Stanford National Forensic Institute

Start your season with us and experience national championship caliber coaching combined with the highest caliber resources all in the beautiful, safe and relaxing atmosphere of the Stanford University campus. Our challenging curriculum ensures that speakers starting out their forensic careers will learn the basic skills necessary to become competitive immediately while providing them with a firm foundation for growth. Experienced speakers will master advanced techniques to improve their performances and make them more successful at local, state and national competitions.

The 1-Week Individual Events Workout is designed for students who already have a strong skillset within the arena of Individual Events.  Due to the limited time available in only a week, experienced studetns are asked to come into the program with a piece in order to maximize the benefit of the program.

The primary purpose of the 1-Week Individual Events Workout is to accommodate students who are unable to attend the 2-Week Core Individual Events Program due to unavoidable scheduling constraints.  SNFI strongly suggests attending the 2-Week Core Individual Events Program instead of the 1-Week Individual Events Workout.  Note that the academic experience is not tailored to students attending the 1-Week Individual Events Workout, so students may arrive/depart in the middle of important materials without being at a logical start/stop point, and our staff is unable to make special accommodations for students who are departing early from or arrivaing late to the 2-Week Core Individual Events Program via enrollment in the 1-Week Individual Events Workout.

Courses of Study: Extemp: Original Oratory; Original Advocacy; Dramatic Interp, Humorous Interp; Duo Interp (Both students must attend); Prose; Poetry; Oratorical Interp; Expository Speaking; Thematic Interp; Impromptu Speaking or Original Prose and Poetry*

• Limited Preparation Events: This track includes extemporaneous speaking, commentary and impromptu speaking. Students will focus on strategies to make the most out of prep time while working to develop skills necessary for both effective argumentation and delivery. Significant time will be spent mastering thesis development, research skills and introductions, as well as fine-tuning skillls that seperate competitors in final rounds. In addition, all students in the extemp lab will take part in lecture and discussion focused on today’s most relevant events, and will explore topics pertinent to both US and international extemp.

• Interpretative Events: This track includes humorous interp, dramatic interp, duo interp (both students must be present), thematic interp, oratorical interp, prose/poetry. Interp students will learn how to choose an appropriate performance piece, cut it down to fit the event requirement and then how to bring it to life through a variety of interpretive techniques. In addition to learning competitive techniques, students will participate in lab activities and lectures which will help them develop their interpretive skills.

*Note: Additional events based on regional requirements may be added upon request