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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 325 · 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.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) an unsigned poster (b) a guess (c) a chat forward (d) the city water board
  2. 2.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  3. 3.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “My cousin said so.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  4. 4.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  5. 5.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
  6. 6.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  7. 7.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “It is good for many reasons.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  8. 8.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) funny and short (b) old and vague (c) relevant and reliable (d) loud and long
  9. 9.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “My neighbour heard it from someone.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  10. 10.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  11. 11.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I think I dreamt it.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  12. 12.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  13. 13.True or false: “I saw it on a random poster once.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  14. 14.True or false: figures from the city water board is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Lots of students like it.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  16. 16.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  17. 17.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
  18. 18.True or false: measured results from our class experiment is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  19. 19.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  20. 20.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  21. 21.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.True or false: “Lots of students like it.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) very specific (b) very strong (c) not relevant
  24. 24.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  25. 25.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on saving water: “My favourite colour is green.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  26. 26.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) True (b) False
  27. 27.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: measured results from our class experiment? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  28. 28.True or false: “I think I dreamt it.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.True or false: a story you are not sure about is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.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
  31. 31.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
  32. 32.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  34. 34.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  35. 35.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  36. 36.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
  37. 37.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.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
  39. 39.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  40. 40.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific

Answer key

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

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