First Negative’s (Leader of the Opposition)

Constructive Speech

Thank you Mme/Mr. Speaker.

The resolution before the house today is:

“BE IT RESOLVED THAT HOMEWORK MUST BE ABOLISHED.”

We, the opposition, strongly feel that this resolution will fall.

Before moving on to our points, I would first like to refute some of the
points introduced by the Honorable Prime Minister

LISTEN TO WHAT THEY SAY AND TAKE NOTES HERE:

1.

Why it’s inaccurate, unbelievable, false, or that you’ll deal with it later in your speech.

2.

Why it’s inaccurate, unbelievable, false, or that you’ll deal with it later in your speech.
Now I would like to move on to some of the opposition’s points.

We, the opposition, feel that this resolution should fall for these fundamental
reasons:

1. First, homework is a vital and valuable part of education.

2. Second, homework helps create independent life skills.

Now Mme/Mr. Speaker, allow me to expand on our first point.

1. Homework is a vital and valuable part of education!

• Homework extends study beyond the school day. It
reinforces what children learn in school and allows them to
practice, review, reflect and make new meaning. In this
way, homework allows for deeper learning and a better
overall education.

• We have evidence showing that homework plays an important

role in improving test scores and grades.
o According to the Washington Post, 2008, “There was
some evidence that in grades 2 -5, students do better on
unit tests when they did short HW assignments on basic
skills.”
o Harris Cooper PhD. did a study and wrote in the Denver
Post (2000), “HS students who complete their assigned
HW outperform students who don’t do their HW by 69 %
on standardized tests.”

• Some work is best done at home because students can focus on

homework without the distractions of other students.
And now Mme/Mr. Speaker, I will move into discussion of our second point
that proves why the resolution before the house today must fall.

2. Homework helps create independent life skills

• Homework can also improve time management skills,
organizational skills, study and research skills, self-
discipline and concentration, create good habits including
reading for pleasure. These are all independent life skills
that will help a student in every aspect of their lives for the
rest of their lives.
• Also, in some cases, homework might be life changing. It
can keep students out of trouble by giving them less time to
make bad choices such as even joining gangs or getting
involved with drugs or mischief.

So Mme/Mr. Speaker for these reasons:

That Homework is a vital and valuable part of education
That, Homework helps create independent life skills
And the ones my partner will raise, the resolution before the house today
“Be it resolved that Homework should be abolished MUST AND MOST
DEFINITELY WILL FALL!!!
 Second Negative’s Constructive Speech
Thank you Mme/Mr. Speaker.

The resolution before the house today is:

“BE IT RESOLVED THAT HOMEWORK SHOULD BE
ABOLISHED.”
We, the opposition, strongly feel that this resolution will fall.

Before moving on to our points, I would first like to refute some of the
points introduced by the government today.

LISTEN TO WHAT THEY SAY AND TAKE NOTES HERE

1.

Why it’s inaccurate, unbelievable, false, or that you’ll deal with it later in
your speech.

2.

Why it’s inaccurate, unbelievable, false, or that you’ll deal with it later in
your speech.
Now I would like to move on to my points that will strengthen the cause
presented by my colleague.

The resolution before the house today “BE IT RESOLVED THAT

HOMEWORK MUST BE ABOLISHED” must fall because:

1. Homework can facilitate a positive partnership among child, school

and home.
2. Well-planned homework has benefits! Homework should be
measured by Quality not quantity!

Now Mme/Mr. Speaker, allow me to expand on my first point.

1. Homework can facilitate a positive partnership among the child,
school and home.
• Homework gives an opportunity for parents to be involved with
their children’s learning, often becoming additional “teachers.”
It gives them the opportunity to bond on projects, share ideas,
read together and share work ethics.

• Many parents value the chance to see what their child is

studying. They can keep up to date with their child’s grades
and abilities and then be advocates for their kids and support
them.

• If parents are involved and feel positive about their child’s

education, they will be more likely to support the school
community including the school’s budget.
And now Mme/Mr. Speaker, I will move into discussion of our final
convincing point that proves why the resolution before the house must fall.

