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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 106 · 40 questions
TalentJR

Debater's tip (Relevant, specific, reliable): Relevant: does it talk about the topic of the motion? Specific: does it say exactly who, what, where or how many? “30 of 40 students” beats “lots of students”. Reliable: can we trust where it came from? Records, textbooks and official bodies beat rumours and unsigned posts.

NameDateTime takenScore ___ / 40
  1. 1.True or false: “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  2. 2.True or false: “Lots of people think so.” is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  3. 3.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: measured results from our class experiment? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  4. 4.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) the city water board (b) a guess (c) an unsigned poster (d) a chat forward
  5. 5.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  6. 6.True or false: “I think I dreamt it.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  7. 7.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  8. 8.True or false: In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  9. 9.True or false: “A website with no name says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  10. 10.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  11. 11.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) very strong (b) very specific (c) not relevant
  12. 12.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  13. 13.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) 30 of 40 students (b) lots of students
  14. 14.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  15. 15.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  16. 16.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  17. 17.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  19. 19.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  20. 20.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  21. 21.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  22. 22.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Some people say it helps somehow.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  24. 24.True or false: “Everybody knows it.” is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  25. 25.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on saving water: “My favourite colour is green.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  26. 26.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  27. 27.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “It is good for many reasons.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  28. 28.True or false: “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  29. 29.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  33. 33.True or false: “It is good for many reasons.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  34. 34.True or false: “A website with no name says so.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  35. 35.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.True or false: In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  38. 38.True or false: measured results from our class experiment is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  40. 40.True or false: “Lots of people think so.” is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

  1. False
  2. True
  3. strong evidence
  4. the city water board
  5. True
  6. True
  7. strong evidence
  8. False
  9. True
  10. False
  11. not relevant
  12. not relevant
  13. 30 of 40 students
  14. strong evidence
  15. not relevant
  16. weak evidence
  17. True
  18. False
  19. weak evidence
  20. not relevant
  21. strong evidence
  22. True
  23. not specific
  24. True
  25. not relevant
  26. strong evidence
  27. not specific
  28. True
  29. False
  30. False
  31. False
  32. True
  33. False
  34. False
  35. False
  36. False
  37. not relevant
  38. True
  39. strong evidence
  40. False

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