SeptemberPolitics and Government
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
OctoberPolitics and Government
Resolved: That the United States should encourage the implementation of a soft partition of Iraq.
NovemberPolitics and Government
Resolved: That eliminating United States government budget deficits should be prioritized over increasing domestic spending.
DecemberInternational Relations
Resolved: That the United States would be justified in pursuing military options against Iran.
JanuaryPolitics and Government
Resolved: In a democracy, civil disobedience is an appropriate weapon in the fight for justice.
FebruaryInternational Relations
Resolved: That Russia has become a threat to U.S. interests.
Resolved: The US system of presidential primaries is contrary to democratic values.
AprilEconomy and Work
Resolved: That the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 will successfully mitigate economic slowdowns over the next year.
NCFL NationalsPolitics and Government
Resolved: That the US Government should increase social services for indigenous peoples in America.
NationalsInternational Relations
Resolved: US policies established after September 11, 2001 have substantially reduced the risk of terrorist acts against the United States.
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/OctoberCrime and Justice
Resolved: A just society ought not use the death penalty as a form of punishment.
November/DecemberPolitics and Government
Resolved: In the United States, plea-bargaining in exchange for testimony is unjust.
January/FebruaryInternational Relations
Resolved: It is just for the United States to use military force to prevent the acquisition of nuclear weapons by nations that pose a military threat.
March/AprilPolitics and Government
Resolved: Hate crime enhancements are unjust in the United States.
NCFL NationalsSports
Resolved: That secondary education in America should value the fine arts over athletics.
NationalsEconomy and Work
Resolved: Limiting economic inequality ought to be a more important social goal than maximizing economic freedom.
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 seasonHealth and Medicine
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its public health assistance to Sub-Saharan...
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.