Forensics in America

Michael Bartanen is professor of communication and chair of the department of communication and theatre at Pacific Lutheran University. Bartanen has taught at Pacific Lutheran since 1979. He is the author or co-author of four previous books in forensics theory which were well-received by reviewers, and a number of journal articles and conference presentations. He has been active in forensics education and service in many forensics organizations, most recently, Pi Kappa Delta which is the largest collegiate forensics honorary society in the United States. Robert S. Littlefield is professor of communication at North Dakota State University. He is a life-long forensic educator, having taught at North Dakota State University since 1979. He is the author, co-author, or editor of three previous books, one of which focused on the history of forensics in North Dakota during the 20th Century. He has published over 75 journal articles (30+ on forensics-related topics, given nearly 100 conference presentations (50+ on forensics-related topics), and currently serves as Editor of Communication Studies, the journal of the Central States Communication Association published by Taylor & Francis.

• Table of ContentsList of TablesPrefaceAcknowledgementsChapter 1: An Introduction to the Study of American Forensics In the 20th CenturyThe Importance of Historical-Critical Research in ForensicsThe Broad Outline of a Historical Study of American ForensicsThe Focus of This Text and Assumptions Guiding Our AnalysisForensics is EpistemicForensics is RhetoricalCombining the Epistemic and RhetoricalAssumptions and Themes of this AnalysisTheme One: The History of American ForensicsTheme Two: The Relationship between Collegiate and High School ForensicsTheme Three: Forensics as a Promise and Consequence of American EducationTheme Four: Forensics as a Resilient and Enduring Education FormTheme Five: The Relationship between Forensics and theCommunication DisciplineThe Plan of the BookReferencesPart I: The Historical Context of Forensics PracticeChapter 2: The Public Oratory EraForensics in the Pre-Competitive EraEarly DebatingThe Literary SocietyThe So

Through an examination of written histories and other materials, communication scholars Michael Bartanen and Robert Littlefield deliver the first historical account of the evolution of forensics in the US. The authors identify the systemic variables affecting this evolution, including the cultural dimensions of forensics activities. In part 1, they trace the historical context of the practice of forensics from the era of public oratory through the era of technology. In part 2, they address the pedagogical growth and development of competitive forensics. And in the third and last part, they focus on the sociocultural dimensions of the field. In a particularly compelling chapter, the authors discuss "absent histories" and offer a holistic understanding of African American participation in forensics in the US. The helpful tables the authors provide allow readers to more easily comprehend dense and complicated material. As the first work to trace how forensics undergirds the tradition of American public address, this book is an invaluable resource. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Lower-division undergraduates through faculty and professionals.