Ten events. One of them fits you.
Speech and debate is not one activity. It is ten, with different formats for students who like philosophy, current events, research, performance, or thinking on their feet. CUDL coaches every event on this page at partner schools and has a free guide for each.
Compare the events
Speech times follow National Speech & Debate Association rules for the 2026-27 season. Local tournaments vary; your coach will confirm before you enter. Times are listed in speech order, in minutes.
| Event | Team size | Topics | Times | Good fit for | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln-Douglas | One-on-one | Values and ethics; changes every two months | 6-3-7-3-4-6-3; 4 min prep | Philosophy, reading, independent work | Lincoln-Douglas guides |
| Public Forum | Two-on-two | Current events; two-month then monthly topics | 4-4-3-4-4-3-3-3-3-2-2; 3 min prep | Current events, teamwork, persuading lay judges | Public Forum guides |
| Policy (CX) | Two-on-two | One policy resolution all year | 8-3-8-3-8-3-8-3-5-5-5-5; 5 or 8 min prep | Deep research, evidence, fast thinking | Policy guide |
| Congressional Debate | Chamber of 12 to 20 | Docket of bills and resolutions | 3-minute speeches; 1 or 2 min questioning | Current events, public speaking, parliamentary procedure | Congress guide |
| Big Questions | One-on-one or two-on-two | One philosophical resolution all year | 5-5-3-4-4-3-3-3-3-3; 3 min prep | Ethics, philosophy, reasoning from examples | Big Questions guide |
| World Schools | Three-on-three | Prepared and impromptu motions | 8-minute speeches, 4-minute replies | General knowledge, teamwork, conversational persuasion | World Schools guide |
| Extemporaneous Speaking | Solo | Current events questions drawn at the tournament | 30 min prep, 7 min speech | News readers, quick organizers | Extemp guide |
| Original Oratory | Solo | Your own topic | 10 min, memorized, 150 quoted words max | Writers, students with something to say | Oratory guide |
| Interpretation (DI, HI, Duo, POI) | Solo or duo | Published literature | 10 min | Performers, drama students | Interpretation guide |
| Impromptu | Solo | Prompt drawn at the round | 7 min total, prep and speech | Everyone; the best warm-up event | Impromptu guide |
Pick by personality
Students can switch events; most try two in their first year.
Lincoln-Douglas
One-on-one | 6-3-7-3-4-6-3; 4 min prep
Philosophy, reading, independent work
Lincoln-Douglas guidesPublic Forum
Two-on-two | 4-4-3-4-4-3-3-3-3-2-2; 3 min prep
Current events, teamwork, persuading lay judges
Public Forum guidesPolicy (CX)
Two-on-two | 8-3-8-3-8-3-8-3-5-5-5-5; 5 or 8 min prep
Deep research, evidence, fast thinking
Policy guideCongressional Debate
Chamber of 12 to 20 | 3-minute speeches; 1 or 2 min questioning
Current events, public speaking, parliamentary procedure
Congress guideBig Questions
One-on-one or two-on-two | 5-5-3-4-4-3-3-3-3-3; 3 min prep
Ethics, philosophy, reasoning from examples
Big Questions guideWorld Schools
Three-on-three | 8-minute speeches, 4-minute replies
General knowledge, teamwork, conversational persuasion
World Schools guideExtemporaneous Speaking
Solo | 30 min prep, 7 min speech
News readers, quick organizers
Extemp guideOriginal Oratory
Solo | 10 min, memorized, 150 quoted words max
Writers, students with something to say
Oratory guideInterpretation (DI, HI, Duo, POI)
Solo or duo | 10 min
Performers, drama students
Interpretation guideImpromptu
Solo | 7 min total, prep and speech
Everyone; the best warm-up event
Impromptu guideWhich events run in Charlotte?
Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, and Congressional Debate have the most entries at local tournaments in the Charlotte area, and the Tarheel Forensic League state championship offers JV divisions in all three for students in their first two years. Speech events run at most of the same tournaments. Policy and World Schools are less common locally; CUDL arranges practice rounds between partner schools for both.
Not sure where to start?
Take the rules quiz to see which events you already understand, draw a prompt from the prompt generator and give a two-minute speech, or read the student and family FAQ. Then sign up and a coach will help you choose.
Every event, coached at your school.
CUDL brings coaching for all ten events to partner schools at no cost.