SeptemberSports
NSDA by season
Public Forum
Two-on-two debate on a current-events resolution that changes every month or two. Each speech is short and the round is meant to be followed by any listener. How Public Forum works
OctoberInternational Relations
Resolved: That the United Nations should be the primary agent to lead and direct the fight against terrorism around the world.
NovemberEconomy and Work
Resolved: That the United States federal government should fund Hurricane Katrina relief and rebuilding by ending President Bush's tax cuts.
DecemberPolitics and Government
Resolved: That the National Basketball Association (NBA) should rescind its dress code.
JanuaryEducation
Resolved: In the United States, public high school science curriculum should include the study of the Theory of Intelligent Design.
FebruaryInternational Relations
Resolved: That the policy decisions of the current Israeli government toward the Palestinian state have improved prospects for peace in the Middle East.
Resolved: That big box retailers benefit the communities in which they are located.
AprilSociety and Culture
Resolved: That the American media work against the best interest of the American public.
NationalsPolitics and Government
Resolved: That the United States government should ratify the Kyoto Protocol.
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
September/OctoberInternational Relations
Resolved: In matters of U.S. immigration policy, restrictions on the rights of non-citizens are consistent with democratic ideals.
November/DecemberPolitics and Government
Resolved: Judicial activism is necessary to protect the rights of American citizens.
January/FebruaryPolitics and Government
Resolved: The use of the state's power of eminent domain to promote private enterprise is unjust.
March/AprilCrime and Justice
Resolved: Juveniles charged with violent crimes should be tried and punished as adults.
NCFL NationalsEthics and Philosophy
Resolved: When in conflict, an individual's freedom of speech should be valued above a community's moral standards.
NationalsInternational Relations
Resolved: In matters of collecting military intelligence, the ends justify the means.
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 seasonPolitics and Government
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially decrease its authority either to detain without charge...
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.