{{More citations needed|date=April 2021}} {{Infobox organization |name = American Forensic Association |image = American Forensic Association (logo).jpg |image_border = |image_size = |caption = |map = |map_size = |map_caption = |abbreviation = AFA |formation = December 10, 1949 |extinction = |type = Public Speaking |status = |purpose = To seek greater understanding of the history and practice of reasoned discourse as a sound basis for public involvement. |headquarters = |location = |region_served = United States |membership = |language = English |leader_title = President |leader_name = Joe Gantt, Lewis & Clark College |main_organ = |parent_organization = |affiliations = |num_staff = |num_volunteers = |budget = |website = [https://www.americanforensicsassoc.org/ www.americanforensicsassoc.org/] |remarks = }} The '''American Forensic Association''' is an American organisation which promotes and supports competitive debating and public speaking in high schools and colleges in the United States.

==Members== *Cross Examination Debate Association *National Parliamentary Debate Association *American Debate Association *International Debate Education Association

==Publications and research== The association publishes several scholarly journals including: * Argumentation and Advocacy <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.argumentationandadvocacy.com/ |title=Call for submissions &#124; Argumentation and Advocacy |access-date=2015-06-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801010855/http://argumentationandadvocacy.com/ |archive-date=2015-08-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref> * The Journal of the American Forensic Association <ref>{{Cite web |url=http://americanforensics.org/publications.html |title=AFA Publications |access-date=2015-06-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050404205728/http://www.americanforensics.org/publications.html |archive-date=2005-04-04 |url-status=dead }}</ref> * The AFA Newsletter

==Collegiate competitions== The association holds two collegiate national tournaments annually. The tournaments brings students from across the nation to compete for national championships in both individual events and debate. Students reach the tournaments through a rigorous at-large and district qualification system verified by organizational officers. Since their inception, the tournaments have served hundreds of colleges and universities and thousands of students. The tournaments include: * National Speech Tournament (commonly known as AFA-NST) <ref>{{cite web |url=https://sites.google.com/site/afanietnew2/ |title = AFA-NST}}</ref> * National Debate Tournament (commonly known as AFA-NDT) <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://groups.wfu.edu/NDT/|title = National Debate Tournament Home Page}}</ref>

== See also ==

* Competitive debate in the United States

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Bibliography== * Hagood, A. D. (1951). ''The American forensic association in the south''. in ''The Southern Speech Journal'', 16(3), 228–229. {{doi|10.1080/10417945109371177}} * Klumpp, J. F. (2000). ''Organizing a Community and Responding to Its Needs: The First Fifty Years of the American Forensic Association.'' in ''Argumentation and Advocacy'', 37(1), 12–27. {{doi|10.1080/00028533.2000.11951653}}

==External links== *{{Official website|https://www.americanforensicsassoc.org/}}

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Category:Educational organizations based in the United States Category:Student debating societies Category:Youth organizations based in the United States