining the team is easy. And your level of commitment is decided by you. You want a lot of experience? Great. You want a little? Great. You can compete without credits and for credits. All it really takes is an interest in building up your critical thinking and public speaking skills.
Whether you have a question or you are ready to dive right in, click here to contact the team for more information. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
OSU Forensics looks forward to hearing from you.
The Oregon State University Forensics Team competes regionally, nationally, and internationally in individual events and parliamentary debate. Individual events are public speaking and oral interpretation events that students prepare ahead of competitions. Parliamentary debate is an extemporaneous debate form where students are given a new topic each round.
Students prepare for parli by keeping abreast of current events and participating in practice debates before competitions. The team is coached by the Director of Forensics, Mark Porrovecchio, and his graduate assistants from the Department of Speech Communication. The team is open to any undergraduate student in good academic standing.
The primary purpose of participation in forensics is to gain skills in public speaking and argumentation. Forensics participation is one of the primary extra-curricular activities employers look for on resumes since it means an applicant possesses self-confidence, communication skills, organizational and time management skills.
Why compete? It is as simple as learning to speak for yourself . . . and with others. Click here to contact the team for more information.
