Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 302 · 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.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
2. 2.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
4. 4.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) a guess (b) a chat forward (c) an unsigned poster (d) the city water board
5. 5.True or false: a story you are not sure about is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I think I dreamt it.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
7. 7.🔎 Before using a number in a debate, you should… (a) make it bigger (b) check where it came from (c) round it to 100 (d) hide the source
8. 8.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A website with no name says so.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
9. 9.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
10. 10.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) lots of students (b) 30 of 40 students
11. 11.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) False (b) True
12. 12.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “My neighbour heard it from someone.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
13. 13.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
14. 14.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A forwarded message says so.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
15. 15.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
16. 16.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
17. 17.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
18. 18.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
19. 19.True or false: a story you are not sure about is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
20. 20.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Studies show things.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
21. 21.True or false: “Lots of students like it.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
23. 23.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) loud and long (b) relevant and reliable (c) old and vague (d) funny and short
24. 24.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
25. 25.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
26. 26.True or false: one friend’s guess is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Lots of students like it.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
28. 28.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
29. 29.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
30. 30.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
31. 31.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I saw it on a random poster once.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
32. 32.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
33. 33.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
34. 34.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
35. 35.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) not relevant (b) very specific (c) very strong
36. 36.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
37. 37.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “It is good for many reasons.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
38. 38.🔎 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
39. 39.True or false: “Lots of people think so.” is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
40. 40.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable

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