September/OctoberPolitics and Government
NSDA by season
Lincoln-Douglas
One-on-one debate built around values: each side defends a value and a criterion for weighing it. The resolution changes every two months. How Lincoln-Douglas works
November/DecemberInternational Relations
Resolved: government limits on the individual's right to bear arms in the United States are justified.
January/FebruaryHealth and Medicine
Resolved: showing disrespect for the American flag is antithetical to fundamental American values.
March/AprilEthics and Philosophy
Resolved: the pursuit of scientific knowledge ought to be limited by a concern for societal good.
NationalsPolitics and Government
Resolved: members of the United States Congress ought to value the national interest above constituent's interests when the two are in conflict.
Policy
Two-on-two debate on one resolution for the whole season. The affirmative proposes a plan and both sides use a lot of evidence. How Policy works
Whole seasonScience and Technology
That the United States Government should significantly increase space exploration beyond Earth's mesosphere.
About NSDA topics
The National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) is the largest high school speech and debate organization in the United States. It publishes the resolutions that US tournaments use each season: a new Public Forum topic every month or two, a Lincoln-Douglas topic every two months, and one Policy topic for the whole year. Its National Tournament in June has its own topics.
Resolutions from NSDA's topic page, credited to the National Speech & Debate Association. NCFL Nationals topics are from the National Catholic Forensic League tournament, as listed by NSDA.