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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 209 · 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.🔎 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
  2. 2.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
  3. 3.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  4. 4.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  5. 5.True or false: “A website with no name says so.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  6. 6.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) 30 of 40 students (b) lots of students
  7. 7.True or false: “I saw it on a random poster once.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  8. 8.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  9. 9.True or false: In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
  10. 10.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  11. 11.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Some people say it helps somehow.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  12. 12.True or false: “I think I dreamt it.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  13. 13.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) loud and long (b) old and vague (c) funny and short (d) relevant and reliable
  14. 14.True or false: measured results from our class experiment is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  15. 15.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “It is good for many reasons.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  16. 16.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  17. 17.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) very specific (b) not relevant (c) very strong
  18. 18.🔎 Before using a number in a debate, you should… (a) hide the source (b) check where it came from (c) round it to 100 (d) make it bigger
  19. 19.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  20. 20.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  21. 21.True or false: one friend’s guess is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  22. 22.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  23. 23.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “My cousin said so.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  24. 24.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  25. 25.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  26. 26.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.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
  28. 28.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.True or false: measured results from our class experiment is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  31. 31.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  33. 33.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
  34. 34.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Lots of students like it.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  35. 35.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  37. 37.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Lots of people think so.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  38. 38.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  39. 39.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on saving water: “My favourite colour is green.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  40. 40.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence

Answer key

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

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