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
OctoberHealth and Medicine
Resolved: When in conflict, the United Nations should prioritize global poverty reduction over environmental protection.
NovemberInternational Relations
Resolved: Failed nations are a greater threat to the United States than stable nations.
DecemberEducation
Resolved: That merit pay based on student achievement should be a significant component of K-12 teacher compensation in United States public schools.
JanuaryPolitics and Government
Resolved: President Obama's plan for increasing troops in Afghanistan is in the United States' best interest.
FebruaryPolitics and Government
Resolved: In the United States, organized political lobbying does more harm than good.
Resolved: Affirmative action to promote equal opportunity in the United States is justified.
AprilEconomy and Work
Resolved: On balance, government employee labor unions have a positive impact on the United States.
NCFL NationalsSociety and Culture
Resolved: That the constitutional right of freedom of religion has wrongly evolved into freedom from religion.
NationalsPolitics and Government
Resolved: Current trends in American political dialogue compromise meaningful democratic deliberation.
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/OctoberEducation
Resolved: Public High school students in the United States ought not be required to pass standardized exit exams to graduate.
November/DecemberHealth and Medicine
Resolved: Public health concerns justify compulsory immunization.
January/FebruaryInternational Relations
Resolved: Economic sanctions ought not be used to achieve foreign policy objectives.
March/AprilCrime and Justice
Resolved: In the United States, the principle of jury nullification is a just check on government.
NCFL NationalsPolitics and Government
That the United States government has a moral obligation to afford the same constitutional rights to all people on United States soil.
NationalsPolitics and Government
Resolved: Compulsory inclusion of non-felons' DNA in any government database 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 seasonEconomy and Work
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase social services for persons living in poverty...
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.