The National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) is the largest interscholastic speech and debate organization serving middle school and high school students in the United States. It was formed as the National Forensic League in 1925 by Bruno Ernst Jacob.

History

20th century

As a Ripon College student, Jacob created a pocket handbook, Suggestions for the Debater. After becoming a professor at Ripon College, Jacob received a letter inquiring about the existence of a debate honor society. This led to the founding of the National Forensic League, with the earliest members joining on March 28, 1925.

The National Forensic League was an honor society that recognized middle and high school students and coaches for participation in speech and debate activities. Students earned merit points for participation and were held to a Code of Honor.

Karl Mundt served as the organization's national president from 1932 until 1971.

21st century

The League's name was changed on May 17, 2013 to the National Speech & Debate Association and the National Speech & Debate Association's Honor Society. A press release explained "As a communication organization, we need to effectively communicate who we are and what we do. There is a common misunderstanding of 'NFL' or 'forensics,' including confusion with the National Football League or crime scene investigation; changing our name to focus on the activity of speech and debate will appeal to more students, coaches, alumni, sponsors, and the general public." It has chapters at 3,152 high schools and 578 middle school chapters.

Symbols

NSDA's core values or pillars are Equity, Integrity, Respect, Leadership, and Service. After its name change in 2014, the association retained its original insignia, including keys, pins, and seals.

Speech

Speech involves a presentation by one or two students that is judged against a similar type of presentation by others in a round of competition. There are two general categories of speech events, public address events and interpretive events.

  • Public address events feature a speech written by the student, either in advance or with limited prep, that can answer a question, share a belief, persuade an audience, or educate the listener on a variety of topics.
  • Interpretation events center upon a student selecting and performing published material.

Public Address events

Source:

  • Extemporaneous Commentary (EXC)
  • Declamation (DEC)
  • Expository (EXP)
  • Impromptu (IMP)
  • Informative Speaking (INF)
  • International Extemporaneous Speaking (IX)
  • Mixed Extemporaneous Speaking (MX)
  • Original Oratory (OO)
  • Original Spoken Word Poetry (SW)
  • Pro Con Challenge (PCC)
  • United States Extemporaneous Speaking (USX)

Interpretation events

Source:

See also

  • Competitive debate in the United States
  • Honor society
  • Student society

References

  • Official website