Self-Guided Student Learning
Find tools to build your skills and expand your understanding of different competitive speech and debate events. For more resources, visit our resource table.
Resource Access
This collection features resources from a variety of membership levels.
Free: Resources available to all.
Members: Resources available to members logged in and attached to a school with an NSDA membership.
Resource Package Subscribers: Resources available to individuals or teams who are logged in and have purchased a Resource Package with additional tools.
Latest Releases
Plan your practices with our 2024-2025 resource release schedule.
PF Topic Resources
Download a topic breakdown on the January Public Forum Topic, Resolved: The African Union should grant diplomatic recognition to the Republic of Somaliland as an independent state.
LD Topic Resources
Download a topic breakdown on the Jan/Feb Lincoln-Douglas Topic Analysis, Resolved: The United States ought to become party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and/or the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
World Schools Motions
Download the January 2025 World Schools Debate Motions.
Congress Legislation
Download the January 2025 Legislation Docket.
Extemp Questions
Download the January 2025 Extemp Practice Questions.
Policy Files
Access the 2024-2025 Open Evidence files, Courtesy of NDCA
Big Questions Topic Resources
Download resources on the Big Questions topic, Resolved: Creativity is a more powerful force than intelligence.
Popular Videos
Share your message with
3,500 High Schools
600 Middle Schools
5,200 Coaches
140,000 Students
Extend your reach at the Nationals
7,000 Attendees
6,500 Tournament Books are Distributed to Coaches and Teachers
7,000 Access the National Tournament App from their Phone or Device
We can design your ad!
It’s quick, easy, and affordable. For $125, we will create a beautiful, print-ready ad just for you!
Members
Final Round Videos
Learn from the best of the best in final round performances from the high school and middle school National Tournaments.
Members
Duo Breakdown
Dive into the process of putting together a Duo performance from start to finish. This course offers a look behind the scenes at the cutting, blocking, practicing, and performing of a final round Duo.
Free
Extemp Speech Breakdown (Beginner)
Follow the breakdown of a champion Extemp speech to learn more about the components of a speech and decision making.
Free
Extemp Speech Breakdown (Advanced)
Join an expert extemper as they narrate their live prep and deliver their speech. Learn how they balance their time, search for evidence, and more.
Members
International Extemp Speech Breakdown
Learn advanced Extemp strategies from a two-time national champion in this video.
Free
How to Pick a Piece or Topic
Join expert coaches, Interpers, and Orators for an in-depth conversation about searching for a piece or choosing a topic, identifying your strengths, and finding the right fit.
Resource Package Subscribers
Webinar Recordings
Access our webinar archives for tips from experts on trying new events and improving your skills.
Members
Informative Speech Breakdown – Ceceilia Voss
Go behind the curtain of a final round Info to learn tips for visual aids, speech structure, and more.
Free
Informative Speech Breakdown – Anneteke Adoga
Learn strategies for Info as two-time national champion Anneteke Adoga breaks down her 2022 speech.
Members
Advanced Informative Speech Breakdown – Anneteke Adoga
Pick up advanced techniquess from two-time national champion Anneteke Adoga as she breaks down her 2022 speech.
Members
How to Write and Perform Original Spoken Word Poetry
Pick up on primers on the event, as well as guidance for writing and practical activities for getting started.
Free
Welcome to Worlds Webinar
Learn the basics of World Schools Debate from USA Debate team members!
Members
Program Oral Interp Breakdown
Pick up techniquess from national champion Isabella Royer as she breaks down her 2023 speech.
Free
Big Questions Breakdown
Uncover the strategies and techniques behind a final round of Big Questions Debate
Members
Original Oratory Breakdown – Esther Oyetunji 2022
Learn strategies and techniques from three-time national champion Esther Oyetunji as she examines her 2022 oration.
Members
Student Experts Series
Discover more tips from national finalists in our student experts video series.
Free
How to Use Speech and Debate to Succeed in College Admissions
Gain insights on using your speech and debate skills and experience to excel in the college admissions process.
Free
Champion Q&A: Esther Oyetunji (OO)
Learn from advice from three-time oratory champion Esther Oyetunji.
Skill Building
Members
Running Practices
Access more than 50 individual drills and practice activities for delivery, prep, strategy, memorization, characterization, movement, and more.
Members
Interp Character Checklist
Use this checklist to experiment and track progress in bringing a character to life through their movement, voice, motivations, environment, and more.
Free
How to Create a Character
Explore ways to bring complexity and purpose to each character with tips from Samuel L. Jackson.
Members
Intro to Flowing PF and LD
Conquer note taking in PF and LD in this series of flowing videos with example speeches.
Members
Intro to Flowing Policy
Learn why, how, and what to take note of in a Policy Debate round in this series of flowing videos.
Members
How to Cut a Card
Practice identifying and organizing evidence for a debate round with this short video.
Members
Intro to Framework
Understand how to construct, justify, and respond to framework in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Members
Intro to Philosophy
Understand how to apply philosophies to strengthen or weaken arguments, differentiate the three main branches of philosophy, and engage constructively with philosophies that are commonly used in competitive debates.
Members
Intro to Kritiks
Learn to explain, identify, and respond to types of kritiks, which are arguments that focus on power structures that exist around us and how they cause the problems we ought to address.
Members
Crossfire Tips
Pick up six tips for effective Public Forum crossfire from a PF national champion.
Members
HeinOnline
Research topics with the HeinOnline Database.
Free
Speech Warm Ups
Warm-ups are the verbal and physical exercises we do before and between rounds to get energy, focus, and warm voices. Here are a few popular warm-ups used by teams across the country.
Members
Impromptu Starter Kit
Use these notes on event structure, balancing time, and delivery, as well as practice activities and advice from National Tournament finalists to get started with Impromptu.
Members
Poetry Starter Kit
Use this guide to get started with Poetry, including a sample annotated cutting and advice from national finalists.
Members
Prose Starter Kit
Use this guide to get started with Prose, including event basics, sample performances, and advice from National Tournament finalists.
Members
Declamation Starter Kit
Use this guide to get started with Declamation, including event basics, advice for cutting and delivery, and sample performances.
Members
Extemp Commentary Starter Kit
Use this guide to get started with Extemp Commentary, including event basics, sample prompts, practice tips, and sample performances.
Members
Storytelling Starter Kit
Use this guide to get started with Storytelling, including event basics, advice for using the chair and selecting a piece, delivery tips, and sample performances.
Free
Glossary
Learn the meaning of common terms in the speech and debate community.