September/OctoberInternational Relations
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
November/DecemberEducation
Resolved: The United States federal government should forgive all federal student loan debt.
JanuaryPolitics and Government
Resolved: The United States federal government should repeal Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act.
FebruaryEnvironment and Animals
Resolved: The United States federal government should ban single-use plastics.
MarchSports
Resolved: In the United States, collegiate student-athletes should be classified as employees of their educational institution.
Resolved: The United Nations should abolish permanent membership on its Security Council.
NationalsInternational Relations
Resolved: The United States should establish a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement with the European Union.
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/OctoberEconomy and Work
Resolved: The United States ought to guarantee the right to housing.
November/DecemberEnvironment and Animals
Resolved: The United States ought to prohibit the extraction of fossil fuels from federal public lands and waters.
January/FebruaryInternational Relations
Resolved: The United States ought to substantially reduce its military presence in the West Asia-North Africa region.
March/AprilCrime and Justice
Resolved: The primary objective of the United States criminal justice system ought to be rehabilitation.
NationalsPolitics and Government
Resolved: In a democracy, a people ought to have the right to secede from their government.
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 increase fiscal redistribution in the United States by...
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: Belief in the supernatural is incompatible with belief in science.
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.