2. Good homework is measured by quality not quantity! Well-planned

homework has benefits!

• Best, well-planned homework is fun and effective. It is

engaging and expands learning, interests, and ideas.
o “We should change the fundamental expectation of
homework. Students are asked to take schoolwork home
only when there is a reasonable likelihood that a
particular assignment will be beneficial for most of
them.” Neil Rigler, 2008.

• Best, well-planned homework should still allow for family

togetherness time, free time, and time for other interests.
o “It’s always about quality, not quantity.” Patricia
McMahon, Chair of Secondary Education at Carlow
University.
o Brian P. Hill reported in the LA Times that a majority of
students do only about an hour of HW a night.
So, Mme/Mr. Speaker, for the reasons that I have presented:

1. Homework can facilitate a positive partnership among the child,

school and home.
2. Well-planned, quality homework has benefits

and those presented to you by the Leader of the Opposition:

That homework is a vital and valuable part of education
That homework helps create independent life skills

The resolution before the house today “Be it Resolved That

HOMEWORK MUST BE ABOLISHED” MUST AND WILL FALL!!!!!
The Final Rebuttal: Leader of the Opposition

Thank you Mme/Mr. Speaker:

The Government speakers have stood before us today in an attempt to
convince us that HOMEWORK SHOULD BE ABOLISHED.
My partner and I have, representing the Opposition, have clearly shown that
the case (and consequent plan) presented is without merit.

The Prime Minister basically said that the resolution should stand because…

Whereas my partner and I believe that this case boils down to…

A case clearly not proven or substantiated by the Government who said…

(Expand emphasizing weakest arguments)

On the other hand, the Opposition has decidedly proven that this resolution
is without merit and the case presented faulty through our points that include
(Expand emphasizing strongest arguments)
It is very obvious to us that this resolution must and will most definitely fall!

COUNTERARGUEMENTS:
IF THEY SAY…WE SAY…

STRESS for KIDS:

• Of course homework can be stressful when a lot is given. We
are not saying that children should spend all afternoon doing
homework.
• If children are stressed when doing homework, it usually means
they are not comfortable with the material yet. Teachers can
see that they need to remain on a topic or approach it differently
if their students are not succeeding with the homework.

STRESS on FAMILY:
• Some families do not become stressed about homework. Stress
might be a function of the family, not the fault of the
homework.
• Also, sometimes homework is a parent’s only exposure to what
their child is learning. Isn’t awareness a good thing?
• If it causes stress because children don’t understand the work or
because children are getting bad grades, parents find the
opportunity to meet with teachers and try to help. Sometimes
conflict like this leads to better results in the long run.

TOO DIFFICULT OR TOO BORING:

• If homework turns students off, the problem is that it is poorly
designed or planned, not that homework itself is bad.

• If homework is too difficult, many schools offer homework

help sessions to prepare students for continuing to work and
learn at home.
• If parents are ending up doing their children’s homework, it is
either poorly panned homework or the parents are not teaching
good life skills and are negating the good aspects of homework.
Overachieving parents who do their kids’ homework are to
blame, not homework itself.
UNFAIR:
• Effective homework takes into account individual differences
including financial and family situations.

TOO EASY TO CHEAT ON

• Good homework assignments are designed such that students
can not simply copy others or download from the internet. For
example, they would show independent creative and critical
thinking.

DOESN’T HELP TEST SCORES

• We have evidence that shows that test scores do go up due to
homework.
• We can not compare the homework policies of other countries
that do not have very similar educational systems. How long is
their school day? How many days a week? How many
vacation days?

TEACHERS DO NOT LIKE HW

• Homework makes the best use of teachers by letting class
lessons be used for teaching instead of supervising work that
could be done at home.
• Teachers can see how students are doing and what they
understand by looking at homework.
• Niel Rigler with the English Journal 2008 says, “Knowing that
all students have had time to do reading and complete
assignments means that we do not have to devote class time to
backtrack for those who have not kept up.”