events

DEBATE EVENTS

Cross Examination Debate: Policy based partner debate.

2025-2026

Resolved: The United States federal government should significantly increase its exploration and/or development of the Arctic.

Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Value based individual debate.

2025 Sept/Oct Topic

Resolved: In the United States criminal justice system, plea bargaining is just.

Public Forum: Crossfire structured partner debate.

2025 Sept/Oct Topic

Resolved: The United Kingdom should rejoin the European Union.

See Additional LD and PF resolutions 1 month before each new topic here: https://www.speechanddebate.org/topics/

SPEECH EVENTS

Original Oratory: Students give a speech of a maximum of ten minutes on a topic of their own choice focused on persuading or arguing.

Informative: Students give a speech of a maximum of ten minutes on a topic of their own choice focused on informing.

Extemporaneous Speaking: Students give on the spot speeches of no more than seven minutes on national and international topics. Prior to speaking, students research current events and create files that may be used in a 30-minute preparation period before the speech.

Impromptu Speaking: Students present on the spot speeches of no more than five minutes on a range of miscellaneous topics from famous quotes to societal problems. Before speaking students are allowed two minutes of preparation.

Student Congress: Students write bills before debating and modeling the House and Senate as “Representatives” and “Senators.”

INTERPRETATION EVENTS

Poetry Interpretation: Each student interprets a poem or group of poems totaling no more than ten minutes.

Dramatic Interpretation: Each student interprets a work of literary merit of a dramatic nature of no more than ten minutes.

Humorous Interpretation: Each student interprets a work of literary merit of a humorous nature of no more than ten minutes.

Duo Interpretation: Students work in pairs to interpret a work of literary merit of either dramatic or humorous nature and of no more than ten minutes.

Creative Storytelling: Students act out and present stories based on prompts given five minutes prior to the presentation.