CCSF's Forensics (AKA "Speech and Debate") Team travels to local and national tournaments to compete against other 2-year and 4-year colleges in various styles of debate, oratory, and performance of literature.

Join the Team!

Think critically and creatively! Communicate persuasively and passionately! Through study, practice, and competition, members of the team gain experience, skills, and confidence while exploring forensics activities in the community college.  Our students have become lawyers, news anchors, executives, professors, and more. Forensics can help you hone knowledge and skills while providing space to both gain and voice experience. The path to becoming a more thoughtful and effective communicator is paved in "practice, practice, practice." You'll do work with coaches to support your development as a critical thinker and communicator.

Forensics students develop confidence and leadership skills that are vital to professional and personal success. Through debates, performances, and speeches, students rehearse important skills and knowledge, engaging their brains, bodies, and voices to move others.  Some students love forensics because it creates a space where they are expected to speak and participate. Other students are less keen on communicating in front of an audience, but appreciate the dialogue itself or they simply realize the value of exercising the brain’s ability to think critically and convey ideas. Communication skills are often singled out as the most important aspect of success in arenas like business, media, and public advocacy. With this in mind, the Forensics Team seeks to build not only successful competitors, but great communicators.  Through mentoring, practice, and competition, students find their voice, engage cultural differences, and communicate what is important to them.

The team is open to any and all students. Step one is to enroll in CMST 38: Forensics Competition or reach out to meet a coach and learn more about the team by contacting forensics@ccsf.edu

Learn to compete in speech-making, performance, or debate!