September/OctoberHealth and Medicine
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/DecemberEnvironment and Animals
Resolved: a lesser developed nation's right to develop ought to take priority over its obligation to protect the environment.
January/FebruaryPolitics and Government
Resolved: oppressive government is more desirable than no government.
March/AprilEthics and Philosophy
Resolved: limiting the freedom of expression of adults is justified by society's interest in protecting children.
NCFL NationalsPolitics and Government
Resolved: the people's right to know outweighs the government's need for confidentiality.
NationalsPolitics and Government
Resolved: laws which protect citizens from themselves are justified.
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 federal government should establish a foreign policy significantly limiting the use of weapons of...
Shortened here. The full wording is on NSDA's topic page.
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.