COMM 360 – Spring Semester 2009
FORENSICS/HONORS
Nathan Miller
LA 226,
(785)817-2203
Email: nathan3.miller@umontana.edu
Office Hours:
By appointment
Purpose –
This course provides
students the opportunity to learn and engage in Parliamentary debate through
the forum of class and intercollegiate competition. The purpose of the
class is to increase ability in argumentation and speaking ability and prepare
for competition in NPDA
Forensics educates
through research skills, argumentation, critical thinking, policy analysis,
persuasion, performance, organization and audience adaptation. Forensics
provides students to participate in an international democratic decision-making
processes.
The University of
Montana has a rich forensics tradition dating back 100 years. In addition
to weekly inter-class practice, students will be involved with broad research,
debates in public forum, campus debates and national NPDA travel.
Class Requirements –
PLEASE REGISTER
FOR 2 CREDITS. If you’d like to take 3 credits, please see me todiscuss
expectations. You are required to take the class and complete the assignments if you wish to travel competitively.
Students have
the option to register on a graded or pass/no-pass basis. A grade of ‘C’ or
higher is required for a pass. Students who are majors in Comm. Studies must
register for traditional grading.
Regular class
attendance, participation, weekly practices, and participation in one debate
event are required for credit. Students are expected to actively participate in
class discussions with prepared material, lead class discussions with their
issue briefs and to assist in debate outreach efforts. As assignments will be
made every week, it is important to balance breadth and depth of our research.
For those who enjoy deeper research, greater background can be added or found
on the team website.
The outreach
assignments are individually arranged and can include fundraising, judging
or coaching
high school programs, publicity or facilitating the public debates.
In addition,
students may choose to develop an on-going debate project (Critical Theory,
Performance, or others). This will
culminate each semester with a 30-40 minute public presentation about the
project.
Students will
help facilitate public outreach events with the university and community
participants. This participation will increase our visibility in the university
and allow our discipline to enhance other areas of study. Your presence is
required at these events.
Grading –
Research – 100 points
There will be
an issue brief/updates assigned by me periodically throughout the semester.
Number of briefs assigned will be determined by number of credit hours
taken. See brief grading criteria. Updates may include topics we’ve already
discussed but need further discussion and “updates” (new peace accords,
election results, etc.)
Attendance and
Participation in class– 100 points
Attendance will be taken. 3 unexcused absences are
allowed. The fourth will result in a letter grade reduction. To excuse an absence,
please see your student handbook. Please
keep in mind that we will be doing practices in class for credit. You may still schedule practices outside of
class, but missing class will be detrimental to your performance and grade.
Readings/Theory- 100 points
Throughout the
semester I will hand you different articles written by past and present
debaters and coaches. Students will be
expected to turn in a one-paragraph response to the reading the following class
period with how you would incorporate the author’s approach to debate in a
debate round.
Debate is a
game with rules that are debatable. To
succeed in debate you will have to defend not only whatever side you may be on
but also the rules of debate that favor your position. Debaters will be required to memorize
different theory arguments throughout the semester.
Community
Outreach – 40 points but REQUIRED TO PASS CLASS
Outreach includes participation and organization public debates,
high school outreach, on-going debate project, judging for high school
tournaments (a full day, not just a round or two), or team administrative
duties.
Total of 340
points for the semester. I’ll grade on a 10 point scale A=90%, B=80%, and so on.
Travel –
Traveling to tournaments
is not a requirement of COMM 360, however, it is an integral function of the
class. You must attend one debate function (including an on-campus scrimmage).
Most of class time will be dedicated to preparing for our tournaments. There is
no fee to travel to tournaments; however, you will be expected to provide some
of your own money for food.
Students that
wish to travel with the University are required to do additional work. All team
members MUST write one brief per week. Those of you who are enrolling in the
class for one credit are still required to do the same workload if you wish to
be included on the traveling squad.
The
privilege to travel to tournaments and represent the University of Montana is
at the discretion of Alan Sillars, Director of Forensics, and me.
The Tentative Spring Travel Schedule
Whitman Invitational (Walla Walla, WA) February 19-22 (Two tournaments some teams depending on numbers may only compete in one half of the tournament)
JV/Novice Champs (Spokane, WA) March 6-7 (JV teams only)
CEDA Nationals (Idaho State University) March 21-22 (Out of pocket expense)
NPDA (Stockton, CA) March 27-30 (Two open teams only)