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Coaching Debate

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Find coaching and teaching resources for debate events, including Big Questions, Congress, Extemp Debate, Lincoln-Douglas, Policy, Public Forum, and World Schools Debate. For more debate resources, visit our resource table.

Resource Access

This collection features resources from a variety of membership levels.

Free: Resources available to all.
Members: Resources available to members logged in and attached to a school with an NSDA membership.
Resource Package Subscribers: Resources available to individuals or teams who are logged in and have purchased a Resource Package with additional tools.

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Classroom Instruction

Lesson Plans

Access grab-and-go lesson plans designed to introduce new students to different debate events. Lessons can be used in the classroom or adapted for after-school and can easily build on each other to fit your needs.

Suggested Source Materials

Members

Start Here: Teaching Public Forum
Start Here: Teaching Lincoln-Douglas

Members

Start Here: Teaching Lincoln-Douglas
Start Here: Teaching Policy Debate

Members

Start Here: Teaching Policy Debate
Start Here: Teaching Middle School Public Forum

Members

Start Here: Teaching Middle School Public Forum
Start Here Teaching MS Congress

Members

Start Here: Teaching Middle School Congressional Debate

Textbooks

Supplement your instruction with event overviews and instruction from expert authors via downloadable online textbooks.

Public Forum and Congressional Debate

Members

Public Forum Congressional Debate
Finding the Honest Voice of the Character

Members

Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Everything You Need to Know About Policy Debate

Members

Policy Debate
Debating in a World Schools Style: A Guide

Members

World Schools Debate
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Topic Resources

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3,500 High Schools

600 Middle Schools

5,200 Coaches

140,000 Students

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PF Topic Resources

 

Download a topic breakdown and advanced evidence on the March Public Forum Topic, Resolved: In the United States, collegiate studentathletes should be classified as employees of their educational institution.

LD Topic Resources

 

Download a topic breakdown on the Mar/Apr Lincoln-Douglas Topic Analysis, Resolved: The primary objective of the United States criminal justice system ought to be rehabilitation.

Policy Files

Access the 2023-2024 Starter Files, Courtesy of NDCA

Congress Legislation

 

Download the March 2024 Legislation Docket.

World Schools Motions

 

Download the March 2024 World Schools Debate Motions.

Big Questions Topic Resources

Download resources on the Big Questions topic, Resolved: Belief in the supernatural is incompatible with belief in science.

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Learning The Fundamentals

Competition Events Guide

Free

Competition Events Guide

Explore the basics of each form of debate and what it takes to succeed.

How to Cut a Card

Free

Unified Manual

Understand the rules in competitive events.

How to Be a Great Volunteer Judge PDF

Free

Judge Training

Read or share judge training resources and quick event primers.

Members

NSDA Learn Courses

Dive deeper into norms and coaching strategies with content from experts.

Intro to Flowing PF and LD

Members

Intro to Flowing PF and LD

Conquer note taking in PF and LD in this series of flowing videos with example speeches.

Intro to Flowing Policy

Members

Intro to Flowing Policy

Learn why, how, and what to take note of in a Policy Debate round in this series of flowing videos.

Intro to Coaching Lincoln-Douglas Debate

Members

Intro to Coaching Lincoln-Douglas

Explore the ins and outs of coaching Lincoln-Douglas Debate.

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Members

Intro to Framework

Understand how to construct, justify, and respond to framework in Lincoln-Douglas debate.

Students debating on a national stage

Members

Intro to Kritiks

Learn to explain, identify, and respond to types of kritiks, which are arguments that focus on power structures that exist around us and how they cause the problems we ought to address.

Intro to Philosophy

Members

Intro to Philosophy

Understand how to apply philosophies to strengthen or weaken arguments, differentiate the three main branches of philosophy, and engage constructively with philosophies that are commonly used in competitive debates.

How to Cut a Card

Members

How to Cut a Card

Practice identifying and organizing evidence for a debate round with this short video.

Heinonline - Research topics with the HeinOnline Database.

Members

HeinOnline

Research topics with the HeinOnline Database.

Webinar Recordings

Resource Package Subscribers

Webinar Recordings

Access our archives of recorded webinars for expert advice on argumentation, spreading, legislation, cross-examination, and more.

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Sample Rounds

BQ Final Round 2022

Members

Big Questions Debate

Watch the 2022 Big Questions Debate National Tournament final round.

Congressional Debate House Final Round 2022

Members

Congressional Debate – House

Watch the 2022 House National Tournament final round.

Congressional Debate Final Round 2022

Members

Congressional Debate – Senate

Watch the 2022 Senate National Tournament final round.

Extemp Debate Final Round 2022

Members

Extemporaneous Debate

Watch the 2022 Extemporaneous Debate National Tournament final round.

Lincoln-Douglas Final Round 2022

Members

Lincoln-Douglas Debate

Watch the 2022 Lincoln-Douglas Debate National Tournament final round.

Policy Debate Final Round 2022

Members

Policy Debate

Watch the 2022 Policy Debate National Tournament final round.

World Schools Final Round 2022

Members

World Schools Debate

Watch the 2022 World Schools Debate National Tournament final round.

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