Detroit —There’s no debate to be had; the Detroit Catholic Forensic League helps students form an argument.

And that’s something no one can easily dispute.

Dating back to the 1970s, the Detroit Catholic Forensic League helps students from area Catholic and non-Catholic schools learn the art of debate.

When people think of forensics, images of crime-solving detectives often spring to mind, but Detroit Catholic Forensic League president Alexander Davidson said classically, the term means something else.

“If you look at the actual word, ‘forensics,’ it really means searching for truth,” said Davidson, who coaches the forensics team at University of Detroit-Jesuit High School. “The definition of forensics goes into seeking the truth and arguing the truth.”

The DCFL is composed of 12 schools that compete throughout the year. In the first semester, students work in teams to form arguments for different debate styles, where they’re scored for their comprehension of the subject, the clarity in which the teams present the arguments and the ability to rebut and counter the arguments of their opponents.

“During the debate season, the students are given a question and then are able to research the topic prior to the debate,” said Armenia Howard, debate and forensics coach at St. Mary’s Preparatory in Orchard Lake. “Usually it’s some sort of policy question students will argue for or against. They don’t know which side they will be, so they have to research both arguments. During competition they’re graded on their research and developing a well-supported argument based on analytical skill and logic.”

Howard said the different debate styles force students to shape their arguments in specific manners.

“With a Lincoln-Douglas debate, you’re not debating the question, you’re debating value,” Howard said. “So in a debate about liberty versus freedom, or fairness versus quality of life, it’s some sort of philosophical basis. We argue those topics within the framework, which keeps the debate focused at the topic at hand.”

In the second semester, the league switches from team-based debate to individual-based forensics, in which students learn a piece of monologue, poetry or a theatrical scene and are scored on making a performance that is emotionally captivating and moving.

“In the forensics pieces, it comes down to public speaking, volume and confidence, but the topic or material they pick has to be meaningful and purposeful,” Davidson said.

Whereas students are given a topic to debate, forensics requires students to seek out a piece of literature to base their performance that is meaningful and will leave an impression on the judges.

“With a dramatic performance, it comes down to the students being in character, and making sure the audience believes you’re in character,” Davidson said. “With reciting poems, it comes down to getting into the tone of the text intended for the audience.”

Each semester has five tournaments followed by a qualifier for the national tournament. Last year, eight schools from the league were represented at the national competition in Louisville, Ky.

Aside from success in competition, Davidson is amazed with the personal growth students experience throughout the season.

“The amount of self-confidence they go through participating in these activities and tournaments is amazing,” Davidson said. “You watch the first tournament, and they’re still getting used to their arguments. But once you get to the national qualifiers, you see them really hone in their arguments with such conviction.”

Howard and Davidson said the league is always looking for more participants, hoping one day every school in the Archdiocese of Detroit will have a team.

“Some students participate because their friends are in it, some have never had public speaking experience before,” Davidson said. “We’ve had students involved in other things, but still come to forensics. It’s not unusual to see students compete on a Saturday morning, then leave for a lacrosse game in the afternoon.”

Howard adds forensics allows students to develop skills and see a side of themselves they never knew existed.

“I’ve seen kids who stuttered or were shy, athletes and smaller kids grow when it comes to commanding a room with their speech,” Howard said. “One student grew out of a speech impediment, one athlete saw he wasn’t only an athlete.

“I don’t know if their parents appreciate it, but forensics makes them better arguers,” Howard joked. “But this is a great way to learn how to channel emotion and energy and use it in a constructive manner, and that’s a skill that’ll carry on throughout life.”

Detroit Catholic Forensic League

To find out more about the Detroit Catholic Forensic League, including participating schools and completion schedule, visit www.dcflimi.com/works.