Speech & Debate Club

25-26 Meridian High School Speech & Debate Club

NSDA Debate Topics Sept/Oct 2025

Sep/Oct Public Forum Topic – Resolved: The United Kingdom should rejoin the European Union.

Sep/Oct Lincoln-Douglas Topic – Resolved: In the United States criminal justice system, plea bargaining is just.

Steps to Register a Student for Competitive Debate Club

Review the Terms for Participation
Pay your My School Bucks invoice. $200 + 4.60% credit card processing fee. My School Bucks OR pay by check to Meridian World School for $200 with a memo line for Debate Club. Students will be invoiced after attending Debate Club.
Fill out Permission Form (Student Code of Conduct, Contact Information, Medical & Insurance Information)

Membership and Participation Dues

Students are required to pay a $200 membership fee through My School Bucks (plus 4.60% is credit processing fee) or pay by check to Meridian World School for $200 with a memo line for Debate Club. Invoices will be sent out after the Student Interest Meeting and should be paid by the end of September. This is required in order to help cover the fees associated with registration and resources for Texas Forensic Association and National Speech and Debate Association as well as extended work week for the coaches at tournaments. This means all fees must be paid by the club/organization's deadline(s) to maintain eligibility and continue to participate. Financial assistance is available to those who need it. Please email financialaid@mwschool.org to inquire.

Additionally, students will have to pay a tournament registration fee for each tournament, approximately $40-50 per person. Meridian School Debate Club will choose 5-6 tournaments throughout the year to attend in the local Austin area. Please see the tentative debate tournament schedule. Parents/guardians are responsible for providing transportation for their students to all Austin area tournaments.

Description of Speech & Debate Club

Speech and Debate club is designed to teach students how to compete in speech and debate tournaments against other schools in the Texas Forensic Association and National Speech Debate Association events focusing on three events: 1) public forum format, 2) Lincoln Douglas, and 3) Original Oratory.

According to NSDA, the three events are described below:

"As a team event, students who compete in Public Forum need to be able to work well with a partner. Balanced teams, both in terms of preparation before debates and contributions within a debate, helps provide a competitive advantage during tournaments. PF looks at current event topics. Students who do Public Forum must be prepared to debate in front of judges without any formal debate training. Being able to persuade a range of judges is a central component to this event. Additionally, PF is focused upon debating varying resolutions that change frequently, which exposes students to a variety of topics during a singular competitive season."

"Lincoln-Douglas Debate typically appeals to individuals who like to debate, but prefer a one-on-one format as opposed to a team or group setting. Additionally, individuals who enjoy LD like exploring questions of how society ought to be. Many people refer to LD Debate as a “values” debate, as questions of morality and justice are commonly examined. Students prepare cases and then engage in an exchange of cross-examinations and rebuttals in an attempt to convince a judge that they are the better debater in the round."

"Original Oratory is a speech written by the student with the intent to inform or persuade the audience on a topic of significance. Oratory gives students the unique opportunity to showcase their voice and passion for their topic. An Oratory is not simply an essay about the topic—it is a well researched and organized presentation with evidence, logic, emotional appeals, and sometimes humor to convey a message. Topics may be of a value orientation and affect people at a personal level, such as avoiding peer pressure, or they can be more of a policy orientation and ask an audience to enact particular policies or solve societal problems."

For more information, see NSDA's description at https://www.speechanddebate.org/competition-events/.

Weekly Meeting Time

Thursdays from 4:10-5:10 in Mrs. MacFarland's room, HS 1.11.

Possible Meridian Tournament Schedule

See google doc link. Subject to change. Tentative ideas for now.

NSDA and TFA Tournament Schedule

Tabroom (search for Texas--includes both NSDA and TFA)

TFA Schedule

Student Interest Presentation

Interested students should attend the Student Interest Presentation on Thursday, September 5th from 4:10-5:00 in Mrs. MacFarland's room, HS 1.11. Parents and students should also review the Terms for Participation.

Google Classroom

Once students register in My School Bucks (specific link not in store) and review the Terms for Participation, students will be invited to the Google Classroom where curriculum and tournament information will be available. Parents will need to fill out a Permission Form for EACH tournament granting permission for students to attend a tournament.

Public Forum Examples

Examples of Public Forum Debates: 2018 Nationals, 2020 Example Public Forum Finals

Video

Judging

Parents can judge if they do a little training. If parents are interested in judging, they can reach out to Mrs. MacFarland or Ms. Radebaugh and visit the NSDA's short online course: https://www.speechanddebate.org/learn/judge-accreditation/.

Social Media

Follow us on Instagram

Public Forum Nationals

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUnyLbeu7qU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7fKEsZohYY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxQ8Pdetg2E

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBXgdVG5fUk&t=1283s

LD Nationals

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dw6Nvv8UMbU&t=1011s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFFOLNdSOWE&t=500s

Original Oratory

Check out the videos from National Speech and Debate Tournaments below: