Why Forensics?

California High School Speech Association

Alignment with Standards

Competitive Speech and Debate Activities Meet 15 of the National Common Core

Standards for ELA (including the newly adopted California Common Core Standards).

Meet all ten of the National Common Core Standards for Social Studies.

Meet 58 of 62 current California ELA State Standards.

College Board Standards for College Success (CBSCS) We meet all four zones (reading, writing,

speaking and listening) of the College Board Standards for College Success.

National Association of Secondary School Principal’s Breaking Ranks Endorses speech and debate for

Promotion of one-on-one direct instruction Instruction in evaluative criticism Support of community outreach Promotion of educational leadership

Alignment with School Learning Goals

Critical and Creative Thinking Effective Communicators and Collaborators Information Processors Self Management Civic Literacy

Advantages and BenefitsAdvantages and Benefits Unique benefits for gifted, special needs Unique benefits for gifted, special needs andand at-risk at-risk

students.students.

– A Georgia State study on speeech and A Georgia State study on speeech and debate showed that disciplinary referrals debate showed that disciplinary referrals (including expulsions, in-school (including expulsions, in-school suspensions and mandatory parent-suspensions and mandatory parent-teacher conferences) dropped by 50% teacher conferences) dropped by 50% after one year of participating in a speech after one year of participating in a speech and debate program; in the following year, and debate program; in the following year, it continued to drop and additional 46%.it continued to drop and additional 46%.

– Improves attendanceImproves attendance

Advantages and BenefitsAdvantages and Benefits

Higher performance on standardized tests.Higher performance on standardized tests.– 50% more likely to reach the college ready 50% more likely to reach the college ready

benchmark on the ACT.benchmark on the ACT.– African-American males are 70% more likely to African-American males are 70% more likely to

reach the college ready benchmark on the ACT.reach the college ready benchmark on the ACT. Higher GPAHigher GPA

– The average GPA is 20% higher than a non-The average GPA is 20% higher than a non-debating peer.debating peer.

– In Atlanta’s computer assisted debate project, In Atlanta’s computer assisted debate project, 77thth graders saw their cumulative GPAs rise four graders saw their cumulative GPAs rise four points on average.points on average.

Advantages and BenefitsAdvantages and Benefits

Participation in forensics results in a Participation in forensics results in a statistically significant improvement in statistically significant improvement in reading and writing scores.reading and writing scores.– Debaters improved scores by 25% more than Debaters improved scores by 25% more than

non-debaters.non-debaters.– The average debater improved by a year and a The average debater improved by a year and a

half compared to national norms.half compared to national norms. Improved access to content material.Improved access to content material. Improved graduation and retention rates.Improved graduation and retention rates.

– Average graduation rate is 40% higher than Average graduation rate is 40% higher than non-debating peers.non-debating peers.

– African-American males had a 70% higher African-American males had a 70% higher graduation rate than their non-debating peers.graduation rate than their non-debating peers.

Advantages and Benefits After High SchoolAdvantages and Benefits After High School

90% of speech and debate participants go to 90% of speech and debate participants go to college.college.

– 90% of debaters go on to earn at least 90% of debaters go on to earn at least one graduate degree.one graduate degree.

– Being a captain of a high school debate Being a captain of a high school debate team gives the student a 60% improved team gives the student a 60% improved chance of being accepted to an ivy chance of being accepted to an ivy league university.league university.

Most prominent litigators and appellate Most prominent litigators and appellate specialists participated in high school debate.specialists participated in high school debate.

Advantages and Benefits After High SchoolAdvantages and Benefits After High School

Advantages in business worldAdvantages in business world The ability to Develop a cogent argument The ability to Develop a cogent argument

with evidencewith evidence The ability to effectiveluy advocate for a The ability to effectiveluy advocate for a

positionposition The ability to make an argument in a limited The ability to make an argument in a limited

amount of time.amount of time. Workplace skillsWorkplace skills

– Digital Age LiteracyDigital Age Literacy– Inventive ThinkingInventive Thinking– Effective CommunicationEffective Communication– High ProductivityHigh Productivity

FAQs

• Is it expensive?– Speech and debate can be very reasonable with the

State dues set at $100. Local league dues will vary. Costs will go up commensurate with the number of tournaments you attend.

• Does the advisor need to be a credentialed teacher?– Teachers are preferred, but any District approved

adult can act as a coach.• Does this involve extensive travel?

– Not necessarily. There are many local tournaments available hosted by league schools.

Resources

• www.cahssa.org

• Speaking Across the Curriculum