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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 177 · 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: In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  3. 3.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) relevant and reliable (b) funny and short (c) old and vague (d) loud and long
  4. 4.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) not relevant (b) very specific (c) very strong
  5. 5.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  6. 6.🔎 Before using a number in a debate, you should… (a) check where it came from (b) make it bigger (c) round it to 100 (d) hide the source
  7. 7.True or false: measured results from our class experiment is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  8. 8.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “My neighbour heard it from someone.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  9. 9.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  10. 10.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  11. 11.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  12. 12.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  13. 13.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  14. 14.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  15. 15.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  16. 16.True or false: a story you are not sure about is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  17. 17.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) lots of students (b) 30 of 40 students
  18. 18.True or false: one friend’s guess is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  19. 19.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  20. 20.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Some people say it helps somehow.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  21. 21.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
  22. 22.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) a guess (b) the city water board (c) a chat forward (d) an unsigned poster
  23. 23.True or false: “Lots of students like it.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.True or false: a story you are not sure about is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.True or false: In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  26. 26.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  27. 27.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.True or false: In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  29. 29.True or false: “Lots of students like it.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.True or false: “Lots of people think so.” is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.True or false: “Some people say it helps somehow.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  33. 33.True or false: In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Lots of students like it.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  36. 36.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  37. 37.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) True (b) False
  38. 38.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  39. 39.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  40. 40.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence

Answer key

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

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