Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 331 · 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: the school library’s record of books borrowed is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
2. 2.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
3. 3.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
4. 4.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A website with no name says so.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
5. 5.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
6. 6.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
7. 7.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) old and vague (b) funny and short (c) loud and long (d) relevant and reliable
8. 8.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
9. 9.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
10. 10.True or false: “Some people say it helps somehow.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
11. 11.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
12. 12.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Some people say it helps somehow.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
13. 13.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) very strong (b) not relevant (c) very specific
14. 14.True or false: one friend’s guess is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “It is good for many reasons.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
16. 16.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A forwarded message says so.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
17. 17.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
18. 18.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Lots of people think so.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
19. 19.True or false: figures from the city water board is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
20. 20.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
21. 21.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) lots of students (b) 30 of 40 students
22. 22.True or false: “It is good for many reasons.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
23. 23.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
24. 24.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) False (b) True
25. 25.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
26. 26.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
27. 27.True or false: “A website with no name says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
28. 28.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
29. 29.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
30. 30.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
31. 31.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
32. 32.🔎 Before using a number in a debate, you should… (a) make it bigger (b) round it to 100 (c) hide the source (d) check where it came from
33. 33.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
34. 34.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
35. 35.True or false: In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.True or false: In a debate on saving water: “My favourite colour is green.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
37. 37.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) True (b) False
38. 38.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
39. 39.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
40. 40.🔎 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

Free debate lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/debate-for-students