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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 306 · 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.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  2. 2.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) 30 of 40 students (b) lots of students
  3. 3.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  4. 4.True or false: In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  5. 5.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  6. 6.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  7. 7.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  8. 8.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
  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.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  11. 11.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) very specific (b) not relevant (c) very strong
  12. 12.True or false: “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  13. 13.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
  14. 14.True or false: In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  15. 15.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  16. 16.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) a chat forward (b) an unsigned poster (c) the city water board (d) a guess
  17. 17.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.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
  19. 19.True or false: In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  21. 21.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  22. 22.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  23. 23.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) relevant and reliable (b) loud and long (c) old and vague (d) funny and short
  24. 24.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Some people say it helps somehow.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  26. 26.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A forwarded message says so.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  27. 27.True or false: “It is good for many reasons.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  28. 28.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  29. 29.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Lots of people think so.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  30. 30.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Studies show things.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  31. 31.True or false: “Everybody knows it.” is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.🔎 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
  33. 33.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  35. 35.True or false: a story you are not sure about is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “My neighbour heard it from someone.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  37. 37.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “My cousin said so.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  38. 38.True or false: In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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