RESEARCH
Debate Research Page
The Debate Bible (Dr. Jon Brushke): PDF
NSDA Rules: https://www.speechanddebate.org/rules-forms-manuals/
CHSSA Rules (Needs Update): http://www.chssa.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/11BYLawsDebateRules10_2015.27500052.pdf
VBI’s LD Classroom: https://classroom.victorybriefs.com/
2019-20 LD Topics Reviewed: VBI Staff LD Topic Recommendations (Victory Briefs Institute, Agust 4, 2019)
[LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATE]
OCTOBER 2020: Jobs Guarantee
Resolved: The United States ought to provide a federal jobs guarantee.
SEPT/OCT 2020: Democracy
Resolved: In a democracy, voting ought to be compulsory.
MAY 2020: Intergenerational Wealth
Resolved: The intergenerational accumulation of wealth is antithetical to democracy.
MAR/APR 2020: Police Methods
Resolved: Predictive Policing is Unjust.
JANUARY 2019: Eliminating Nuclear Arsenals
Resolved: States ought to eliminate their nuclear arsenals.
DECEMBER 2019: Eliminating Nuclear Arsenals
Resolved: States ought to eliminate their nuclear arsenals.
NOVEMBER 2019: Cellular Phones for Adolescents
Resolved: Children (including adolescents) should not be allowed to own/use a cellphone.
OCTOBER 2019: Eliminating Subsidies for Fossil Fuels
Resolved: The United States ought to eliminate subsidies for fossil fuels.
SEPTEMBER 2019: Standardized Testing & College Admissions
Resolved: In the United States, colleges and universities ought not consider standardized tests in undergraduate admissions decisions.
AUGUST 2019: Trade War vs. China
Resolved: President Trump’s protectionist policies (ex. tariffs) against China does more harm than good.
JULY 2019: Anti-Missile Defense Systems
Resolved: Anti-Missile Defense systems do more harm than good.
JUNE 2019: Geoengineering (vs. Global Warming)
Resolved: We should use Geoengineering to reduce the harmful effects of Global Warming.
[PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE]
NOV/DEC 2020: Nuclear Weapons
Resolved: The United States should adopt a declaratory nuclear policy of no first use.
SEPT/OCT 2020: Medicare for All
Resolved: The United States federal government should enact the Medicare-For-All Act of 2019.
MAY 2020: International Debate Championship
Resolved: The United States military should adopt a policy of offshore balancing.
MAY 2020: NSDA National Championship
Resolved: On balance, charter schools are beneficial to the quality of education in the United States.
APRIL 2020:
Resolved: On-balance, self-driving/driverless vehicles do more harm than good.
FEBRUARY 2020:
Resolved: The United States should increase its use of nuclear energy for commercial energy production.
JANUARY 2020:
Resolved: The United States should replace means-tested welfare programs with a universal basic income.
DECEMBER 2019: Ending Sanctions Against Venezuela
Resolved: The United States should end its economic sanctions against Venezuela.
NOVEMBER 2019: Cellular Phones for Adolescents
Resolved: Children (including adolescents) should not be allowed to own/use a cellphone.
OCTOBER 2019: Offensive Cyber Operations
Resolved: The benefits of the U.S. federal government’s use of offensive cyber operations outweigh the harms.
SEPTEMBER 2019: EU Joins [China’s] Belt and Road Initiative
Resolved: The European Union should join [China’s] Belt and Road Initiative.
AUGUST 2019: Trade War vs. China
Resolved: President Trump’s protectionist policies (ex. tariffs) against China does more harm than good.
JULY 2019: Anti-Missile Defense Systems
Resolved: Anti-Missile Defense systems do more harm than good.
JUNE 2019: Geoengineering (vs. Global Warming)
Resolved: We should use Geoengineering to reduce the harmful effects of Global Warming.
[ELEMENTARY DEBATE]
MAY 2020: Plastics
Resolved: On-balance, plastic products do more harm than good.
APRIL 2020: Self-driving Vehicles
Resolved: On-balance, self-driving cars do more harm than good.
OCTOBER 2019: Later Start Time for School
Resolved: Schools should start later in the morning.
SEPTEMBER 2019: Pet-Friendly Restaurants
Resolved: Restaurants should allow people to bring pets.
[LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATE 2018-19]
MAY 2019: Violent Revolution vs. Political Oppression
Resolved: Violent revolution is a just response to political oppression.
APRIL 2019: Drugs as Public Health Issue
Resolved: The illegal use of drugs ought to be treated as a matter of public health, not of criminal justice.
MARCH 2019: Drugs as Public Health Issue
Resolved: The illegal use of drugs ought to be treated as a matter of public health, not of criminal justice.
FEBRUARY 2019: Drugs as Public Health Issue
Resolved: The illegal use of drugs ought to be treated as a matter of public health, not of criminal justice.
