November/December Practice Extemp Topics

Informative Speaking:

1. What is the process of obtaining asylum or refugee status in the United States?

2. What influence has Germany had over European affairs with Chancellor Merkel at the helm?

3. Why has President Trump’s appointment of Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general been controversial?

4. What are the recent developments in Gaza?

5. Why is the National Rifle Association in a Twitter confrontation with medical doctors?

6. What factors have contributed to the rise in populism in Europe?

7. What is the cost of protecting U.S. borders?

8. What is known about the fate of journalist Jamal Khashoggi?

9. What has been learned from the results of the midterm elections?

10. Why has Prime Minister Theresa May’s recent Brexit deal caused a divide in her own party?

11. What factors have caused the U.S. financial markets to be so volatile?

12. Why are Central American migrants heading north to the United States?

13. What are the contributions of Sandra Day O’Connor?

14. What is the state of negotiations between the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the Colombian government?

15. Why is there Democratic opposition to Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House?

16.What can the Democratic Party do to rebuild their relationship with rural America?

17. What has been the reaction on both sides to Secretary of Education DeVos’ rewrite of sexual misconduct rules for colleges?

18. What steps are being taken to prevent school shootings?

19. Why is the issue of health care so important in the Lone Star state?

20. California Wildfires 2018: How is the state coping?

Persuasive Speaking:

1. Can we restore civility to political debate?

2. How politically stable will Europe be without Germany’s Chancellor Merkel?

3. Has Beto O’Rourke made a name for himself in the Democratic Party?

4. Is the South Sudan civil war coming to an end?

5. Lower pharmaceutical prices: Are Americans going to get a break at the pharmacy counter?

6. How should the United States respond to Russian interference in NATO operations?

7. Sears: Is there hope for the American institution?

8. Will the withdrawal from the INF treaty harm the United States’ credibility?

9. Has the cost of school safety produced results?

10. Will the U.S. and China be able to reach a compromise on rising tariffs?

11. Is the political culture of Texas changing?

12. With public opinion shifting on marijuana, will change take place at the U.S. federal level?

13. Will the FDA’s recent regulations on e-cigarettes be enough to curb teenage addiction?

14. Has the Catholic Church taken appropriate action in response to its sexual abuse scandal?

15. Should the Supreme Court confirmation process be reformed?

16. Is Iran’s government more secure or less secure than it was a year ago?

17. Will the Democrats’ success in the House spur bipartisan legislation?

18. Is the recent move away from PACS for the Democratic party sustainable?

19. What must the Saudi royal family do to maintain world trade ties amidst the Khashoggi murder scandal?

20. Is the election of Jair Bolsonaro going to affect Brazilian conservation efforts?