UNI Speech and Debate
Welcome to UNI Forensics
UNI Forensics is the home of the intercollegiate Speech (also called Individual Events) and Debate teams. UNI Forensics is one of the oldest student activities at UNI – more than 100 years old – and has a long history of success. Both the Speech and Debate teams at UNI – made up of students from various disciplines across campus – at UNI are award-winning, and known for their excellence.
UNI’s Speech Team finished ranked in the top 15 in the country at AFA nationals for five straight years (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016). The UNI Debate Team competes regionally and nationally, and has sent qualifiers to the prestigious National Debate Tournament. We are proud of this distinction and strive to excel in both areas.
Learn more about UNI Forensics
The Speech (or Individual Events) program at UNI offers students many opportunities and is open to anyone with an interest in improving their public speaking skills.
There are 11 different events to choose from in interpretation/acting, platform speaking, and limited preparation. The squad consists of 15-20 members, and travels nationally to weekend tournaments throughout each semester, culminating the season with the American Forensic Association and National Forensic Association national tournaments in early April.
In partnership with a coach, students can choose their own level of involvement, determining how many tournaments in which they wish to compete, and in which events they would like to compete.
To join, students can come to one of our Tuesday squad meetings at 5 p.m. Lang Hall 218.
Why join the UNI Speech Team?
In addition to improving a student's performing, researching, and writing skills, providing a fully equipped squad room with computers and work space, receiving academic credit (COMM 1940: Applied Forensics; COMM 3940: Applied Forensics), receiving individualized coaching, and emphasizing the balance between education and competition, UNI Forensics provides monetary support for tournament travel (entry fees, hotel costs, transportation, etc.).
Speech Event Descriptions
- Interpretation Events
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.
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.
Dramatic 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.
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 genres 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.
Duo Interpretation - A cutting from one or more texts of literary merit, humorous or serious, involving the portrayal of two or more characters presented by two individuals. The material may be drawn from any genre of literature. 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.
- Platform Speaking Events
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 nightclub act, an impersonation, or comic dialogue. Audio-visual aids may or may not be used to supplement and reinforce the message. Minimal notes are permitted. Maximum time limit is 10 minutes.
Communication Analysis/Rhetorical Criticism - 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.
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.
- Limited Preparation Events
Extemporaneous Speaking - Contestants will be given three topics 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. Maximum time limit for the speech is 7 minutes. Limited notes are permitted. Students will speak in listed order. Postings of topics will be staggered.
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.
For questions or details, contact the speech team director:
Sadé Barfield
Director of Individual Events
office: 326 Lang Hall
phone: 319-273-2217
Why join the UNI Debate Team?
If you have any questions about the debate program at UNI please contact: Squid Monteith, Director of Debate, squid.monteith@uni.edu.
Members of the UNI Debate Team travel to a variety of regional and national tournaments for a total of between 5 and 12 tournaments a year, depending on skill, experience, and work level. In the past, UNI has attended tournaments at: Harvard University, Northwestern University, Missouri State University, Augustana College, Wichita State University, University of Texas-Austin, and many others.
Topics about which we have debated recently include: amending Title VII of the Civil Rights Act to increase protections against race and/or gender discrimination, the U.S. Supreme Court, increasing regulations on environmental pollutants, amending the federal sentencing guidelines, decreasing the use of fossil fuels in the U.S., and U.S. Foreign Policy in China and the Middle East.