MIFA Regions

All events in MIFA are regulated by committees formulated by coaches from member schools who have run for and been elected to their respective committees. In IE, Regional tournaments are also established by geographic regions.
 
You can download schools (with Classifications) and emails in a document located in the Individual Events Forums. If you haven't signed up for the forums, this is another good reason.
 
This is the map of those regions.

You can download a copy here too.
 

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MIFA Newsletter Archive

Here is where you can pick up a current or archived copy of the MIFA Newsletter. The Future is Our Only Business!

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A Student's Guide to Individual Events

A Student's Guide to Individual Events

by Barb Ebeling
 
“A Student’s Guide to Individual Events is a fundamental text for students in this activity.  A wealth of information for new and experienced coaches is provided.”
Nancy Fitzgerald
Director of Forensics
Grand Rapids Christian High School
MIFA Individual Events Committee Chair

“A Students Guide to Individual Events is an excellent tool for students embarking on their forensics careers.  The easy to use format will guide them every step of the way – from figuring out which event to prepare, to choosing materials, to perfecting the piece, and even maneuvering through a tournament.  Teachers and parents can use the book as they coach and teach their students as well.  Written by a successful teacher and coach of both middle and high school students, the information is clear, complete, and correct.”

Debora K. Marsh
Director of Forensics
Dexter High School
MIFA Forensic Council 

Oral communication skills are an essential part of a good education program.  One of the most beneficial activities fostering these skills for middle and high school students is the Individual Events program sponsored by the Michigan Interscholastic Forensic Association (MIFA).  As a high school and collegiate competitor and Individual Events coach at the middle and high school level for nearly twenty years, I can personally testify to the merits of this program not only for myself but for the countless numbers of students who have been participants.  This program transforms lives.

The world of Individual Events is unique. It has its own language and sets of rules.  To the uninitiated, it seems daunting, complex, and mysterious.  This manual is an attempt to demystify the activity.  It is addressed primarily to students at both the middle and high school levels; however, it will also be beneficial to teachers whether used in the classroom or as part of an after school program.  I hope it encourages participation in this intellectually stimulating program and encourages more people to become involved.                    ~Barb

SECTIONS within the guide include:

Michigan Interscholastic Forensic Association (MIFA)
•    History
•    Activities Overview
•    Individual Events Descriptions

Helps and Hints
•    Benefits of the I.E. Program
•    General Expectations
•    Growth Opportunities
•    Handling Nervousness
•    Documentation

Choosing an Event
•    Interpretation
•    Limited Preparation
•    Prepared Public Address

Interpretation Events
•    Finding Literature
•    Sources
•    Cutting
•    Text Analysis
•    Introductions
•    Vocal Delivery
•    Physical Delivery
•    Sample Cutting
•    Character
•    Eye Focus
•    Duo and Multiple

Public Address Events
•    Topic
•    Researching the Topic
•    Keeping Track of Sources
•    Informative Topics
•    Oratory Topics
•    Sales Topics
•    Credibility
•    Informative Outline
•    Persuasive Outline
•    Sales Outline
•    Organizing Ideas
•    Writing Techniques
•    Use of Humor
•    Vocal Delivery
•    Physical Delivery
•    Visual Aids
•    Sample Speeches

Limited Preparation Events
•    MS/HS Outline
•    Extemporaneous
•    Impromptu – Middle School
•    Impromptu – High School
•    Broadcasting

Rehearsal Process

Polishing

Tournament Overview

Judging

 
To order

A Student’s Guide to Individual Events,
please send a check or money order made payable to Barbara Edeling and mail, with the order form, to:

3057 Rosefield Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48108

Cost

$38 / guide plus $2.50 for shipping
$30 / guide for 10 copies or more with
                             shipping costs TBD

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the MIFA.

Contact Information for Barb
(734) 623 – 0345
Fax: (734) 449-9812
barbebeling@hotmail.com

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BEGINNING, BUILDING AND BETTERING YOUR FORENSIC PROGRAM

BEGINNING, BUILDING AND BETTERING YOUR FORENSIC PROGRAM By James E. Menchinger (former head coach and now assistant coach at Portage Northern H.S. with 50 years of coaching experience)
Whether you are a veteran forensic coach or a new coach just starting out in middle or high school forensics,  improvement is always an essential part of your forensic program.
BEGINNING, BUILDING AND BETTERING YOUR FORENSIC PROGRAM is a ‘must have’ resource for any individual events coach, novice or veteran.  The information is a perfect combination for valuable information, practical material, insightful commentary on philosophy and motivational techniques that will work for any forensic program. This resource has helped hundreds of coaches in Michigan and the U.S. perfect the art of coaching  Individual Events. Topics range from establishing a forensic class syllabus and assignments, recruiting, organizing  a team, establishing traditions, meeting fundraising goals, as well as offering successful techniques for rehearsal, preparing student speeches or interpretation selections.  A valuable portion of the book utilizes past State champions with their advice on how they approached  events, designed performances and achieved the highest speech goals. Events covered are Extempore, Impromptu, Oratory, Sales, Informative, Broadcasting, Storytelling, Oral Interpretation guidelines, Storytelling, Duo and Multiple Interpretation events.  (Price of book: $25.00, with $2.50 shipping fee; book size 213 pages).

