Competition events
The NSDA landscape in one library — what each event is, how rounds work, what judges reward, and how to practice. Aligned with official competition events.
Debate
One-on-one values debate. Affirmative and negative clash over a resolution about justice, rights, morality, or policy principle. Philosophy meets clash.
Value frameworks · Philosophy · Clash
Partner debate designed for a general audience. Current events, accessible language, heavy clash, and real-world impacts.
Partnering · Current events · Weighing
Team policy debate with deep research, plan texts, disadvantages, counterplans, and kritiks. The most research-intensive event.
Research · Spreading · Theory
Student congress: legislation, floor speeches, questioning, and parliamentary procedure. Debate meets civic process.
Legislation writing · Parliamentary procedure · Floor presence
3v3 international-format debate mixing prepared and impromptu motions. Judged on content, style, and strategy — rhetoric matters as much as the flow.
Rhetoric · Teamwork · POIs
One-on-one debate over deep questions where science, philosophy, and religion intersect. Built for lay judges, with a season-long resolution.
First principles · Philosophy of science · Accessible clash
Rapid one-on-one debate on a resolution announced about 30 minutes before the round. Argument generation and clarity at speed.
Rapid casebuilding · Current events · Refutation
Public Address
A self-written persuasive speech on a significant topic. You research, write, memorize, and perform a 10-minute original argument.
Speechwriting · Persuasion · Memorization
An original speech that teaches the audience something fascinating. Clarity, structure, and engaging explanation win.
Explanation · Research · Visual aids (optional)
Original poetry performed with rhythm, imagery, and emotional truth. Literary craft meets stage performance.
Poetry craft · Performance · Imagery
Deliver a speech someone else wrote and delivered publicly. A re-interpretation, not an impression — borrowed words that must land as your own. A foundational event for novices and middle schoolers.
Delivery · Text interpretation · Memorization
A five-minute original informative speech — Informative's compact sibling. Clarity, economy, and audience interest with half the runway.
Clarity · Economy · Structure
One speech, both sides: present the strongest pro case and the strongest con case on a controversial topic, back to back, from memory. Intellectual honesty as a competitive event.
Balanced research · Steelmanning · Organization
Interpretation
A cutting from published literature performed as a dramatic solo. Character, story arc, and emotional authenticity.
Acting · Character work · Cutting
Comic literature performed solo. Timing, character comedy, and audience connection — laughs that still tell a story.
Comedy timing · Character work · Physical humor
Two performers, off-book literature, no direct eye contact with each other (in most rulesets). Chemistry, timing, and story.
Partner chemistry · Timing · Character
A themed program of literature from multiple genres (prose, poetry, drama) unified by an argument or idea.
Thematic programming · Multi-genre performance · Argument through lit
A program of published poetry performed from a manuscript. Rhythm, imagery, and vocal music — the binder is required; the safety net is not included.
Vocal variety · Rhythm · Programming
Narrative or non-fiction prose performed from a manuscript. Story and voice carry everything — no costumes, no props, just control.
Narration · Character voice · Pacing
Tell a published story as if to a group of young children — warmth, energy, and full-body storytelling. A chair is your only set piece, and yes, you may use it.
Audience warmth · Physicality · Character voice
Limited Prep
Draw a current-events question, prep for 30 minutes, deliver a 7-minute analytical speech. Files, structure, and calm under pressure.
Current events · Structure · Analysis
Short prep, short speech. Topics may be quotes, objects, or abstract words. Structure and presence under the clock.
Structure under pressure · Examples · Wit
Extemp focused on international affairs. Same prep/speech format as domestic extemp with a global lens.
Geopolitics · Comparative analysis · Source files
Draw a current-events topic, prep for 20 minutes, then deliver a five-minute seated commentary from memory — a columnist's take, delivered straight to camera.
Analysis · Persona · Current events
Middle school extemp drawing from both domestic and international question pools. 30 minutes of prep, seven minutes of analysis — the full event, sized for the next generation.
Current events · Structure · Sources