Recent Speech & Debate Site News & Updates
Page 1 of 7 pages 1 2 3 > Last ›
Fall 2025 LD Debate Topic
The 2025 Fall Lincoln Douglas topic is now posted.
Free CX Debate Workshops
UIL is excited to offer free Cross-Examination Debate coach training opportunities during the month of August. All workshops are 1 day and free.
Designed for teachers with little or no training in competitive debate, five workshops are planned at various sites, including in-person sessions at 4 locations:
- Region 12, Waco - August 8
- Rocksprings ISD - August 16
- Three Rivers HS - August 9
- Big Spring HS - August 16
A workshop via Zoom will also be offered on August 16, which requires pre-registration.
CX Debate challenges bright students to develop higher-order critical thinking skills and active problem solving, engage in deeper research experiences and strengthen communication skills in the realm of advocacy. Long-term, debate builds informed citizens, enhances career success, and creates life-long learners. School participation can add significant points to the academic district sweepstakes and provides the opportunity to advance debaters to a state championship.
For additional information, contact Jana Riggins, State Debate Director: jriggins@uiltexas.org | 512-471-5883
Five Debate Topic Choices Announced for 2026-27 National High School Policy Debate Topic
The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has announced the five resolutions advancing to the final ballot for the 2026-27 National High School Policy Debate Topic, following deliberations at the annual NFHS Policy Debate Topic Selection Meeting held July 31-August 3 in Austin, Texas. Each year, the NFHS brings together educators, coaches, and state association representatives to evaluate, discuss and refine a list of proposed debate topics with the potential for national implementation. This year’s meeting focused on issues at the heart of domestic policy concerns, with these five topics emerging as finalists:
Speech State Meet Honor Crew
Do you wish to recognize and reward the dedicated work of students on your speech squad? Here’s an incredible opportunity!
The State Speech Honor Crew is designed for exemplary speech students who are not already involved in the Speech State Meet but who demonstrate outstanding qualities. The Honor Crew assists in administering the State Meet through chairing competition rounds, timekeeping and serving as monitors, providing an amazing learning opportunity.
It will be necessary for those selected to be in Austin from late afternoon Sunday, May 18, through Tuesday late afternoon, May 20 . Attendance at a training session on Sunday at 6 p.m. is required. Students must be nominated by their speech coach. Nominations should be based on academic and competitive excellence in your speech and debate program. Maturity is vital so upperclassmen will receive preferential selection.
Students nominated must be academically capable and eligible. Every effort will be made to select members from all regions and all conferences. Coaches may nominate more than one student. For additional information about the nomination process, click here.
State Congressional Legislation
Legislation for all conferences is now posted.
UIL MS Debate
Do you have middle school students that want to learn about argumentation and debate?
Would you like to get a feeder program for CX Debate started in your middle school that could strengthen your high school program?
Are you interested in providing debate competition at your middle school invitational or district meet?
See the resources designed especially for UIL Middle School CX Debate!
An Overview of the Fall 2024 Lincoln Douglas Debate Resolution
Whether we reside in rural or urban areas, the necessity for food is universal, making the Fall UIL topic a crucial exploration of American agricultural practices and their effects on both human and animal welfare. This topic invites a values-based analysis, encompassing environmental justice, the ethical provision of food, the protection of quality of life, and animal rights, among others. A fundamental step in addressing this topic is to define “agroecology.” According to the Soil Association, a UK-based organization advocating for alternatives to industrial farming, “Agroecology is an umbrella term that covers lots of agricultural practices that you may be more familiar with, like organic, biodynamic or permaculture. Organic farming is a form of agroecological farming. All organic farmers are required to meet a strict set of standards. These standards guarantee higher animal welfare, fewer pesticides and antibiotics and no GMOs [genetically-modified organisms]. Organic practices also support more jobs on farms, healthy soil and more on-farm” (https://www.soilassociation.org/causes-campaigns/a-ten-year-transition-to-agroecology/what-is-agroecology/). Therefore, affirmative cases are likely to emphasize the health benefits of rejecting GMOs, the promotion of animal welfare by opposing confined animal feeding operations (CAFOs), or environmental protection through the reduced use of pesticides and herbicides. Conversely, negative cases may argue that industrialized agriculture is essential for feeding a growing global population, that intensive farming methods protect the environment by producing more food on less land, or that well-regulated CAFOs can effectively balance animal welfare with minimal environmental disruption.