September/OctoberEthics and Philosophy
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/DecemberScience and Technology
Resolved: an adolescent's right to privacy ought to be valued above a parent's conflicting right to know.
January/FebruaryEthics and Philosophy
Resolved: a just social order ought to place the principle of equality above that of liberty.
March/AprilPolitics and Government
Resolved: civil disobedience is justified in a democracy.
NCFL NationalsEthics and Philosophy
Resolved: individuals ought to sacrifice their ideals for the sake of compromise.
NationalsCrime and Justice
Resolved: in the United States' justice system, due process ought to be valued above the pursuit of truth when they 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 seasonEnvironment and Animals
That the federal government should establish a policy to substantially increase renewable energy use in the United States.
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.