SeptemberInternational Relations
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
OctoberEnvironment and Animals
Resolved: The United States should significantly increase its use of nuclear energy.
NovemberHealth and Medicine
Resolved: That the United States government should implement universal health care modeled after the French system.
DecemberPolitics and Government
Resolved: That, on balance, social networking Web sites have a positive impact on the United States.
JanuaryPolitics and Government
Resolved: That, by 2040, the federal government should mandate that all new passenger vehicles and light trucks sold in the United States be powered by alternative fuels.
FebruaryInternational Relations
Resolved: That, on balance, the rise of Brazil, Russia, India, and China (BRIC) has had a positive impact on the United States.
MarchEducation
Resolved: That, on balance, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 has improved academic achievement in the United States.
AprilEconomy and Work
Resolved: That the Employee Free Choice Act of 2009 serves the best interest of the American people.
NCFL NationalsHealth and Medicine
Resolved: A society has an obligation to ensure adequate health care for its citizens.
NationalsInternational Relations
Resolved: That the United States should normalize relations with Cuba.
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/OctoberEthics and Philosophy
Resolved: It is morally permissible to kill one innocent person to save the lives of more innocent people.
November/DecemberPolitics and Government
Resolved: In a democratic society, felons ought to retain the right to vote.
January/FebruaryCrime and Justice
Resolved: The United States ought to submit to the jurisdiction of an international court designed to prosecute crimes against humanity.
March/AprilPolitics and Government
Resolved: Vigilantism is justified when the government has failed to enforce the law.
NCFL NationalsSociety and Culture
Resolved: When in conflict, the preservation of minority cultural values ought to be valued above the preservation of a unified national culture.
NationalsInternational Relations
Resolved: Military conscription is unjust.
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
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase alternative energy incentives in the United...
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.