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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 219 · 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 school library’s record of books borrowed is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.True or false: a story you are not sure about is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  3. 3.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  4. 4.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  5. 5.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  6. 6.🔎 Before using a number in a debate, you should… (a) round it to 100 (b) hide the source (c) check where it came from (d) make it bigger
  7. 7.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  8. 8.🔎 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
  9. 9.True or false: “Everybody knows it.” is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  10. 10.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) loud and long (b) old and vague (c) relevant and reliable (d) funny and short
  11. 11.True or false: “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  12. 12.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
  13. 13.True or false: In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  14. 14.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  15. 15.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) very specific (b) very strong (c) not relevant
  16. 16.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  17. 17.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  18. 18.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “It is good for many reasons.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  19. 19.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  21. 21.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  22. 22.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Lots of students like it.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  23. 23.True or false: one friend’s guess is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A website with no name says so.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  25. 25.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  26. 26.True or false: “I saw it on a random poster once.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  27. 27.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  28. 28.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  29. 29.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) lots of students (b) 30 of 40 students
  30. 30.True or false: “Lots of people think so.” is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  33. 33.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  34. 34.True or false: “A website with no name says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “My neighbour heard it from someone.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  36. 36.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.True or false: “Lots of students like it.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.True or false: “Lots of students like it.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  40. 40.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence

Answer key

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

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