District I Extemp Topics

Informative Speaking Prelims

1.       How will the decision to cut funding for USAID impact American soft power around the world?

2.      Why is the role of the United States Department of Education important?

3.      What are the legal challenges facing former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol?

4.      What are the key facets of President Trump’s immigration policy?

5.      What are the Abraham Accords?

6.      Why is the use of generative AI by students a concern for classroom teachers?

7.      What is the current situation with bird flu? 

8.      What are some of the more noteworthy examples of waste and fraud revealed by DOGE?

9.      Why is Mahmoud Khalil’s recent arrest controversial?

10.    Which current members of the Texas Legislature are the more fervent supporters of school choice?

11.    Who is Mark Carney?

12.    What have investigators learned about the recent American Airlines crash in Washington, D.C.?

13.    What is the status of the SpaceX Starship program?

14.    How has Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert Kennedy responded to the current measles outbreak?

15.    In what areas is Russia expanding its presence in Africa?

16.    How has China become a global leader in renewable energy?

17.    How is President Trump responding to the latest inflation reports?

18.    What will it take for citizens to recover from the Los Angeles wildfires?

19.    What factors led to President Trump’s White House dispute with Ukraine President Zelenskyy? 

20.    How would the United States benefit from acquiring Greenland?

Informative Speaking Finals  

1.      Why are Nicaraguan refugees fleeing to Costa Rica?

2.      What is the feasibility of President Trump’s proposed plan for Gaza?

3.      What are the short and long-term impacts due to federal government funding freezes and cuts to colleges and universities?

4.      How is the Dominican Republic affected by lingering instability in neighboring Haiti?

5.      Why are more Texas school districts considering a four-day school week?

6.      What were the highlights of Sylvester Turner’s political career?

7.      How will South Africa be impacted following the United States withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on climate change?

8.      How have targeted countries responded to U.S. tariffs?

9.      What have investigators learned about the death of Gene Hackman?

10.    What is the state of diplomatic relations between Iran and Iraq?

11.    What regions of Texas are currently experiencing drought conditions?

12.    What are the controversies associated with Elon Musk?

13.    What is the current political climate between the United States and its European alliances?

14.    What are the objectives of Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa?

15.    How are U.S. farmers being affected by Trump administration policies?

16.    What is the debate about school vouchers in the Texas Legislature?

17.    What challenges is the Federal Aviation Administration currently facing?

18.    What are the objectives of President Trump’s Gold Card visa program?

19.    What was achieved by Vice President Vance’s European trip?

20.    Why is Mexico deploying military troops to its northern border?

Persuasive Speaking Prelims

1.      Is the U.S. in a constitutional crisis?

2.      Should the United Nations be more aggressive in addressing conditions in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo?

3.      Will school children and local farmers suffer because of the USDA’s recent program cuts?

4.      Has renewable energy production become a mainstay of the Texas economy?

5.      Has the United States abandoned its European alliances?

6.      Will tariffs on imports yield long-term economic benefits for the United States?

7.      Is Chile’s mining industry having an adverse environmental effect on the country?

8.      Is there a need for a Department of Education at the federal government level?

9.      Is an international climate crisis on the verge of becoming a reality?

10.    Have the Trump administration’s immigration policies caused a labor shortage in critical industries? 

11.    Is commercial air travel in the United States safe?

12.    Targeting youth, have e-cigarettes been deceptively marketed?

13.    Does Elon Musk have too much influence on White House decision-making?

14.    Does political stability exist in Iraq?

15.    Is China struggling domestically?

16.    Is extending the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act prudent?

17.    Do Germany’s latest election results indicate a conservative shift in the nation’s political direction?

18.    Are recent setbacks regarding SpaceX launches a cause for concern?

19.    What steps must Australia take to strengthen its defense independence?

20.    Will the United States see a recession soon?

Persuasive Speaking Finals

1.      Has Mexico’s President acted on combating violent crime in her nation?

2.      Is AI revolutionizing healthcare in the United States?       

3.      Should the European Union create its own standing army outside of NATO?

4.      Does the United States have a legitimate claim on the Panama Canal?

5.      Are the residents of Gaza losing hope?

6.      Does illegal fentanyl continue to be a major health threat in the United States?

7.      Has democracy fully returned to Thailand?

8.      Should nutrition education be required for all American public high school students?

9.      Do harms associated with adolescent cell phone use outweigh the benefits?

10.    Does Germany’s latest election results indicate a shift in the nation’s political direction?

11.    Does the United States Education Department play a vital role in higher education?

12.    Are Uganda’s health officials optimistic about trial launches of an Ebola vaccine?

13.    Is the U.S. Agency for International Development crucial for the conduct of American foreign policy?

14.    Is the future of renewable energy development in the United States in question?

15.    Does Ukrainian President Zelenskyy have legitimate concerns about current U.S. foreign policy objectives?

16.    Wil the current measles outbreak in Texas lead to a resurgence of vaccinations across the United States?

17.    Will significant federal income tax reduction lead to an increase in the nation’s deficit?

18.    Should U.S. voters be concerned about the amount of false information om social networking websites?

19.    Is it wise for America to move toward isolationism?

20.    Are Democrats looking to Senator Elissa Slotkin as the new face of their party?