The Texas Forensic Association (TFA) is an organization that provides and regulates competition in speech and debate (forensics) for Texas high school students. The association authorizes forensics competitions nearly every weekend in Texas for the duration of the forensics season, which lasts from early August until the end of February, with the State competition typically in the first or second week of March.
The Texas Forensic Association states that its goals are:
to foster cooperation between the worlds of speech and theatreto show the importance of speech and theatre education to the publicto create a forum to collaborate and solve common problems in the speech and theatre fieldsto forward the standards of the speech and theatre activitiesto promote cooperation and friendship among students and teachers in the organizationTFA divides Texas into five regions for administrative purposes; there are no regional championship tournaments or limit on number of schools or students to qualify to the state tournament from each region. The regions are divided by area code, and there is a region representative from each region to coordinate the region's activities with the state association.
Region 1 covers the Texas panhandle, area code 806. The Region 1 representative is Ryan Lovell of Tascosa High School.Region 2 covers Northeast Texas, including the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. The area codes included are 214, 254, 469, 682, 817, 903, 940, and 972. The Region 2 representative is Rhonda Smith of Plano West Senior High School.Region 3 covers South Texas, including the San Antonio and Austin metro areas. The area codes included are 210, 361, 512, 830, and 956. The Region 3 representative is John Nast of Stephen F. Austin High School.Region 4 covers East Texas. It is the smallest region and mainly encompasses the Houston metro area. The area codes included are 281, 409, 713, 832, 936, and 979. The Region 4 representative is Debbie Waddell of Cypress Falls High School.Region 5 covers West Texas, area code 915, 432, and part of 325. It is the largest geographical region, spanning close to 550 miles across. The Region 5 representative is Yolanda Silva of Franklin High School.Policy Debate (Cross-Examination, CX, Policy): Debate between two teams of two students on a question of policy, which remains the same for the competitive seasonLincoln-Douglas Debate (LD, Value Debate): Debate between two students on a question of values or morality, which changes every two monthsPublic Forum Debate (PF, Ted Turner Debate, Puff, PoFo): Debate between two teams of two students in which each team accepts or rejects a positionForeign Extemporaneous Speaking (Foreign Extemp, FX): A 7-minute extemporaneous speech on a foreign current events topicDomestic Extemporaneous Speaking (Domestic Extemp, DX): A 7-minute extemporaneous speech on a domestic current events topicOriginal Oratory (Oratory, OO): A 10-minute memorized speech on a topic of the student's choosingHumorous Interpretation (Humorous, Humor, HI): A 10-minute memorized humorous presentation of a published workDramatic Interpretation (Dramatic, DI): A 10-minute memorized dramatic presentation of a published workDuet Acting (Duet, DA): A 12-minute scene from a published work, presented by a team of two studentsDuo Interpretation (Duo): A 10-minute memorized presentation of a published work, presented by a team of two studentsCongressional Debate (Congress, Student Congress): A mock congress session where students make speeches and motions on a set of given legislation In addition to the events that can qualify a student to the State Tournament, some tournaments also offer:
Prose Interpretation: A 7-minute non-memorized presentation of a published piece of prosePoetry Interpretation: A 7-minute non-memorized presentation of a published piece of poetryImpromptu Speaking: A 5-minute impromptu speech on one of three topics, usually including pop culture references/ more lighthearted options that the other speaking eventsThe competitive season culminates in the TFA State Tournament, a three-day event held at a different Texas school each year. Competition in all qualifying events is offered, and non-qualifying events are offered as consolation events for students who did not advance in the event they qualified in.
The 2008 TFA State Tournament was held March 6–8 at Coppell High School, Dallas, Texas.The 2009 TFA State Tournament was held March 5–7 at Cypress Ranch High School, in Houston, Texas.The 2010 TFA State Tournament was held March 10–13 at Hanks High School in El Paso, Texas.The 2011 TFA State Tournament was held March 10–12 at Flower Mound High School in Flower Mound, TexasThe 2012 TFA State Tournament was held on March 1–3 at Amarillo High School in Amarillo, Texas.The 2013 TFA State Tournament was held on March 7–9 at South Grand Prairie High School in Dallas, TexasThe 2014 TFA State Tournament was held on March 6–8 at Cypress Creek High School in Houston, TexasThe 2015 TFA State Tournament was held on March 5-7 at Franklin High School in El Paso, TexasThe 2016 TFA State Tournament was held on March 10-12 at Hendrickson High School in Pflugerville, TexasTo qualify for State in a certain event, a student must accumulate twelve state points in the event. Points are awarded based on the number of entries in the tournament.
Cross Examination Debate, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, and Public Forum Debate10-15 entries: Semis gets 2 points, 2nd Place gets 4, and 1st Place gets 616-50 entries: Quarters gets 2, Semis gets 4, 2nd Place gets 6, and 1st Place gets 851-75 entries: Octos gets 2, Quarters gets 3, Semis gets 6, and 1st/2nd Place gets 876 + entries: Double-Octos gets 1, Octos gets 2, Quarters gets 4, Semis gets 6, and 1st/2nd Place gets 8Individual Events (including Duo/Duet)10-24 entries: 1st Place gets 6, 2nd Place gets 4, 3rd Place gets 3, 4th Place gets 2, 5th/6th Place gets 1 point25-50 entries: 1st Place gets 8, 2nd Place gets 6, 3rd Place gets 4, 4th Place gets 3, 5th Place gets 2, 6th Place gets 1 point51-75 entries: 1st/2nd Place gets 8, 3rd/4th Place gets 6, 5th Place gets 4, 6th Place gets 3, 7th Place gets 2, 8th Place gets 1 point76 + entries: 1st/2nd Place gets 8, 3rd/4th Place gets 6, 5th Place gets 4, 6th Place gets 3, 7th/8th Place gets 2, any and all semifinalists get 1 pointCongressional Debate10-25 entries: 1st Place gets 6, 2nd Place gets 4, 3rd Place gets 3, 4th Place get 2, and 5th/6th Place gets 126-50 entries: 1st Place gets 8, 2nd Place gets 6, 3rd/4th Place gets 4, 5th-8th Place gets 251-75 entries: 1st/2nd Place gets 8, 2nd/3rd Place gets 6, 5th-8th Place gets 3, 9th-16th gets 276 + entries: 1st/2nd Place gets 8, 2nd/3rd Place gets 6, 5th-8th Place gets 4, 9th-16th gets 2, all semi-finalists get 12015 TournamentPolicy (CX) Debate: Alex Estrada/Joseph Estrada, Stephen F. Austin High School Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Bennett Eckert, Greenhill School (Double Champion) Public Forum Debate: Austin Tang/Joshua Yang, Clements High School Congressional Debate (House): Eric Bailey, Bellaire High School Congressional Debate (Senate): Preston Nieves, Pflugerville High School Foreign Extemporaneous Speaking: Abhinav Sridharan, Plano Senior High School (Double Champion) Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking: Marshall Webb, St. Mary's Hall Original Oratory: Nikki Dargahi, Anderson High School Humorous Interpretation: Seis Steves, St. Mary's Hall Dramatic Interpretation: Bianca Montgomery, Andy Dekaney High School Duet Acting: Schwope/McDonald, Robert E. Lee High School Duo Interpretation: Velazquez/Ocampo, South Grand Prairie High School Poetry: Matthew Almaguer, Harlingen South High School Prose: Amani Abderahman, Garland High School Impromptu Speaking: Gage Krause, Lake Travis High School CX Top Speaker Award: Alex Estrada, Stephen F. Austin High SchoolLD Top Speaker Award: Nolan Burdett, Dulles High SchoolPF Top Speaker Award: Samuel Tekie, Lamar High School2014 TournamentPolicy Debate: Emma Pabst/Quaram Robinson, Cedar Ridge High School Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Bennett Eckert, Greenhill School Public Forum Debate: David Ratnoff/Gregory Ross, Houston Lamar High School Congressional Debate (House): Daniella Cohen, Southlake Carroll High School Congressional Debate (Senate): Sankalp Singh, Plano Senior High School Foreign Extemporaneous Speaking: Abhinav Sridharan, Plano Senior High School Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking: Ash Malhotra, Plano Senior High School Original Oratory: Sana Moti, Grapevine High School Humorous Interpretation: John Biebighauser, Grapevine High School Dramatic Interpretation: Abigail Onwunali, Alief Hastings High School Duet Acting: Hansen/Lawson, Guyer High School Duo Interpretation: Steves/Barnett, Saint Mary's Hall Poetry: Alonna Ray, Centennial High School Prose: Carly Suhr, Centennial High School Impromptu Speaking: Sagar Segal, Summit International Preparatory CX Top Speaker Award: Quaram Robinson, Cedar Ridge High School LD Top Speaker Award: Shania Hunt, Northland Christian School PF Top Speaker Award: Nazifa Mim, Cypress Falls High School Individual Sweepstakes Awards
