National Tournament Topics 2024

High School Policy Debate

Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase fiscal redistribution in the United States by adopting a federal jobs guarantee, expanding Social Security, and/or providing a basic income.

High School Public Forum Debate

Resolved: The United States should establish a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement with the European Union.

A total of 755 coaches and 2,777 students voted for the resolution. The winning resolution received 68% of the coach vote and 67% of the student vote.

High School Lincoln-Douglas Debate

Resolved: In a democracy, a people ought to have the right to secede from their government.

A total of 733 coaches and 2,744 students voted for the resolution. The winning resolution received 39% of the coach vote and 39% of the student vote.

High School Big Questions Debate

Resolved: Belief in the supernatural is incompatible with belief in science.

High School Congressional Debate

Download a packet of potential legislation to be reviewed and ranked by the students who have qualified for the 2024 National Tournament. After their rankings are tabulated, the final docket with 41 pieces of legislation will be posted on May 15. For more information and instructions on how to submit your rankings from April 30-May 3, please review the first page of the linked packet.

High School World Schools Debate

(listed in round order)

• Round 1: This House believes that economic sanctions do more harm than good.
• Round 2: This House believes that economic sanctions do more harm than good.
• Round 3: Impromptu
• Round 4: This House regrets the celebrity status of reality TV participants.
• Round 5: Impromptu
• Round 6: Impromptu
• Elim 1: Impromptu
• Elim 2: This House would implement a universal basic income.
• Elim 3: Impromptu
• Elim 4: Impromptu
• Elim 5: Impromptu
• Elim 6: Impromptu (if needed)
• Finals: This House supports school choice programs.
  • Info slide: School choice programs allow public education funds to follow students to the schools or services that best fit their needs —whether that’s to a public school, private school, charter school, home school or any other learning environment families choose.

High School International Extemp Topic Areas

(listed in alphabetical order)

• Africa
• Central and South America
• Central and South Asia
• East and Southeast Asia
• Environmental Issues
• Europe
• Global Human Rights
• International Diplomacy
• International Economics
• Asia and Northern Africa
• Militaries and Armed Conflicts
• North America and the Caribbean
• The World Next Week

High School United States Extemp Topic Areas

(listed in alphabetical order)

• Arts and Entertainment
• Education
• Entitlements and Health Care
• Environment and Energy
• The Executive Branch
• The First Amendment
• The Judicial Branch
• The Legislative Branch
• Social Justice
• Science and Technology
• U.S. Economics and Business
• U.S. Foreign Policy
• The U.S. Next Week

High School Extemporaneous Debate

Tournament officials post the resolution to be debated for each round 30 minutes prior to the start of flight A. Each resolution will address one of the following topic areas (listed in alphabetical order).

TOPIC AREAS:

(listed in alphabetical order)

• Education Policy
• Environment and Conservation
• Governmental Structure
• International Policy
• Personal Freedom
• Sports
• Technology
• U.S. Politics

High School Extemporaneous Commentary Round Themes

(listed in alphabetical order)

• 100 Years Ago – Politics, culture, and events related to the world 100 years ago
• Feeding America – Agricultural policies in the United States
• Holiday Break – Holidays from across the globe
• In the Middle – Geographic centers, as well as instances of finding common ground
• Mudslides,Volcanoes, and Fires, Oh My! – Natural disasters and their causes
• Presidential Wit – Creative uses of words by United States Presidents
• Tomorrow Meet Today – Technological advances
• What If? – Exploration of alternate timelines in the multiverse

High School Impromptu Round Themes

(listed in alphabetical order)

• A wild rose by any other name is just as sweet – [The wild rose is the state flower of Iowa] Alternate names, slang phrases
• Corny (Dad jokes?) – Tiresome or overly sentimental jokes, puns, or people
• Field of Dreams – All things related to the 1989 movie
• Individually we are different; together we are one – Power of unity
• Jazz Song Lyrics – Lyrics from famous jazz songs
• On the Farm – Farm facts of Iowa and the Midwest
• Quotations From Iowans – Famous quotes or sayings from people from Iowa
• Quote From The GOAT – Quotations from the best in their profession

High School Storytelling

Students competing in Storytelling may use any theme/topic area.