Pi Kappa Delta
Encyclopedia
Pi Kappa Delta is a Forensics (Public Speaking
Public speaking
Public speaking is the process of speaking to a group of people in a structured, deliberate manner intended to inform, influence, or entertain the listeners...

 and Debate
Debate
Debate or debating is a method of interactive and representational argument. Debate is a broader form of argument than logical argument, which only examines consistency from axiom, and factual argument, which only examines what is or isn't the case or rhetoric which is a technique of persuasion...

) Honor Society for undergraduate university students and a professional organization for graduates, typically university Speech and Debate Coaches.

Pi Kappa Delta, or PKD, encourages the education of articulate citizens through a three part focus: the commitment to and promotion of ethical
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...

, humane and inclusive communication
Communication
Communication is the activity of conveying meaningful information. Communication requires a sender, a message, and an intended recipient, although the receiver need not be present or aware of the sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication; thus communication can occur across vast...

 and educational practices; the commitment to and promotion of professional development of forensics educators; and the commitment to and promotion of comprehensive forensics programming. More than 60,000 men and women have been initiated into PKD. Active chapters are located on more than 200 college and university campuses. Schools in PKD range in size from some of the largest universities to some of the smaller liberal arts colleges, teaching colleges, and church related colleges.

National Convention

PKD sponsors a National Convention every other year at which time the business of the organization is conducted along with an annual national tournament in individual events and debate. Competition is open to all undergraduate students who are members of PKD. Competitors who place highly enough in competition at this tournament earn points toward qualifying for the American Forensic Association
American Forensic Association
The American Forensic Association was founded in 1949 in Chicago. It took over the National Debate Tournament from the United States Military Academy in 1966...

 National Individual Events Tournament and competing for a national championship. This tournament can justifiably be considered a "team" tournament because both individual events and debate points add up to create the final sweepstakes total for a school. Quite often, PKD sponsors experimental events at the National Tournament.

Journal

PKD publishes a refereed
Peer review
Peer review is a process of self-regulation by a profession or a process of evaluation involving qualified individuals within the relevant field. Peer review methods are employed to maintain standards, improve performance and provide credibility...

 journal entitled The Forensic of Pi Kappa Delta. This journal is the oldest national forensic journal and has been a leader in pedagogical forensic research throughout its history. A cross-section of articles would include topics ranging from debate to individual events to philosophical issues related to competition
Competition
Competition is a contest between individuals, groups, animals, etc. for territory, a niche, or a location of resources. It arises whenever two and only two strive for a goal which cannot be shared. Competition occurs naturally between living organisms which co-exist in the same environment. For...

 and forensic education. The Forensic accepts submissions from all members of the forensic community.

National Communication Association Convention

PKD sponsors and co-sponsors programs at the annual National Communication Association
National Communication Association
The National Communication Association is the largest national organization to promote communication scholarship and education. A non-profit organization that has over 8,000 educators, practitioners, and students who work and reside in every state and more than 20 countries...

convention. In addition, a variety of awards are presented on an annual basis. These include the Pi Kappa Delta Hall of Fame, the L.E. Norton Award for Outstanding Scholarship, the John Shields Award for Outstanding Contributions to Pi Kappa Delta, the E.R. Nichols Award for Outstanding Contributions to Furtherance of the Forensic Discipline, the R. David Ray Award for Outstanding New PKD Chapter, the Carolyn Keefe Award for Outstanding Alumni, and the Bob Derryberry Award for Outstanding New Forensic Educator.
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