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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 173 · 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: the attendance register for the whole year is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  2. 2.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “It is good for many reasons.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  3. 3.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
  4. 4.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  5. 5.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  6. 6.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) True (b) False
  7. 7.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
  8. 8.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
  9. 9.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  10. 10.🔎 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
  11. 11.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  12. 12.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  13. 13.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  14. 14.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) very strong (b) very specific (c) not relevant
  15. 15.True or false: “It is good for many reasons.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  16. 16.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  17. 17.True or false: “I think I dreamt it.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.True or false: a story you are not sure about is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  19. 19.True or false: one friend’s guess is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  20. 20.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  21. 21.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Some people say it helps somehow.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  23. 23.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  24. 24.🔎 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
  25. 25.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) funny and short (b) loud and long (c) relevant and reliable (d) old and vague
  26. 26.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: measured results from our class experiment? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  27. 27.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A forwarded message says so.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  28. 28.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  29. 29.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  30. 30.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.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
  32. 32.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.🔎 Before using a number in a debate, you should… (a) round it to 100 (b) make it bigger (c) check where it came from (d) hide the source
  34. 34.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  35. 35.True or false: “Everybody knows it.” is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.True or false: “Lots of students like it.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  38. 38.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
  39. 39.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  40. 40.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “My cousin said so.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence

Answer key

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

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