De-Extinction and Nuclear Treaties: A Parent’s Guide to the November/December Debate Topics

If your student has been talking about woolly mammoths and nuclear treaties at dinner lately, they’re probably working on the new debate topics. On November 1, the National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) switches to its November/December resolutions:

• Lincoln-Douglas (LD): Resolved: De-extinction is unethical.
• Public Forum (PF): Resolved: European members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization should ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

These are big, unfamiliar topics, and it’s normal for parents to wonder how to help. You don’t need to be an expert in genetics or arms control. This guide explains each topic in plain language and suggests a few easy ways to support your debater at home.

Why the topic keeps changing

NSDA debate topics follow a set calendar through the school year. Coaches and students vote on resolutions from a shortlist, and each one is debated for about one to two months before the next one starts. In September and October, LD debaters argued about whether colonizing outer space is a moral imperative, and PF teams debated a pause on building giant data centers. Now they start over.

The constant change is part of what makes debate valuable. Every few weeks, students have to learn a new subject quickly, find reliable sources, and build arguments on both sides. Debaters usually don’t get to choose their side either, so they learn to understand views they may disagree with. These habits help in English essays, history papers and the reading section of the SAT, not just at tournaments.

The Lincoln-Douglas topic: Is de-extinction unethical?

What it means. De-extinction is the effort to bring back animals that have died out, or to create close stand-ins for them, using genetic engineering, cloning or selective breeding. This isn’t science fiction anymore. The Texas company Colossal Biosciences says it has produced “dire wolf” pups and a “woolly mouse” with mammoth-like traits, and it is working on the woolly mammoth, dodo and others (Euronews, Colossal). Many scientists question whether these animals are truly revived species or edited versions of living relatives. That debate over definitions is a good place for students to start.

LD is a values debate, so the question isn’t only “can we?” but “should we?” Students will weigh ideas like these:

• Arguments that it is unethical: it treats animals as experiments, and the first animals may suffer health problems. It may pull money and attention away from saving species that are endangered today. And it may give people a false sense that extinction can be undone, which could weaken efforts to protect habitats.
• Arguments that it is ethical: people caused many extinctions, so we may have a duty to repair the damage. Some revived species could help restore ecosystems. The research could also produce tools that protect endangered animals now, such as preserving genetic material from struggling populations.

Strong debaters will also ask which ethical framework matters most here: animal welfare, human responsibility, or the health of whole ecosystems.

The Public Forum topic: Should European NATO members join the nuclear ban treaty?

What it means. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) was adopted at the United Nations in 2017 and took effect in January 2021. Countries that join promise never to develop, possess, use or threaten to use nuclear weapons. They also can’t allow other countries’ nuclear weapons to be stationed on their soil. By late 2025, 74 countries had ratified it (Arms Control Association).

NATO is the military alliance between the United States, Canada and most of Europe. Its defense depends partly on nuclear deterrence: the idea that nuclear weapons discourage attacks. No NATO member has joined the treaty. Germany, for example, has said the treaty’s ban on stationing nuclear weapons conflicts with its commitments to the alliance, although it has attended treaty meetings as an observer (German Federal Foreign Office).

PF is a policy debate written for a general audience, so teams have to explain these ideas clearly. They will likely argue points like these:

• Pro (ratify): it would put real pressure on nuclear powers to disarm, reduce the risk of nuclear accidents or war in Europe, and show moral leadership on a humanitarian issue.
• Con (don’t ratify): it could weaken NATO when Europe faces real security threats, damage relations with the United States, and give up a deterrent that has arguably helped keep the peace, while no nuclear power is required to disarm.

Good debaters will also ask a practical question: if only some European countries join, what actually changes?

How debaters tackle a brand-new topic

The first two weeks on a new resolution are mostly research. Here’s what that usually looks like:

1. Define the terms. What counts as “de-extinction”? Which countries are “European members” of NATO? Clear definitions shape the whole debate.
2. Read widely. Students start with background articles, then move to scientific journals, government statements and think-tank reports.
3. Build both sides. Debaters write cases for both sides, since they may argue either one at a tournament.
4. Predict the responses. For every argument, students prepare answers to what the other side is likely to say.
5. Practice out loud. Practice rounds and speech drills turn research into clear, timed arguments.

This process teaches students to judge sources, organize complex information and think on their feet. Those skills carry over directly to school and college.

Three questions to ask at the dinner table

You don’t need to know the answers. Asking good questions and letting your child explain is one of the best ways to help them practice.

• “What’s the strongest argument for the side you disagree with?” This helps them prepare for their opponents and see both sides fairly.
• “Can you explain the topic to me in one minute?” If they can explain it simply, they understand it. If they can’t, they’ve found something to work on.
• “Where did that fact come from?” Asking about sources shows them that evidence matters, and judges will ask the same thing.

If your child gets excited and talks for 20 minutes, that’s good too.

Start the new topic with Honor Academy

A new topic is a fresh start for every debater, which makes it a great time to join. Honor Academy’s Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum classes are already researching and writing cases for the November/December resolutions. Our coaches help students at every level, from first-time debaters to experienced competitors, build arguments, sharpen their speaking and get ready for upcoming tournaments.

Contact Honor Academy to schedule a trial class (limited availability), and give your student a strong start this season.