Contact: James E. Menchinger
                  7223 Leawood St.
                  Portage, Michigan 49024
                  Phone: (269) 327-7140
                  Email: jmm140@charter.net

Calendar

Michigan Interscholastic Forensic Association
Events/Meetings Calendar
2011-2012
See Calendar of Events on top right side of the Home Page www.themifa.org

Consider joining National Federation

There are distinct advantages to joining the National Federation of State High School Associations Speech, Debate and Theatre Association. Download this PDF for the one-page pitch.
 
You can access the membership form http://themifa.org/content/class-high-school-dues At the bottom of the product description (the first paragraph, it says "Click here" for three different forms. The second one is the one you want.">here.

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Extemp Resources

More than one resource for extemp here.

Good Citizens

Often, we find ourselves trying to justify the continued existance of our programs. And while there have been cuts to athletics too, they almost never have to worry about a year without football or baseball like we do.
 
Here's some suprising current research that says, not only are our programs good at building good citizens, sports are actually kind of crappy at it.
 
We have to learn to stop making excuses for continued funding. We are good at what we do and what we do is valuable.

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Inclement Weather Policy

With winter weather in Michigan a constant concern, here is the MIFA policy regarding inclement weather and tournament cancellation and postponement.
 
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY
In case of inclement weather, each individual director and the director of the particular tournament must reach certain decisions regarding participation. In any circumstance, the directors of various speech programs at a particular school should be aware of the travel policy of the school district.
In the case of inclement weather, the director of a particular speech program should reach a decision on participation in a tournament in conjunction with the appropriate school administrator. It is assumed that the various debate and individual events leagues will have an inclement weather policy that is developed by the participating schools. A league inclement weather policy should be compatible with the policies of the various school districts comprising the league membership.
For tournaments administered by the MIFA, the process to determine the conduct or cancellation of a tournament in the case of inclement weather is as follows:

The tournament will be held as scheduled unless more than forty percent of the pre-registered schools withdraw 24 or more hours prior to the time for the tournament registration because of inclement weather. Further, in the preceding circumstance, the withdrawal is to be made by the superintendent, or assistant superintendent, or principal, or assistant principal to the MIFA Executive Director and/or the director of the tournament; or The MIFA Executive Director and two members of the Forensic Council may decide to cancel a tournament because of inclement weather up to eighteen hours prior to the time for the tournament registration. The decision to cancel the tournament will be determined, in part, on the basis of weather advisories and State Police reports. In case of a cancellation in this time period, the Forensic Council and/or the tournament director will notify each participating director of the cancellation by email. If either of the preceding conditions is in effect, an alternative tournament will be conducted.

Texas Speech Resources

Texas has one of the most active speech organizations in the country. This link will take you to a page that offers some helpful resources for Extemp, Informative and Persuasive speaking.

 http://www.uiltexas.org/speech/extemp

For prose and poetry, go here:

http://www.uiltexas.org/speech/oral-interp

Good beginning debate resources here:

http://www.uiltexas.org/speech/debate

Theatre Resources

 We will post information for theatre directors here occasionally. Here is a beginning sample.

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What We All Need to Know

Some articles are "how-to" and others are inspirational. But these are things we all need to know and continue to remind ourselves. What you do is important, and in this educational climate it is becoming so very critical for our branch of pedogogy to not just survive, but to thrive!
 
Use these articles to remind others why we do the things we do too. Principals, department heads, board members and superintendents all need reminding that we aren't just a number they would like to cut out of the balance sheets. We also make superstars on the standardized tests, among other things.

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What we can learn from Sports Administrators

Sometimes being the speech teacher, coach and activities director spreads us a little thin. Now I'm asking you to go one step futher down the road. The attached article is about how sports administrators make the case for their activities. It is time we employed similar tactics. Every time your read the word "athletics" in this article, subsitute the word "forensics" in your head.  If it says "sports," you should think "activities." And when it says "athletes," you will see "student speaker." It really is a good road map to protecting, preserving and propagating speech programs in your schools.

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