Topics

Here are the topics for the MS Speech/Debate tournaments in May:
 
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
 
March/April 2016 - Resolved: The United States ought to promote democracy in the Middle East.
 
Policy Debate
 
2016-2017 - Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its economic and/or diplomatic engagement with the People's Republic of China.
 
Public Forum Debate
 
Nov 2014 topic - Resolved: On balance, the benefits of genetically modified foods outweigh the harms.
 
Extemporaneous Speaking

Here are the Extemp questions for this year's MS tournaments.  Each round will have a unique focus,with a final round composed of questions from each of the previous rounds.  Here are your questions:

Round 1 – International Affairs

1.  What role should NATO play in resolving Europe’s refugee crisis?

2.  Who should be the U.N.’s next Secretary General?

3.  What should Mexico do about its pollution problem?

4.  What structural reforms does the Chinese economy need?

5.  Should the West reduce sanctions on Russia if it agrees to complete withdraw from Syria?

6.  How should Xi Jinping respond to growing Chinese labor unrest?

7.  Is Algeria doing enough to combat terrorism?

8.  Does Great Britain need a bold overhaul of its pension system?

Round 2 – U.S. Politics

1.  Does Patty Judge have a chance against Chuck Grassley in Iowa’s Senate race?

2.  Can John Kasich win a brokered convention?

3.  What was the biggest mistake of the Rubio campaign?

4.  What issues should Donald Trump focus on for the remainder of his campaign?

5.  Does Cruz have a chance at securing the Republican nomination?

6.  Does Bernie Sanders have a way to beat Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination?

7.  Should Merrick Garland be the next Supreme Court Justice?

8.  Should North Carolina strike down Charlotte’s transgender protection laws?

Round 3 – U.S. Social Issues

1.  How should NASA respond to SpaceX’s recent successes?

2.  Can solar compete with fossil fuels without federal tax credits?

3.  Did President Obama make the right decision in reversing his position on Atlantic offshore drilling?

4.  What should the U.S. do in response to Otto Warmbier’s detention in North Korea?

5.  Should the U.S. take offensive action to protect Christians from the Islamic State?

6.  Should the U.S. consider adopting European-style “hate speech” laws?

7.  Should the tech industry side with Apple?

8.  What do Goldman Sach’s layoffs mean for the financial sector?

Round 4 – Pop Culture

1.  Did ‘Batman v Superman’ live up to the hype?

2.  What will be the result of the Oscars 2016 boycott?

3.  Was ‘Fuller House’ a success or a flop?

4.  How has David Letterman’s retirement changed the ‘Late Show?’

5. How has Zayn Malik departing One Direction changed the band?

6.  Could Kanye West be a good Presidential candidate?

7.  Was ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ a worthy successor to the Star Wars legacy?

8.  Should NBC allow Brian Williams to return to ‘NBC Nightly News?’

Round 5 – Finals

1. Who should be the U.N.’s next Secretary General?

2.  What structural reforms does the Chinese economy need?

3.  What was the biggest mistake of the Rubio campaign?

4.  Should Merrick Garland be the next Supreme Court Justice?

5.  Should the tech industry side with Apple?

6.  Did President Obama make the right decision in reversing his position on Atlantic offshore drilling?

7.  Did ‘Batman v Superman’ live up to the hype?

8.  Was ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ a worthy successor to the Star Wars legacy?