The UTNIF will offer an “Intro to High School Forensics” workshop for incoming 7th-9th grade commuting students in the Austin area. The purpose of the workshop is to introduce students to competitive speech and debate events offered at the high school level through the University Interscholastic League, Texas Forensic Association, and National Speech and Debate Association.
The workshop will be led by Dr. Brendon Bankey. The workshop will run on weekdays only between June 24-July 11, 2024. The workshop will not meet on July 4th or Saturdays and Sundays. The daily schedule will run from 9:45AM-4:00PM. Students should be dropped off and picked up daily at the Castilian Dormitory at 2323 San Antonio St, Austin TX 78705. The workshop ends on a Thursday because the University does not allow classroom use on final exam dates (July 12, July 13).
Tuition (including lunch): $900
Typical Daily Schedule
9:45AM – Roll Call
10:00AM – Morning Session Starts
11:45AM – Depart for Lunch
12PM-1PM – Lunch in Castilian Dorm Cafeteria
1:10PM – Roll Call for Afternoon Session / Walk to Campus
1:30PM – Afternoon Session Starts
3:45PM – Walk to Castilian for Pickup
4:00PM – Parental Pickup
All Roll Calls will occur in/outside the lobby of the Castilian Dormitory and students will walk to campus with chaperones. Students will be supervised by an appropriate number of Youth Protection Program Designated Individuals at all times. Lunch will be offered in the Castilian dormitory cafeteria. Classroom instruction will occur in University of Texas at Austin classrooms.
Students will have an opportunity to write and deliver a personal oratory, participate in at least one mock debate, and leave the workshop with a basic understanding of the variety of opportunities to compete in high school speech and debate events.
The first half of the workshop will focus on competitive speech events. Students will learn the distinctions between “limited prep,” “platform,” and “interpretative” speech events. Students will also learn and practice the fundamentals of public speaking. They will apply this knowledge by writing and delivering a five-minute personal oratory on an age-appropriate subject matter of the student’s choosing.
The second half of the workshop will focus on competitive debate events. Students will learn the distinctions between “Cross Examination,” “Lincoln-Douglas,” “Public Forum,” “Student Congress,” and “World Schools” debate. Students will also learn and practice the fundamentals of argumentation. They will apply this knowledge by debating age-appropriate topics with their peers. The workshop will conclude with students participating in a mock debate with their peers. The format of the debate will be determined based on the population of students in the workshop. The format will likely reflect a World Schools format.
Students should have: a reusable water bottle, pens/pencils, notebook(s), a cellphone to contact parents/for emergencies. Students are discouraged from using electronics in this workshop to ensure that students are engaged and that in-person collaboration can occur.
June 24
Morning – Meet classmates and instructors, discuss objectives for the Workshop
Afternoon – Impromptu Icebreaker Speeches – students will draw one of three age-appropriate topics and deliver a 2-minute speech on the topic
June 25
Morning – Tour of Campus (bring water bottle)
Afternoon – Fundamentals of Public Speaking lecture, group conversation about strategies to reduce apprehension to public speaking
June 26
Morning – Introduction to Platform Speaking Events
Afternoon – review and discuss examples of Platform Speaking from NSDA Nationals
June 27
Morning – Introduction to Limited Prep Speech Events – review and discuss examples of Platform Speaking from NSDA Nationals
Afternoon – Introduction to Interpretive Speech Events – review and discuss examples of Platform Speaking from NSDA Nationals
June 28
Morning – Brainstorm Topics for Personal Oratory
Afternoon – Practice “Interp Cutting” exercise – students will select an age appropriate poem and notate the poem for pauses/emphasis/“beats” to improve its delivery
July 1
Morning – Review Week 1, Begin drafting personal oratory
Afternoon – Walk to PCL Library to draft personal oratory (bring water bottles, writing utensils, notebook(s))
July 2
Morning – Independent Study / 1-on-1s with instructors to review and discuss oratory
Afternoon – Walk to PCL Library to edit/finalize personal oratory (bring water bottles, writing utensils, notebook(s))
July 3
Morning – Deliver Personal Oratories
Afternoon – Deliver Personal Oratories
July 4 – OFF, 4th of July
July 5
Morning – Visit Harry Ransom Center (bring water bottle)
Afternoon – Introduction to Argumentation Studies
July 8
Morning – Impromptu 1-on-1 debates – students will pick a random age-appropriate debate topic and spar with a classmate
Afternoon – Introduction to “Cross Examination,” “Lincoln-Douglas,” “Public Forum,” “Student Congress,” and “World Schools Debate”
July 9
Morning – watch NSDA sample World Schools debate
Afternoon – introduce “flowing”/debate notetaking, introduce basic competitive debate terminology
July 10
Morning – introduce the mock debate topic/format – students choose partners/teams – assign sides and opponents for mock debates
Afternoon – Walk to PCL Library to write preliminary cases (bring water bottles, writing utensils, notebook(s))
July 11
Morning – Mock Debates
Afternoon – Mock Debates
Depending on the circumstance, the UTNIF may be able to accommodate working parents with early drop-off or late pickup. In those circumstances, the UTNIF could potentially add a charge to tuition to cover daily breakfast or dinner.