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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 316 · 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 attendance register for the whole year is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A website with no name says so.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  3. 3.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “My cousin said so.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  4. 4.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  5. 5.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  6. 6.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) funny and short (b) relevant and reliable (c) old and vague (d) loud and long
  7. 7.True or false: “Lots of people think so.” is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  8. 8.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  9. 9.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  10. 10.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
  11. 11.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  12. 12.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Lots of students like it.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  13. 13.True or false: figures from the city water board is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  14. 14.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  15. 15.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A forwarded message says so.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  16. 16.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
  17. 17.🔎 Before using a number in a debate, you should… (a) round it to 100 (b) hide the source (c) make it bigger (d) check where it came from
  18. 18.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  19. 19.True or false: “A website with no name says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  20. 20.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  21. 21.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  22. 22.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) lots of students (b) 30 of 40 students
  23. 23.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on saving water: “My favourite colour is green.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  24. 24.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) very specific (b) very strong (c) not relevant
  26. 26.True or false: one friend’s guess is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  29. 29.True or false: “Some people say it helps somehow.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.True or false: “A forwarded message says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I think I dreamt it.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  33. 33.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  34. 34.True or false: In a debate on saving water: “My favourite colour is green.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  36. 36.True or false: “Everybody knows it.” is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  38. 38.🔎 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
  39. 39.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  40. 40.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

Answer key

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

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