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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 108 · 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.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Studies show things.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  2. 2.True or false: measured results from our class experiment is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  3. 3.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) loud and long (b) relevant and reliable (c) old and vague (d) funny and short
  4. 4.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  5. 5.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  6. 6.🔎 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
  7. 7.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  8. 8.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) 30 of 40 students (b) lots of students
  9. 9.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  10. 10.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  11. 11.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  12. 12.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
  13. 13.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “My neighbour heard it from someone.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  14. 14.True or false: In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.True or false: one friend’s guess is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on saving water: “My favourite colour is green.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  17. 17.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  18. 18.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  19. 19.True or false: “I think I dreamt it.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  21. 21.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  22. 22.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  23. 23.True or false: “It is good for many reasons.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  24. 24.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  25. 25.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  26. 26.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  27. 27.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Lots of people think so.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  28. 28.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  29. 29.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  30. 30.True or false: a story you are not sure about is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  32. 32.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: measured results from our class experiment? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  33. 33.True or false: “A forwarded message says so.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  34. 34.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  35. 35.True or false: “It is good for many reasons.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) very strong (b) not relevant (c) very specific
  37. 37.True or false: “Lots of students like it.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.True or false: In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  39. 39.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  40. 40.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence

Answer key

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

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