Shepard Academy

Debate
Policy Debate
1st Negative Constructive Speech (1NC)

As the Negative team, it is your responsibility to clash with the Affirmative team by shooting down all
the reasons for change and the proposed plan – find all the flaws. The 1 st Negative will introduce the
negative’s case, address the Definitions, and attach the need for change.

1. State the Resolution

“Be it resolved that. . . “

2. Clash with the Definitions

Accept the definitions – or – Dispute the terms if unfairly defined or not defined at all.

Reasons why unfair:

New Definitions:

1st term – Definition:

2nd term – Definition:

3rd term – Definition:

3. Clash with the Need for Change

Show that the need does not exist. The status quo is enough. To disprove the need, give examples
illustrations, opinions of authorities, facts, and analogies, which show that the status quo is enough.
When giving evidence include a signal phrase citation for the source, much like you would in a
research paper. Give enough evidence to establish your point.

Reasons the status quo is enough

1.

2.

3.
First Negative Constructive Speech – Use this template to compose your 1 st Negative
Constructive Speech (1NC)

Mr./Madam Chairperson, honorable judges, worthy opponents, ladies and gentlemen:

(INTRODUCTION)

Educators are worried that students may not build essential skills if it becomes too easy to misrepre-
sent machine-generated work as their own. Instead of encouraging students to improve and enhance
their critical thinking skills, they are pushed to rely on using artificial intelligence to do the thinking for
them. In addition to concerns that such use may contribute to cheating, it’s also known that return-
ing misinformation may mislead students. We stand resolved that artificial intelligence is not a neces-
sity in education.

As defined in the Cambridge dictionary, artificial intelligence is the science of making machines or
programs that can think like humans. A few examples would be ChatGPT, QuillBot, and even Gram-
marly is considered AI. The most used search engine in the world, Google is also powered by AI. And
when we speak of education, we don’t mean just receiving knowledge in school. This means the
process of teaching and learning in any suitable environment. Not just in school but also at home or
at work.

We believe there is no need for artificial intelligence in education. And we will argue that the
negatives of artificial intelligence, further outweigh the positives.

First of all, artificial intelligence is unnecessary in acquiring success in education. The lack of AI bot
programs online will not hinder a teacher or a student’s success throughout their educational path
and career. In fact, using AI may seem like a necessity and a convenient shortcut, but it comes with
life-long consequences. I would like to refer to Martin West, the Dean of Harvard’s school of
Education. He stated in an article that use of generative AI can undermine students’ learning.
Particularly, when the tools are used to do the cognitive work of thinking for students rather than
supporting their learning. And, according to a survey conducted on BestColleges, an online guide to
higher education, 48% of current undergraduate and graduate students deem it unnecessary for AI to
be used in education. Because they have more capabilities and resources to afford physical books
that will actually impart to them the knowledge that they need, rather than spending their time
researching through an AI bot that will provide them inaccurate information.

The second reason is, overdependency on artificial intelligence is against a fundamental principle of
education-which is the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills. In a citation by Dr. Lee
Fergusson, a doctor that specializes in higher education; he states that learning by researching is a
systematic way of acquiring new knowledge, especially in problem solving situations. According to an
article on The Guardian, in a story written by Robert Topinka: He had a student whose essay was
marked 100% AI-generated. Before the use of Chat-GPT, this student was already an excellent essay
writer. This just proves that AI promotes nothing but laziness, and it’s unnecessary because history
has proved that students don’t need bots in order to formulate an informative and well-written piece of
work.

(MAIN BODY OF THE SPEECH)

The status quo should stand for #____ reasons

The first reason is . . . , supported with evidence, cite sources of research

The second reason is . . ., supported with evidence, cite sources of research

(CONCLUSION)

In conclusion, the negative has clearly shown that a need for change does not exist and the status

quo should stand. (summarize points) . . .

The Affirmative team has not met its burden of proof; you must reject the resolution in this debate and

vote for the negative.

(concluding observation or quotation relating to your case).

I know stand for cross-examination.