Debate
Debate challenges individuals or teams of students to persuasively argue for and against a topic. A debater’s goal is to convince a judge that, as a general principal, their side of the topic is more valid. Through extensive research and preparation, students in debate develop a deep understanding of complex topics, honing their ability to think critically and analyze important issues from multiple perspectives.
Debate Events
Debate Events
Explore Debate Events
Explore resources for all of the NSDA’s debate events.
Big Questions Debate
Big Questions Debate (BQ) is a structured debate event where students have a set time limit to present constructive cases, engage in rebuttal and refutation, and participate in cross-examination. At the National Tournament, only one-on-one debates are permitted.
Congressional Debate
Congressional Debate (CON) is a group debate event simulating the U.S. legislative process. Students meet in chambers of approximately 10 to 25 participants and debate legislation over a session typically lasting two to three hours. Speeches are up to three minutes in length followed by a questioning period.
Extemporaneous Debate
Extemporaneous Debate (XDB) is a one-on-one debate event in which students are presented with a new resolution each round and have 30 minutes to prepare before delivering arguments, refutation, and rebuttals.
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Lincoln-Douglas Debate (LD) is a one-on-one debate format in which students argue a topic voted on by the membership.
Policy Debate
Policy Debate (CX) is a two-on-two debate where the affirmative team proposes a policy plan and the negative team argues against its adoption.
Public Forum Debate
Public Forum Debate (PF) is a two-on-two debate that focuses on current event topics. Resolutions change frequently throughout the season, exposing students to a wide range of timely issues.
World Schools Debate
World Schools Debate (WS) is a three-on-three debate format combining prepared and impromptu motions. While teams may include up to five members, only three compete in any given round.
Is your program new to the NSDA?
Welcome!
Instructions
Welcome Back!
Instructions
- Program advisors can visit www.speechanddebate.org and click Member Login in the top right corner of the page. Use your username and password to log in to your account. Once you’ve logged in, click “Account” in the upper right corner, which will take you to your profile page. Please click “Renew School”, in red, from the left menu and follow the prompts at the top of the page to renew your school.
- High school membership is $149, with an option to upgrade to the all-school team Resource Package for an additional $199. Each individual high school student membership is a one-time $20 fee.
- Middle school membership is $75, with an option to upgrade to the all-school team Resource Package for an additional $199. Each individual middle school student membership is a one-time $10 fee.
- To finalize the renewal, follow the prompts on the page to review the following:
Step 1. Confirm information on the school profile page. Once confirmed/updated, click the “Next Step” button.
Step 2. Confirm the coaches listed. Once confirmed/updated, click the “Next Step” button.
Step 3. Create the invoice. The annual dues are automatically selected. You can use the toggle to select other options such as coach memberships, student memberships, insurance, and the Resource Package. The prices for each item are listed on the right side of your screen, and a running total is at the bottom in blue. When done, “Create Invoice and Proceed to Checkout”.
The system allows you to “Pay Now”, with a credit card or you can email the invoice to yourself or print out the pdf.
Need a Visual? Click here to watch our brief tutorial!
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