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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 161 · 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: “It is good for many reasons.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) a guess (b) an unsigned poster (c) a chat forward (d) the city water board
  3. 3.True or false: one friend’s guess is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  4. 4.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) True (b) False
  5. 5.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) very strong (b) very specific (c) not relevant
  6. 6.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  7. 7.True or false: “Lots of students like it.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  8. 8.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  9. 9.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  10. 10.True or false: “Lots of students like it.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
  11. 11.True or false: “Everybody knows it.” is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  12. 12.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  13. 13.True or false: one friend’s guess is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  14. 14.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  15. 15.True or false: “Lots of people think so.” is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  17. 17.True or false: a story you are not sure about is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  18. 18.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  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) True (b) False
  20. 20.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “My cousin said so.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  21. 21.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
  22. 22.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  24. 24.True or false: measured results from our class experiment is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  25. 25.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  26. 26.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) lots of students (b) 30 of 40 students
  27. 27.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  28. 28.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  29. 29.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.True or false: a story you are not sure about is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  34. 34.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.True or false: In a debate on saving water: “My favourite colour is green.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: measured results from our class experiment? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  37. 37.True or false: “Some people say it helps somehow.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  39. 39.True or false: “Some people say it helps somehow.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  40. 40.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) loud and long (b) old and vague (c) relevant and reliable (d) funny and short

Answer key

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

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