In this affirmative debate speech, Kevin Law argues that free college tuition is the optimal policy for the United States. He begins by defining the resolution as a commitment to cover tuition for all Americans while maintaining or increasing funding for colleges, ensuring equal access to higher education. He provides background data showing tuition costs have risen from $3,200 in 1987 to $10,000 in 2018, and highlights the broader trend of rising living expenses. Law structures his case around three contentions: (1) Debt‑free education – citing a New York Times report that 44 million Americans hold $1.5 trillion in student debt and that 2018 graduates average $29,200 in loans, he argues that eliminating tuition would free students from burdensome debt and allow them to pursue careers aligned with their interests. (2) Importance of a college degree – referencing a CNBC/Georgetown Center study that 65 % of U.S. jobs require post‑secondary education, he contends that free tuition would give low‑ and middle‑income families equitable access to the credentials needed for higher‑paying jobs. (3) College as a second chance – using data from Dr. Anthony Francoso of Pasadena City College showing recidivism rates of 13.7 % for associate‑degree holders and 5.6 % for bachelor’s‑degree holders (versus 55 % for vocational training), he argues that free tuition can reduce re‑incarceration and provide a pathway to better futures for formerly incarcerated individuals. Throughout, Law frames free tuition as a mechanism to expand equitable access, improve economic outcomes, and lower crime, concluding that the policy is the right choice for America.
Chapters
I would like to start off the speech with a thank you to whoever is watching this video and my future opponent. Hi, my name is Kevin, nice to meet you. The resolution today is free college tuition is the right choice for America. We are going to start off with the resolution analysis. I would like to define free college tuition as helping all Americans to pay for their tuition fee and at the same time maintain and improve the resources availability to all of them, which means no cut funding, And even invest more money in college and university. Whether this round can be defined as successful to prove that free college tuitions can give everyone an equal chance to pursue their career path and have a better future. This round is going to be a way on the mechanism to prove whether or not free college tuitions is the right choice for America. If I can be successful proving that free college tuitions can give equal access an opportunity to students to have a better future, I'm gonna win this round. If my opponent can prove that free college tuition is not gonna do that, he or she can win this round. And today I'm going to offer 3 contentions as to why free college tuition is the right choice for America. But first of all, I want to start off with some background. From year 1987 to year 2018, over the 30 years, the annual college tuition fee has risen from $3,200 to $10,000. This is the data from Business Insider on June 26th, 2019. Also, everything is becoming expensive nowadays compared to the past. So today I'm excited to be affirming that free college tuition is the right choice for America. The first contention: debt-free education. College tuition is a burden for many American families. According to New York Times on September 2019, over 44 million Americans collectively collected $1.5 trillion of Student debt. In year 2018, college graduates averaged borrow $29,200 for just for their bachelor's degree. Many single-family cannot afford to pay this expensive tuition fee for their children, and because of that, their children have to work in order to pay off their loans, and those works are not what they really want. Free college tuition can help students avoid getting loans, and at the same time, they can pursue their careers regardless of their family financial situations, which links to second contention: the importance of college degree. College degree becomes an important tool in order to get a better job, which means higher pay. CNBC on October 2nd, 2019 reported that according to Georgetown Center on Education and Workforce, 65% of all the jobs in US economy requires a higher education, higher than high school, which means people need to attend college or more to get a better job. For low or middle-income family, they are already in the weaker positions as of their financial situations. They are not able to— maybe they don't have money or time to improve themselves, so their lack of skills knowledge and information. And as the college tuition fee keeps rising up, it's almost impossible for them to send their children to college. However, free college tuition can give the low and middle income family a possibility to change their life and have their kids to receive education in college. It creates the equity of all the students to pursue a better future. The third contention: college provides a second chance. College degree decreases the rates of recidivism. According to Dr. Anthony Francoso, the Core Program Coordinator at Pasadena City College, on July 11th, 2020, he shared data that formerly incarcerated people are less likely to go back to jail if they finish college. To be specific, the rate of recidivism of them who got an AS degree is 13.7%. And if they got a bachelor's degree, it is 5.6%. Compared to that, when they go to vocational training school, the rate is 55%. The evidence clearly shows that formerly incarcerated people can have a better future by not going to jail if they finish college or university, let alone people who are already in the right track and not even go to jail. The free college tuition serves as a motivation because it is free. People don't have to worry about the tuition's expense. Experience the stress process of receiving financial aid. This can keep them staying on campus and make connections to people there and slowly change their life. Better future is around the corner if college tuition can be free for all Americans. So through these 3 contentions, I'm proud to affirm that free college tuition is the right choice for America.
