September/OctoberEducation
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
NovemberScience and Technology
Resolved: On balance, the benefits of the Internet of Things outweigh the harms of decreased personal privacy.
DecemberPolitics and Government
Resolved: The United States should end Plan Colombia.
JanuaryInternational Relations
Resolved: In order to better respond to international conflicts, the United States should significantly increase its military spending.
FebruaryInternational Relations
Resolved: The United States should lift its embargo against Cuba.
Resolved: The United States should no longer pressure Israel to work toward a two-state solution.
AprilEducation
Resolved: The United States ought to replace the Electoral College with a direct national popular vote.
NationalsInternational Relations
Resolved: In East Africa, the United States federal government should prioritize its counterterrorism efforts over its humanitarian assistance.
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: Countries ought to prohibit the production of nuclear power.
November/DecemberCrime and Justice
Resolved: The United States ought to limit qualified immunity for police officers.
January/FebruaryEducation
Resolved: Public colleges and universities in the United States ought not restrict any constitutionally protected speech.
March/AprilEconomy and Work
Resolved: The United States ought to guarantee the right to housing.
NationalsPolitics and Government
Resolved: A just government ought to prioritize civil liberties over national security.
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 its economic and/or diplomatic engagement with the People's...
Shortened here. The full wording is on NSDA's topic page.
Big Questions
A debate on a philosophy and science question, with one resolution for the season.
Whole seasonScience and Technology
Resolved: Science leaves no room for free will.
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.