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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 111 · 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: “I saw it on a random poster once.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  3. 3.True or false: one friend’s guess is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  4. 4.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  5. 5.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) funny and short (b) old and vague (c) loud and long (d) relevant and reliable
  6. 6.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) an unsigned poster (b) a guess (c) a chat forward (d) the city water board
  7. 7.True or false: measured results from our class experiment is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  8. 8.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A forwarded message says so.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  9. 9.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  10. 10.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  11. 11.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  12. 12.True or false: In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  13. 13.True or false: “It is good for many reasons.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  14. 14.True or false: “Lots of students like it.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  16. 16.True or false: “A website with no name says so.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
  17. 17.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  18. 18.🔎 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
  19. 19.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  21. 21.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I think I dreamt it.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  22. 22.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  24. 24.True or false: a story you are not sure about is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  26. 26.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  27. 27.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  28. 28.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  29. 29.True or false: “Some people say it helps somehow.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.True or false: In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “It is good for many reasons.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  33. 33.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) very strong (b) very specific (c) not relevant
  34. 34.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  35. 35.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) True (b) False
  36. 36.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  37. 37.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  39. 39.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.True or false: In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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