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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 205 · 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 weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.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
  3. 3.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  4. 4.True or false: “I think I dreamt it.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (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.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  7. 7.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) the city water board (b) a chat forward (c) an unsigned poster (d) a guess
  8. 8.True or false: one friend’s guess is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  9. 9.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  10. 10.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
  11. 11.True or false: “It is good for many reasons.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
  12. 12.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  13. 13.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  14. 14.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “My neighbour heard it from someone.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  15. 15.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  16. 16.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
  17. 17.True or false: In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  18. 18.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) lots of students (b) 30 of 40 students
  19. 19.🔎 Before using a number in a debate, you should… (a) round it to 100 (b) check where it came from (c) hide the source (d) make it bigger
  20. 20.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  21. 21.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Studies show things.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  23. 23.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  24. 24.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  25. 25.True or false: “I saw it on a random poster once.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  26. 26.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  27. 27.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  28. 28.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on saving water: “My favourite colour is green.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  29. 29.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I think I dreamt it.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  30. 30.True or false: “I think I dreamt it.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “My cousin said so.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  32. 32.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.True or false: figures from the city water board is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  35. 35.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.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) True (b) False
  37. 37.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) True (b) False
  38. 38.True or false: figures from the city water board is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  39. 39.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  40. 40.True or false: “Everybody knows it.” is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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