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/DecemberCrime and Justice
Resolved: capital punishment is justified.
January/FebruarySociety and Culture
Resolved: in the United States, a journalist's right to shield confidential sources ought to be protected by the First Amendment.
March/AprilScience and Technology
Resolved: human genetic engineering is morally justified.
NCFL NationalsPolitics and Government
Resolved: the objectives of democracy are best fulfilled through a separation of executive, legislative and judicial powers.
NationalsEconomy and Work
Resolved: capitalism is superior to socialism as a means of achieving economic justice.
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 seasonInternational Relations
That the United States should substantially change its foreign policy toward Russia.
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.