Topic Creation Hub
Your topic hub for the 2022-2023 school year!
How are potential topics, prompts, and legislation written?
How do I suggest a debate topic/resolution for consideration by a wording committee?
Who selects the topics, prompts and legislation used in competition?
- Public Forum and Lincoln-Douglas: The NSDA facilitates event-specific committees made up of coaches and alumni for PF and LD topics. These committees evaluate the topic suggestions submitted by students and coaches in order to write a slate of potential resolutions. The wording committees share their potential topic list with students and coaches to solicit feedback and continue to make revisions. A final list of topic options that will be voted on the following school year is released after the National Tournament in July. This work is typically done between January and June of each year, and the resolutions are debated the following school year.
- National Tournament Topics for World Schools Debate, Extemp Debate, Impromptu, Commentary, and Extemp Speaking: The motions, resolutions, prompts, or questions needed for the NSDA National Tournament are written by committees of volunteers made up of coaches, alumni, and event experts from the collegiate level. Once they are written, all topics are reviewed using the NSDA Topic Rubric. This work is typically done between January and April of each year.
- Congressional Debate: Legislation used for the NSDA National Tournament is student-written. Any high school or middle school NSDA member student, regardless of their national qualification status, may submit legislation to be considered for the National Tournament Docket via this form between October 1 and February 5 each year. The NSDA also releases monthly dockets written by community members as resources throughout the year that invitational and district tournaments may choose to use.
- Policy Debate: The annual Policy topic is determined each year through a process managed by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). Check out this video »
At this time, the NSDA is accepting topic/resolution suggestions from students and coaches for the following events:
- Public Forum and Lincoln-Douglas: Member students and one chapter advisor per active school may vote for each topic one week prior to the topic release date. Topic areas and potential resolutions for each school year are released in early July.
- National Tournament Topics for World Schools Debate, Extemp Debate, Impromptu, Commentary, and Extemp Speaking: The motions, resolutions, prompts, and questions used during the National Tournament are selected by their respective wording committees, reviewed by an external diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant using the NSDA Topic Rubric, and finalized by national office staff.
- National Tournament Docket for Congressional Debate: After student-submitted legislation is reviewed by national office staff and an external vetting committee of volunteer reviewers, the top 55 pieces of legislation are ranked by students who have qualified to that year’s National Tournament.
- Policy Debate: The annual Policy topic is determined each year through a process managed by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS). Check out this video »
FAQs
What is the NSDA’s role in this process?
The NSDA is offering this board as service to tournament directors, schools, teams, and judges. The NSDA in no way endorses the judges that offer their time. Each school should follow their district/school’s applicable policies for hiring and vetting. Additionally, the NSDA will not be involved in any financial agreement between a school and a judge.
How much should judges get paid?
Schools and judges determine their own rates. A commonly observed rate is around $20-$30 per hour-long round.
How often is this list updated?
Judges have signed up on the judge board within this academic year. The list is cleared each July and judges must sign-up again for the next academic year.
Who can sign up to judge?
Anyone who has graduated high school is welcome to sign up to judge. From there, each school should follow its district/school’s applicable policies for hiring and vetting. Additionally, the NSDA will not be involved in any financial agreement between a school and a judge.
Who should I contact with my questions and/or concerns about this process?
Please direct your emails to Elgin Woody at eli.woody@speechanddebate.org
Sign Up to Judge
Interested in being a judge for NSDA-affiliated and/or school-affiliated tournaments? Sign up below!
Judges are some of the most vital contributors to the speech and debate community. For many tournaments, judges are the limiting factor without which tournaments would not be possible.
Sign up below to use your skills and expertise so more students can compete in speech and debate!
Congress Legislation
Any high school or middle school NSDA member student, regardless of their national qualification status, may directly submit legislation to be considered for the 2023 National Tournament Docket! Debate the topics you are passionate about — If you wrote it, you can submit it! You can even submit multiple pieces of legislation for consideration. If your legislation is selected to be part of the Nationals Docket, you will be recognized in Rostrum, you’ll receive a trophy after the tournament, and you’ll be awarded a $100 scholarship. This is a great way to boost your resume and be recognized for your research and writing skills! This form will open October 1, 2022 and will close to new submissions on February 5, 2023.
