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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 199 · 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.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Lots of people think so.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  2. 2.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  3. 3.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  4. 4.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  5. 5.True or false: In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  6. 6.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  7. 7.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  8. 8.True or false: measured results from our class experiment is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  9. 9.True or false: “A website with no name says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  10. 10.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  11. 11.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  12. 12.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  13. 13.True or false: “Lots of people think so.” is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  14. 14.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  15. 15.True or false: “It is good for many reasons.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  17. 17.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) relevant and reliable (b) old and vague (c) funny and short (d) loud and long
  18. 18.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  19. 19.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) 30 of 40 students (b) lots of students
  20. 20.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (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) False (b) True
  22. 22.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.True or false: “A forwarded message says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.True or false: “Everybody knows it.” is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  25. 25.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I saw it on a random poster once.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  26. 26.True or false: “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  27. 27.🔎 Before using a number in a debate, you should… (a) check where it came from (b) hide the source (c) round it to 100 (d) make it bigger
  28. 28.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.True or false: In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Lots of students like it.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  31. 31.True or false: “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.True or false: figures from the city water board is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  34. 34.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  35. 35.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  36. 36.True or false: “I think I dreamt it.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.True or false: a story you are not sure about is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.True or false: In a debate on saving water: “My favourite colour is green.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.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
  40. 40.True or false: figures from the city water board is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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