5th Place: Kayla McGee, Flower Bluff High School (36 points)4th Place: Gregory Ross, Houston Lamar High School (40 points)3rd Place: Seis Steves, Saint Mary's Hall (41 points)2nd Place: Ash Malhotra, Plano Senior High School (45 points)1st Place: Sana Moti, Grapevine High School (45 points)Regional Sweepstakes
Region 1: Hereford High SchoolRegion 2: Plano Senior High SchoolRegion 3: Harlingen South High SchoolRegion 4: Houston Lamar High SchoolRegion 5: San Angelo Central High SchoolOverall Sweepstakes
10th Place: St. Mary's Hall9th Place: Guyer High School8th Place: Centennial High School7th Place: Houston Lamar High School6th Place: Plano West High School5th Place: Southlake Carroll High School4th Place: Harlingen South High School3rd Place: Creekview High School2nd Place: Grapevine High School1st Place: Plano Senior High School2013 TournamentPolicy Debate: Holmes Hampton/Tyler Shearer, Highland Park High SchoolLincoln-Douglas Debate: Rebecca Kuang, Greenhill SchoolPublic Forum Debate: Sahil Vanjani/Cyrus Ghaznavi, Parish Episcopal SchoolCongressional Debate (House): Diane Sun, Clements High SchoolCongressional Debate (Senate): Blake Seaman, Allen High SchoolDuet Acting: Dakota Ratliff/Cody Vann, Ryan High SchoolDuo Interpretation: Keith Machekanyanga/Chris Jefferson, South Grand Prairie High SchoolHumorous Interpretation: Michael Ferguson, Creekview High SchoolDramatic Interpretation: Aldean Pearson II, Mansfield High SchoolOriginal Oratory: Billy Tate, Plano Senior High SchoolForeign Extemporaneous: Cyrus Ghaznavi, Parish Episcopal SchoolDomestic Extemporaneous: Drew Huegel, Lamar Consolidated High SchoolProse: Cody Eilrich, North Lamar High SchoolImpromptu Speaking: John William VanDerSchans, Centennial High SchoolPoetry: Mahalia Tutuwaa Agyepong, Hightower High SchoolPolicy Top Speaker: Zach Rosenthal, Kinkaid SchoolLD Top Speaker: Jeremy Dang, Strake Jesuit College PreparatoryPF Top Speaker: Kartik Sridhar, Plano Senior High School2012 TournamentPolicy Debate: Rosenthal/Mitchell, Kinkaid High SchoolLincoln-Douglas Debate: Amyn Kassam, John Foster Dulles High School Public Forum Debate: Diep/Daniels, Isaac Herbert Kempner High School Foreign Extemporaneous Speaking: Arvind Venkataraman, Southlake Carroll High School Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking: Zachary Stone, Plano West High School Original Oratory: Paige LaNasa, Centennial High School Humorous Interpretation: Marah Wilson, Grapevine High School Dramatic Interpretation: Robert Jackson, Alief Hastings High School Duet Acting: Weston/Torres, Grand Prairie High School Duo Interpretation: Hunt/Waller, Mansfield High School.2011 TournamentPolicy Debate: Gorman/McCormick, Jesuit College PrepLincoln-Douglas Debate: Josh Roberts, Northland Christian Public Forum Debate: Garg/Narayanan, Plano Senior High School Foreign Extemporaneous Speaking: Lavanya Sunder, Lamar High School Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking: Shikha Garg, Plano Senior High School Original Oratory: Michael McBride, Plano Senior High School Humorous Interpretation: Tommy Waas, Klein High School Dramatic Interpretation: Keegan Latham, Plano Senior High School Duet Acting: Rutherford/Tope, Plano Senior High School Duo Interpretation: Flores/Martinez, Grand Prairie High School.The TFA awards a scholarship of $500 or $1,000 to two male and two female students each year at the state tournament. Any state-qualified senior may apply with a recommendation from his or her coach. The awards are given based on an equally weighted consideration of achievements, financial need, and academics.
