Mechanical Pencils are overall better than regular pencils.

Thanks for the quick response.Refutations The Proposition has three assertions, all of which I will refute one-by-one. 1. Mechanical pencils are more customizableI beg to differ. My opponent believes mechanical pencils are more customizable because there are "many types of mechanical pencils". I'd say it's the other way around, that there are more regular pencils than mechanical pencils. For evidence that there are more mechanical pencils, the Pro mentions the different sizes of graphite that can be put into the pencil. He does note, however, that "the three most common for students are 0.5mm, 0.7mm, and 0.9mm." So you have essentially three different types of lead that can be put into mechanical pencils. THREE choices.What kinds of regular pencils exist? Let me list a few. [1] Graphite pencil Solid graphite pencil Colored pencils Watercolor pencils Steno pencils Erasable colored pencils Copying pencils Carpenter pencils Golf pencils (the short, tiny ones they offer to you at, say, a golf course) And there's plenty more. I do believe that there are more types of regular pencils than mechanical pencils.In the first contention, the Pro also mentions different types of grips, re-fillable eraser types, and various colors and designs. It's not like regular pencils don't have colors and designs. They have patterns that appeal to kids, too. Just look at these Halloween-themed pencils. [2] Furthermore, to actually get those special grips, you have to either pay a lot for a special mechanical pencil, or buy a grip. Buying a new grip for a mechanical pencil is the same as buying a grip for your normal pencil. Neither pencil has an advantage over the other. As for refillable erasers, you also have to buy the new eraser. On Amazon, buying a mechanical pencil whose eraser can be refilled costs $2.39. [3]Or you could just buy a 12-pack of normal pencils from Staples for $2.79. [4]There is no advantage to being able to purchase special accessories for mechanical pencils.2. The mechanical pencil is more economically soundLead is pretty cheap, unless you are looking for high quality pieces that can cost around $4-$5. When a mechanical pencil's lead runs out, you have to open it up, put in some pieces of lead, close it, click it a couple of times, and then it will work. Or you could just reach into your bag and grab a regular pencil. Regular pencils, when sharpened, will last a decent while, and they come with their own large piece of graphite/lead. With mechanical pencils, you must purchase lead, spending time at the store, and spending time putting the lead in. Regular pencils require a quick sharpen, and that is it. Mechanical pencils can last a long time if treated properly, but that's a big "if." Regular pencils can be tossed around, chucked, bitten on, or whatever else you want to do with it. o.OMechanical pencils aren't as sturdy. When they break, you have to buy a new one. When you buy a new one, you spend money. When you have to constantly spend money, the thing you are buying is not economically sound.3. The mechanical pencil is more consistentEver written a sentence and your lead snaps halfway through a word? That's happened to me with a mechanical pencil. For me, personally, I like to press my pencils onto paper hard. I feel it makes the words clearer and darker. But with mechanical pencils, I can't do that, for the lead snaps if I press too hard. I believe that regular pencils give me more darkness, and they won't snap halfway through my words.Outside of a personal note, I don't think the mechanical pencil is more consistent. Say you're writing a timed essay in school with a mechanical pencil. You're running out of time, but you have a brilliant idea. You quickly scribble onto the paper, but because you're in such a rush, the lead snaps. You click the pencil for a long time, but then you realize there's no more lead. So you open your bag, take out the lead case, spew chunks of lead onto the table, grab one piece and cram it into your mechanical pencil. A few seconds later, you're ready to write. But you forgot your brilliant idea! You fail the essay, flunk out of school, and get a job as a janitor. :D Here's what would happen if you had a regular pencil. You have a brilliant idea, and you hurriedly write. But your pencil becomes blunt! Whatever will you do? ...You reach to your side and grab the other sharpened regular pencil you have. You write your world-class paper and dominate the world. :)In all seriousness, I do believe a student wouldn't bring just one regular pencil to class. I believe mechanical pencils and regular pencils have their own advantages, and that no one trumps the other. Thank you.Sources:1. http://en.wikipedia.org...;2. http://pumpkinrot.blogspot.com...;3. http://www.amazon.com...;4. http://www.staples.com...;