Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 135 · 40 questions

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.

1. 1.True or false: one friend’s guess is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
3. 3.True or false: “I think I dreamt it.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.True or false: “Some people say it helps somehow.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
6. 6.True or false: “A forwarded message says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) old and vague (b) loud and long (c) relevant and reliable (d) funny and short
8. 8.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “My neighbour heard it from someone.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
9. 9.True or false: In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
10. 10.True or false: “I think I dreamt it.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
11. 11.True or false: figures from the city water board is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
12. 12.True or false: In a debate on saving water: “My favourite colour is green.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
13. 13.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) True (b) False
14. 14.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
15. 15.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) not relevant (b) very strong (c) very specific
16. 16.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
19. 19.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) False (b) True
20. 20.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
21. 21.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
22. 22.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
23. 23.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Some people say it helps somehow.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
25. 25.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
26. 26.True or false: In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.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
28. 28.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
29. 29.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
30. 30.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) a guess (b) a chat forward (c) the city water board (d) an unsigned poster
31. 31.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
32. 32.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on saving water: “My favourite colour is green.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
33. 33.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
34. 34.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Lots of people think so.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
35. 35.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
36. 36.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
37. 37.🔎 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
38. 38.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I saw it on a random poster once.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
39. 39.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “My cousin said so.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
40. 40.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Studies show things.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant

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