Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 319 · 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: 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
2. 2.🔎 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
3. 3.True or false: “Some people say it helps somehow.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
4. 4.True or false: measured results from our class experiment is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
6. 6.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.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
8. 8.True or false: measured results from our class experiment is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
10. 10.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) very strong (b) not relevant (c) very specific
11. 11.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) 30 of 40 students (b) lots of students
12. 12.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) False (b) True
13. 13.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
14. 14.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
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.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) a guess (b) a chat forward (c) the city water board (d) an unsigned poster
17. 17.True or false: “I think I dreamt it.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
18. 18.True or false: “I saw it on a random poster once.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
19. 19.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
20. 20.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I saw it on a random poster once.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
21. 21.True or false: “I saw it on a random poster once.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
22. 22.True or false: “It is good for many reasons.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
23. 23.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
24. 24.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Studies show things.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
25. 25.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
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: an unsigned post with no source is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.True or false: “Everybody knows it.” is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
29. 29.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.True or false: a story you are not sure about is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I think I dreamt it.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
32. 32.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “My neighbour heard it from someone.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
33. 33.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
35. 35.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
36. 36.True or false: In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
37. 37.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
38. 38.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
39. 39.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
40. 40.True or false: “Lots of students like it.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True

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