Emersyn auditioned for the High School Forensics team. A upperclass-MUN friend, Christine, wanted her to give it a go. The competition was tough this year with most of the prior years’ team returning. Emersyn did not make the team – no freshman was part of the team this year. Emersyn was first alternate. After a month, one of the girls dropped out and Emersyn was asked to fill in. She was given the categories of the girl leaving. Now, Emersyn needed to “catch-up” with very little time to prepare. The Concordia Forensics team was very supportive to help her get to speed for APAC (Asia Pacific Activity Conference) in Beijing at the end of January.

I really had no idea what this Forensics debate was all about. The students had a showcase Monday and Tuesday before they left for Beijing. Parents could come to watch to give the kids practice before the competition. It was interesting to watch…what a talented group of students.

The categories of Forensics competition:
Original Oratory (OI)
Impromptu (IMP)
Extemporaneous Speaking (EXTEMP)
Solo Acting (SA)
Original Oratory (OO)
Debate

Emersyn is doing debate and EXTEMP. For debate, she is teamed with her friend, Christine. They have prepared speeches on poverty and environment deprivation. The speeches are pros and cons why poverty or environment is more important. Each team member gives their speech. Then, they have crossfire in which they have to come up with questions for the opponent followed by closing statements.

Photos of Emersyn and Christine in their debate with Karis and Michael at the showcase. Once the students finished their presentation, guest teachers attending the showcase gave the students pointers on what they could do to improve – speaking, stage presents, eye contact, etc.

While Christine gives her speech, Emersyn takes notes to be prepare for crossfire.

Preparing for crossfire, they get their notes together based on their opponents speech.

For EXEMPT, Emersyn is given a current event topic and 30 minutes to write a 5-8 minute speech with facts and why or why not to support the issue. This is one of the toughest categories due to the current events and is generally done by upperclass speakers. She is the most nervous for this event.

Original Oratory has the speaker presenting a poem or two poems. It is graded by deliverance of the speech and it must be over 5 minutes and less than 7 minutes. If it is over, points are deducted.

Solo Acting takes someone with talent. One person puts on a play in which the actor must be at the minimum of three different characters. The students that performed for Concordia were amazing to watch.

Impromptu was another interesting categories. The presenter is given a quote, a word or some reference. They have 1-minute to put together a speech that must be 4-8 minutes.

Emersyn left Wednesday morning with her NEW suitcase!

She had a great time. The APAC team was so supportive of each other – it was the definition of team. She was never treated like the “freshman” as she was in tennis. Again, she was the only freshman on the team. There were two sophomores, 3 juniors and 4 seniors that made up the APAC Forensics team.

All 6 girls were at one homestay which made for a big “slumber” party for the girls. They had dinner out with the boys for lots of team spirit.

Emersyn and Christine made it to the quarter finals in debate. An excellent finished as they made the finals over Karis and Michael who are both juniors. Christine is a sophomore. Many of the other coaches were surprised Emersyn was a freshman as she is an elegant speaker and a forceful debater! She is looking forward to next year’s competition!