Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 24 · 40 questions

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.

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

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