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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 274 · 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.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A forwarded message says so.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  2. 2.True or false: “A forwarded message says so.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  3. 3.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  4. 4.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) loud and long (b) funny and short (c) old and vague (d) relevant and reliable
  5. 5.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) 30 of 40 students (b) lots of students
  6. 6.True or false: “Lots of people think so.” is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  7. 7.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Studies show things.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  8. 8.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Lots of people think so.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  9. 9.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  10. 10.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  11. 11.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: measured results from our class experiment? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  12. 12.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  13. 13.True or false: a story you are not sure about is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  14. 14.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Some people say it helps somehow.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  15. 15.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on saving water: “My favourite colour is green.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  17. 17.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  18. 18.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “It is good for many reasons.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  19. 19.True or false: measured results from our class experiment is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  21. 21.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) very strong (b) not relevant (c) very specific
  22. 22.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) True (b) False
  23. 23.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  24. 24.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  25. 25.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I saw it on a random poster once.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  26. 26.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) True (b) False
  27. 27.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  29. 29.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  30. 30.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “My neighbour heard it from someone.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  31. 31.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  34. 34.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  35. 35.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
  36. 36.True or false: a story you are not sure about is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) an unsigned poster (b) the city water board (c) a chat forward (d) a guess
  38. 38.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  40. 40.True or false: “Everybody knows it.” is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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