Replacing People with Robots!
Current Research for the MLA PF Debate Topic…
TOPIC(S): Replacing People with Robots
Resolved: On-balance, replacing people with robots does more harm than good.
DESCRIPTION:
This event is designed to provide students with a positive first experience to speak and defend arguments in a less-competitive environment. The tournament will write a simple topic that students must support (Pro) or reject (Con). Only the evidence provided in this tournament invitation will be allowed to be used during the debate. Each debater will be allowed one minute (with a 30 second grace period) to present an introduction and a single argument (using citations from the provided research links), to support their assigned side. After the argument is presented, each debater from the opposing side will take turns asking a single question; presented to the debater who just spoke.
FORMAT:
Four teams will be in one room with two teams on the Pro side and two teams on the Con side. Each debate will consist of two teams – after the debate and verbal assessment ends a new debate will begin. Speeches alternate between the two sides PRO & CON) as follows:
First “PRO” Speaker Gives Speech (1 min +30 sec grace)
First “PRO” Speaker Answers a Question (1 question from one member of the opposing team) First “PRO” Speaker Answers Another Question (from the other member of the opposing team)
First “CON” Speaker Gives Speech (1 min +30 sec grace)
First “CON” Speaker Answers a Question (1 question from one member of the opposing team) First “CON” Speaker Answers Another Question (from the other member of the opposing team)
Second “PRO” Speaker Gives Speech (1 min +30 sec grace)
Second “PRO” Speaker Answers a Question (1 question from one member of the opposing team) Second “PRO” Speaker Answers Another Question (from the other member of the opposing team)
Second “CON” Speaker Gives Speech (1 min +30 sec grace)
Second “CON” Speaker Answers a Question (1 question from one member of the opposing team) Second “CON” Speaker Answers Another Question (from the other member of the opposing team)
[Debate Ends – Shake hands / Show positive verbal and non-verbal behavior / Listen to judges’ feedback]
EVALUATION:
Students are individually evaluated on their speech organization/structure, noticeable passion/enthusiasm as well as their demonstrating confident body language and eye-contact (memorization is not required!).
Judges will offer a short oral assessment to each of the debaters focusing on delivery, courtesy, clarity of arguments, and quality of questions/answers.
Judges will individually rank debaters 1-4 but will only disclose those rankings to the IVC tab room staff.
IMPORTANT:
Please use only the following research videos and articles as part of your research. The tournament does not allow for any outside sources other than what has been provided here. Students are still allowed to reason from their own school experience, but formal research, cited in speeches, must come from the following research links, which have been provided. Thank you!
BACKGROUND:
Robots can do jobs that are dangerous and disgusting for humans to do. This is great! However, robots can also do simple and sometimes even complex jobs that humans don’t mind doing. So… could you lose your future job to a robot? Will robot workers create even more jobs (or fewer jobs) for humans to do? Paying workers is one of the most expensive parts of any company. So, robots could save companies a lot of money. Amazon is among the best examples of a company replacing workers with robotic machines. Is this the future we can expect to see in our lifetime. Is it fair? Let’s debate to find out!
RESEARCH VIDEOS (Including the article underneath the video):
Will Robots Replace Human Workers?,
The Economist, August 7, 2017 – 2 min
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SimCBnbPdP4
In Ten Years, Robots Could Replace More Than 4 Million Workers,
Futurism Magazine, September 20, 2017 – 2 min
https://futurism.com/in-ten-years-robots-could-replace-more-than-4-million-workers
Robots Have Replaced Humans in 25% of China’s Ammunition Factories,
Futurism Magazine, January 3, 2018 (Also: MIT Technology Review, April 26, 2016) – 2 min
https://futurism.com/robots-replaced-humans-25-chinas-ammunition-factories
Robots Replacing Workers is Nothing New,
Voice of America, February 6, 2018 – 3 min
https://www.voanews.com/a/worker-robots/4240855.html <–this link is working! 🙂
RESEARCH ARTICLES (Including any video associated with the article):
Robots May Replace 800 Million Workers by 2030,
CNBC News, November 30, 2017
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/11/30/robots-may-replace-up-to-800-million-workers-by-2030.html
Robots are Replacing Humans in the World’s Mines – Here’s Why,
MSNBC News, December 21, 2017
https://www.nbcnews.com/mach/science/robots-are-replacing-humans-world-s-mines-here-s-why-ncna831631
Will Robots Eventually Replace Humans as the Dominant Species on Earth?,
Forbes Magazine, November 2, 2017
https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2017/11/02/will-robots-eventually-replace-humans-as-the-dominant-species-on-earth/
Will Robots Take Your Job: Humans Ignore the Coming AI Revolution at Their Peril,
NBC News, February 7, 2018
https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/will-robots-take-your-job-humans-ignore-coming-ai-revolution-ncna845366
FINAL THOUGHTS:
Please encourage debaters to show total courtesy when interacting with others. The tone for the debate should be friendly and encouraging to others. Students must remain in their assigned room and wait for tournament staff to take them to their next debate. No rough-housing, no shouting or other types of disruptions will be allowed – please be considerate to the college students who are studying. If a student needs to use the restroom, they may do so, but only after obtaining permission from the supervising adult (we will try to provide constant supervision from parent volunteers and/or tournament staff).
We sincerely hope that our third and fourth-grade “Rookie Debate” participants will have a wonderful learning opportunity, a friendly debate experience and a feeling of encouragement to participate in even more speech and debate events in the future. It is our pleasure to extend this opportunity to you! 🙂
A special thanks to Dr. Gary Rybold for his invaluable support and numerous contributions to this event.
Contact Information (Coach Bill):
Bill Eddy,
coachbill@magnetacademy.com
714.655.8135 (I prefer text)
When contacting me, please include your name and class information (day/time). Thanks!