This course is designed for those students who plan to participate in the interscholastic speech and debate program. Students will learn and practice the art and skills of competitive forensics.  Students participate in the research, writing, and presentation of material for competition in debate, public speaking, and/or oral interpretation of literature.  First quarter units will include close study of public speaking, oral interpretation, and debate.  Following the first quarter, students will choose their own individual areas of focus.  All students are required to compete in a forensics tournament held outside the regularly scheduled class time. First year students are required to compete in a minimum of four forensics tournaments during the year; varsity students are required to compete in a minimum of six forensics tournaments during the year.  Students complete various long-terms assignments individually and in small groups designed to prepare them for interscholastic competition.  All students will play a major role in the preparation for and the production of the Clayton Fall Classic Speech and Debate Tournament.  Competitive activities include public speaking (oratory, extemporaneous speaking, radio announcing), oral interpretation of literature (humorous interpretation, dramatic interpretation, duo interpretation, prose and poetry reading, storytelling) and debate (policy, public forum, Lincoln-Douglas).  In addition, students may choose to present longer cuttings of literature that would be suitable for readers’ theatre productions.