Is Ivy Spires exclusively for students interested in debate competitions?

Not at all. While debate competitions are one avenue, Ivy Spires welcomes any student aiming to think critically, speak confidently, and reason ethically. Many students join to enhance academic communication and critical thinking, beyond competitive debating.

Which age groups or grade levels are Ivy Spires programs designed for?

Ivy Spires programs are tailored for middle and high school students in Grades 6 to 12. With age-appropriate pathways, students can join at various stages and advance at their own pace.

What makes Ivy Spires unique compared to other public speaking or debate coaching classes?

Ivy Spires treats speech and debate as rigorous academic disciplines with structured learning, ethical reasoning, and a focus on fostering long-term intellectual growth — not short-term coaching for competitions.

What programs are available at Ivy Spires?

Ivy Spires offers four structured programmes: the Online Debate Curriculum (Grades 6-12), the Global Debate Practice League, Masterclass Workshops, and International Tournaments. Each is designed to build critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and confident communication.

How does Ivy Spires collaborate with international institutions?

Ivy Spires holds an exclusive partnership with the Harvard Debate Council, ensuring our programs meet rigorous global debate standards. We also align with UNESCO global citizenship education priorities.

What is the Ivy Spires Knowledge Packet?

The Ivy Spires Knowledge Packet is a fortnightly knowledge briefing for students in Grades 6-12, delivered in Middle School and High School editions. Each issue covers one global topic across geography, history, international relations, civics, and global perspectives — with print-ready PDFs, vocabulary glossaries, MUN preparation materials, and home activities. Available for Rs. 999 per month with a 14-day free trial.

Does Ivy Spires offer programs for schools and institutions?

Yes. Ivy Spires partners directly with schools to embed debate curriculum, run interschool tournaments, train judges, and create bespoke programmes tailored to each school's academic calendar and goals.

Why is ethical reasoning a core part of Ivy Spires curriculum?

Ethical reasoning develops responsible communicators who engage thoughtfully with complex issues. Our curriculum integrates ethical frameworks so students understand the impact of their words and arguments — fostering intellectual responsibility alongside confidence.

Unit 9 Debate Prep: All 20 International and US Extemp Questions from NSDA Nationals

Priya Khaitan
Jul 30
4 min read

This is the free pillar post for Unit 9 of the Ivy Spires Debate Prep Series 2025–26. It covers the driving question, topic overview, and lesson summaries. Full lesson content — case maps, briefs, PREP structures, and round files — is available to Knowledge Packet subscribers.

← Return to the full series hub: Ivy Spires Debate Prep Series 2025–26

Unit 9: International and US Extemp Speaking — All 20 NSDA Nationals 2026 Questions

Weeks 33 to 36 — May

A dedicated four-lesson unit covering every International and US Extemp question from NSDA Nationals 2026. Background briefs, PREP structures, and timed simulations for all 20 questions. The India-Pakistan question is treated as a priority for Ivy Spires students given its direct personal and regional relevance.

Driving Question: Extemp gives you 30 minutes on a question you have never seen before. What does it take to speak with authority about things you didn't know you knew?

All 20 Questions — NSDA Nationals 2026

International Extemporaneous Speaking

Question 1: Are Myanmar's elections a sign of democratic progress?

Question 2: Do Russian attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure make a peace deal more likely?

Question 3: Does Taiwan's status as a global chipmaking hub protect it from potential Chinese aggression?

Question 4: How should Denmark respond to President Donald Trump's desire to acquire Greenland?

Question 5: Is the United States-brokered ceasefire helping Hamas and Israel take meaningful steps toward peace?

Question 6: What are the global effects of declining levels of United States foreign aid?

Question 7: What are the global implications of the United States' capture of Nicolás Maduro?

Question 8: Why does Egypt see Sudan's Civil War as a vital national security issue?

Question 9: Why is Iran's economy failing?

Question 10: Will India and Pakistan improve their relationship in 2026?

United States Extemporaneous Speaking

Question 1: Are tariffs proving to be an effective tool for the United States to accomplish foreign policy goals?

Question 2: Does Gavin Newsom have what it takes to be the new face of the Democratic Party?

Question 3: How should Congress react to the use of United States military force in Venezuela?

Question 4: How should state governments address concerns about fraud in their social programs?

Question 5: Is a $1.5 Trillion defense budget good for the United States?

Question 6: Is media consolidation a threat to free speech in the United States?

Question 7: Is RFK Jr. Making America Healthy Again?

Question 8: Is the federal government adequately training United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents?

Question 9: What steps should Mike Johnson take to improve the chances that his party maintains control of the House of Representatives?

Question 10: Does President Donald Trump see Chair of the Federal Reserve Jerome Powell as a political enemy?

Lesson Overview

Lesson 9.1 — Middle East Cluster: Israel-Palestine Ceasefire, Egypt and Sudan, Iran's Economy

Three questions from the same region, connected by overlapping security interests. The ceasefire question examines the mechanics and obstacles of the US-brokered process and what 'meaningful steps toward peace' would actually require. The Egypt-Sudan question covers the Sudan civil war, Egypt's Nile dependency, and the refugee pressure on Egypt's borders. The Iran question covers sanctions architecture, the JCPOA collapse, rial devaluation, and structural oil dependency.

The lesson opens with a regional map exercise: Gaza, the Egypt-Sudan border, and Iran. What geographic logic connects all three questions?

Lesson 9.2 — Sovereignty Cluster: Greenland, Maduro, India-Pakistan

Three questions about sovereignty — one territorial, one governmental, one diplomatic. Greenland's legal status as an autonomous territory within Denmark, Arctic strategic value, and NATO alliance dynamics. The Maduro capture and its implications for Latin American reactions, ICC jurisdiction questions, and the precedent for unilateral action. India-Pakistan relations in 2026: the Kashmir dispute, recent diplomatic signals, water treaty pressures, and back-channel diplomacy.

The India-Pakistan question is the priority question for Ivy Spires students. You have unique personal and regional knowledge that gives you standing as a speaker on this question. The lesson builds on that knowledge with a structured PREP outline and a timed 30-minute speech simulation.

Lesson 9.3 — Democracy and US Politics: Myanmar, Ukraine, Taiwan, Newsom, RFK Jr.

Five questions connecting global democratic health with US domestic politics. Myanmar's military-organised elections and what democratic progress actually requires. Ukraine's infrastructure attacks and their effect on peace deal prospects. Taiwan's chipmaking concentration and the deterrence-versus-target argument. Gavin Newsom's positioning for a potential 2028 run. RFK Jr.'s health policy record and the MAHA agenda.

A cross-connect exercise: find one way each US Extemp question connects to an International question. The skill of linking domestic and international dynamics in a 5-minute speech is what distinguishes good Extemp speakers from great ones.

Lesson 9.4 — Final US Extemp Set and Portfolio Completion

Congressional reaction to military force in Venezuela (cross-linked with Unit 6 war powers debates). ICE agent training adequacy and federal workforce capacity. Mike Johnson's House majority strategy and the 2026 midterm calculation.

The unit closes with a synthesis exercise: after all 20 questions, which single global story best explains the most of them simultaneously? Students submit their full Extemp portfolio — all 20 questions with PREP outlines and their three strongest complete speeches.

Go Deeper — Subscriber Content

Each lesson in this unit has a subscriber post with the full argument maps, evidence cards, PREP structures for Extemp, case outlines for World Schools, and complete round briefs for Public Forum and Policy.

Subscribe to the Ivy Spires Knowledge Packet at ₹999 per month to access all lesson-level content and receive new posts directly to your inbox each fortnight, timed to the competitive calendar.