Frequently Asked Questions

Some questions you may have about our team!

Wait... so you guys don't look at dead bodies?

We are named and formatted around the Greek forum, where famous philosophers such as Aristotle and Plato would come up and speak! Meanwhile, the science comes from the Latin word "forensis". (We actually don't know anything about the latter part.) If you'd like to learn more about the word's origin, click here!

When and where are your meetings?

Our meetings are during lunch on Tuesdays in room 158!

When does Forensics season start? How long is it?

The first competition begins in early October, followed by two qualifying tournaments in December and January. County Finals happen President's Day weekend and concludes with Finals Awards in the last week of February, right before the AP Exam stress happens!

What can I do in forensics and how does it benefit me?

There are many different categories in Forensics to help prepare you for projects in school and to help boost your confidence and public speaking skills, such as

Poetry/Prose Interpretation
Informative/Persuasive/Extemporaneous Speaking
Ensemble Acting

And that's not even all of our categories! All of the categories help build your skills as a speaker and writer, and you will receive feedback on your skills even if you don't place.

Can I be in other extracurriculars and also be in Forensics?

Of course! Forensics is very chill and non-time consuming. We have team members at other clubs such as, but not limited to:

Science Bowl
Debate Team
Theatre
County/State/National Chorus
Marching Band

This team sounds just like Debate and Theatre. Why can't I just join one of those?

The biggest difference between our team and Theatre & Debate is choice. In Theatre, you're given a play or a musical to do ahead of time; in Debate, you're given a topic to write and argue about, and given which side to be on. However, in Forensics, you can literally talk about anything you want to. In previous years, we've had competitors act out pieces about love letters, toxic marriages, and quirky funeral guests. We've also had people write about the history of water, the benefits of failure, and personal experiences about being racially profiled. In Forensics, the sky's the limit!

FAQ: FAQ