The Cerritos College Forensics Team

What is it?
Students compete in various public speaking events such as persuasive speaking, impromptu speaking, interpretation of literature, and debate. Tournaments are held on Fridays, Saturdays, and some Sundays. Beginners are welcome! Tournaments have a division just for people who have very little speaking experience but want to learn and improve.

What does the Forensics Team Offer Me?
You can earn transferable elective credit, learn to present your ideas dynamically, overcome the fear of public speaking, meet new friends at Cerritos and other colleges, and have the opportunity to attend state and national speech championships. Cerritos speech students can earn scholarships to four-year colleges and valuable experience for their job resumes.

What can I expect from the Forensics Team?
You can expect individual coaching assistance, a budget that pays for travel, meal, and lodging expenses for competition, video taped practices, numerous speaking opportunities, fun, and skills that will really make a difference in your life.

Forensics Workshop Benefits
Forensics workshops provide students with numerous opportunities to improve oral communication, organizational, and research skills while developing self confidence and reducing speaking anxiety. The Forensics workshop class includes competition at intercollegiate speech and debate tournaments and may include on campus and/or community speaking opportunities. Emphasis is placed on student competition and events development. All forensics courses are recommended for both speech majors and non-majors.

Forensics Speech Courses

Forensic Workshop: SPEECH 239
Any person anxious to develop verbal confidence is encouraged to enroll in the Forensic Workshop. Workshop includes speaking opportunities before audiences at Intercollegiate speech tournaments and community organizations such as Kiwanis, Lions, Rotary, etc. This course may be taken a maximum of 4 times.

Forensics for One Tournament: SPEECH 236
This course provides students with opportunities to acquire basic oral communication, organizational, and research skills while gaining self-confidence and reducing speaking anxiety. Workshop includes competition at intercollegiate speech and debate tournaments. This course is recommended for all Speech majors. This course may be taken a maximum of 4 times.

Forensics for Two Tournaments: SPEECH 237
This course provides students with numerous opportunities to improve oral communication, organizational, and research skills while developing self-confidence and reducing speaking anxiety. Workshop includes competition at intercollegiate speech and debate tournaments, and may also include on-campus and/or community speaking opportunities. Emphasis is on student competition and events development. This course is recommended for all Speech majors. This course may be taken a maximum of 4 times.

Forensics for Three Tournaments: SPEECH 238
This course provides students with numerous opportunities to compete in multiple events at intercollegiate speech and debate tournaments, and also includes on-campus and/or community speaking opportunities. Intensive improvement of oral communication, organizational, and research skills is emphasized, along with commitment to participate in multiple facets of the program. This course, recommended for all Speech majors, develops scholarship, leadership, a strong team ethic, and an appreciation for the academic competitive experience. This course may be taken a maximum of 4 times.

How do I get more information about the Forensics Team?

Contact April Griffin, Director of Forensics at562-860-2451 x2849

Sign up for Speech 236, 237, and 238 Forensic Tournaments (1 unit classes) with meetings to be arranged. A description of each class can be found using the "speech classes" link.