Topic Overviews
Topics and descriptions for each level of composition are available below.
The topic overviews will provide students with a general description of the topic and various avenues to research in preparation for upcoming composition competitions.
2026-2027 Topic Overviews
League Practice Composition Topic:
Media and Information
People receive information from television, newspapers, websites, podcasts, social media, influencers, libraries, and artificial intelligence. To prepare for this topic, writers may consider how information is created, distributed, amplified, controlled, and evaluated in the digital age. Other relevant topics include misinformation, disinformation, political bias, agenda-setting, advertising, algorithmic bias, echo chambers, censorship, fact-checking, privacy, and the responsibilities of media companies, technology platforms, and AI developers.
Composition Topic:
Youth Sports and Competitions
Youth sports involve organized athletic activities for children and teenagers prior to the collegiate level, including school teams, community recreation leagues, travel teams, and club sports. To prepare for this topic, students may consider the benefits and challenges of youth athletics, including physical fitness, teamwork, discipline, leadership, confidence, and healthy competition. Writers may also examine early specialization, coaching practices, participation fees, parental involvement, whether communities or schools are better suited to sponsor athletic programs, and whether all young athletes should have equal opportunities regardless of their background or ability level.
Composition Topic:
Youth Sports and Competitions
Youth sports involve organized athletic activities for children and teenagers prior to the collegiate level, including school teams, community recreation leagues, travel teams, and club sports. To prepare for this topic, students may consider the benefits and challenges of youth athletics, including physical fitness, teamwork, discipline, leadership, confidence, and healthy competition. Writers may also examine early specialization, coaching practices, participation fees, parental involvement, whether communities or schools are better suited to sponsor athletic programs, and whether all young athletes should have equal opportunities regardless of their background or ability level.
District Composition Topic:
School Policies and Practices
Schools make decisions that affect students' schedules, safety, behavior, learning, and personal freedom. These decisions may address school calendars, dress codes, digital policies, homework, testing, grading, discipline, attendance, school security, curriculum decisions, school choice, and school funding. In studying school policies and practices, writers may also examine how schools should balance parent preferences, teacher expertise, academic achievement, and equitable access to educational opportunities.
Region Composition Topic:
Public Health
Public health explores the intersection of community well-being, government policy, scientific research, and individual choice. To prepare for this topic, students should consider the accessibility and regulation of healthcare systems; public health preparedness and emergency response; vaccination policies; preventive medicine; nutrition; environmental health; sanitation; and mental health services. Writers may also examine the prioritization of limited public health resources, emerging diseases, scientific research, chronic illnesses, alternative medicines, and public trust in health institutions.
State Composition Topic:
Housing Crisis
Many communities are facing rising home prices, increasing rents, housing shortages, and growing homelessness. These issues may include affordable housing, zoning laws, housing density, public housing, rental properties, institutional and corporate ownership of residential housing, gentrification, suburban growth, resilient housing, homelessness, and the responsibilities of landlords, developers, and local governments. Writers may also examine how communities should balance development, neighborhood concerns, property rights, public safety, and environmental resilience.
Online Certification
All individuals scoring composition are required to perform a 30-minute certification video and assessment.
This certification process will ensure that evaluators are offering the best possible scoring quality for our students.
Updated Composition Scoresheet
The composition scoresheet has been simplified to generate the most consistent and objective scoring rubric for our students.