JANUARY 2019: Military Aid Policy
Resolved: The United States ought not provide military aid to authoritarian regimes.
DECEMBER 2018: Special Topics (Cars, USSC & No. Bergen)
[Three topics — in-class discussions/debate]
NOVEMBER 2018: Public’s Right to Know vs Candidate’s Privacy
Resolved: In a democracy, the public’s right to know ought to be valued above the right to privacy of candidates for public office.
OCTOBER 2018: Public’s Right to Know vs. Candidates Right to Privacy
Resolved: In a democracy, the public’s right to know ought to be valued above the right to privacy of candidates for public office.
SEPTEMBER 2018: Protecting Confidential Sources (Journalism)
Resolved: In the United States, reporters ought to have the right to protect the identity of confidential sources.
AUGUST 2018: Preventing Wildfires
Resolved: In the United States, we ought to significantly increase spending on wildfire prevention.
JULY 2018: Law of the Sea Treaty (UNCLOS)
Resolved: The United States should accede to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea without reservations.
JUNE 2018: Banning Handguns
Resolved: In the U.S., public use of handguns ought to be banned.
MAY 2018: Animal Testing
Resolved: The United States federal government should make animal testing a crime.
MAR/APR 2018: Universal Basic Income
Resolved: The United States ought to provide a universal basic income.
[PUBLIC FORUM DEBATE 2018-19]
MAY 2019: Enforcing Antitrust Regulations vs. Technology Giants
Resolved: The United States federal government should enforce antitrust regulations on technology giants.
APRIL 2019: Permanent Membership on UNSC for India
The United Nations should grant India permanent membership on the Security Council.
MARCH 2019: Permanent Membership on UNSC for India
The United Nations should grant India permanent membership on the Security Council.
FEBRUARY 2019: Market-Rate Housing (Urban Neighborhoods)
Resolved: The United States should promote the development of market-rate housing in urban neighborhoods.
JANUARY 2019: Ending US Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia
Resolved: The United States should end its arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
DEC/JAN 2019: Prioritizing Deficit Reduction
Resolved: The United States federal government should prioritize reducing the federal debt over promoting economic growth.
DECEMBER 2018: Special Topics (Cars, USSC & No. Bergen)
[Three topics — in-class discussions/debate]
NOVEMBER 2018: Replacing People with Robots
https://magnetacademy.com/november-2018-replacing-people-with-robots/
OCTOBER 2018: Price Controls for Pharmaceutical Industry
Resolved: The United States federal government should impose price controls on the pharmaceutical industry.
SEPTEMBER 2018: Law of the Sea Treaty (UNCLOS)
Resolved: The United States should accede to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea without reservations.
AUGUST 2018: Preventing Wildfires
Resolved: In the United States, we ought to significantly increase spending on wildfire prevention.
JULY 2018: Law of the Sea Treaty (UNCLOS)
Resolved: The United States should accede to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea without reservations.
JUNE 2018: Banning Handguns
Resolved: In the U.S., public use of handguns ought to be banned.
MAY 2018: Animal Testing
Resolved: The United States federal government should make animal testing a crime.
APRIL 2018: Increasing H-1B Visas
Resolved: The United States federal government should increase its quota of H-1B visas.
MARCH 2018: Cryptocurrency
Resolved: Cryptocurrency does more good than harm.
FEB 2018: ‘Capital Gains’ Tax
Resolved: The United States ought to abolish the Capital Gains tax.
JAN 2018: Catalonia Independence
Resolved: Spain should grant Catalonia its independence.
[MLA “ORIGINAL” & “WORKSHOP” DEBATE TOPICS]
FEBRUARY 2019: Trump’s Border Wall
Resolved: We should build a wall on our border with Mexico.
JANUARY 2019: Replacing People with Robots
Resolved: On-balance, replacing people with robots does more harm than good.
IMPORTANT: IVC Tournament on Saturday, February 12, 2019.
NOVEMBER 2018: Replacing People with Robots
Resolved: It is unfair to replace people with robots.
IMPORTANT: Intramural Contest on Monday, November 12, 2018 – 10am to 1:30pm.
[SPECIAL TOPICS & MISC. DEBATE]
Special Topics – Kritiks (by Coach Brandon and/or Coach Bill):
Debate Theory (MLA, 2016-17): Special Arguments (Kritiks)
LD Debate Speaking Times & Responsibilities:
Whiteboard (LD Debate) – LD Time Outline & Responsibilities (MLA, June 2016).jpg
Whiteboard (LD Debate) – LD Speaking Times & Responsibilities (MLA, June 2017).jpg
Parliamentary (Parli) Debate Speaking Times & Responsibilities (2-vs-2):
Whiteboard (Parli Debate) – Parli Speaking Time & Responsibilities (MLA, June 2016).jpg