National Forensic Association Explained

The National Forensic Association (NFA) is an American intercollegiate organization designed to promote excellence in individual events and debate. The NFA sponsors the NFA Nationals as well many other regional tournaments throughout the year. The 2023 NFA national tournament will be hosted by Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois. Founded in 1971, the NFA Nationals is dedicated to a full range of literature interpretation, public address, limited preparation, and Lincoln-Douglas debate.

Lincoln Douglas Debate

NFA is unique in its NFA-LD Policy format. High school debate is primarily divided into individual debaters engaged in values-oriented competition or teams of debaters in rapid-paced evidence-based policy analysis. Instead of choosing one of these formats, NFA offers evidence-based policy analysis in one-on-one competition.

LD Policy Format

At the beginning of each year a topic area and corresponding resolution is voted upon and subject to the entire season's debate. Each round competitors find themselves assigned to affirm or negate the resolution. Rather than affirm general ideas or values, affirmative competitors propose a particular policy to adopt as a representation of the resolution. Negative competitors will generally attempt to either demonstrate a lack of need for that policy or argue that said policy's disadvantages outweigh its benefits.

The first affirmative and negative speeches are constructive speeches, intended to put forth the arguments which will comprise the issues in dispute. A cross-examination period of three minutes follows each of these speeches in order to clarify arguments and gain information relevant to each competitor's position. Each competitor is then given a six-minute rebuttal in which their responses and development of the arguments are finalized. At the end of the round, the affirmative is given one final three-minute speech to review why their plan ought to be passed in support of the resolution. An assigned judge will then cast a ballot to affirm or negate the resolution.[1]

Past LD National Championship Teams

Years 1991 - 2023 verified[2]

Past LD Debate Resolutions

Members of the NFA Hall of Fame

Induction Class: Era: Name: College/University

External links

References

  1. http://cas.bethel.edu/dept/comm/nfa/nfa-ld.html cas.bethel.edu
  2. Web site: National Tournament Results - National Forensic Association.

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