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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 362 · 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: a fact from our science textbook is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  3. 3.True or false: a story you are not sure about is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  4. 4.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  5. 5.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  6. 6.True or false: In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  7. 7.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  8. 8.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  9. 9.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) True (b) False
  10. 10.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I saw it on a random poster once.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  11. 11.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “My cousin said so.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  12. 12.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) very specific (b) not relevant (c) very strong
  13. 13.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  14. 14.True or false: “Lots of people think so.” is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  15. 15.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  16. 16.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  17. 17.True or false: one friend’s guess is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.🔎 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
  19. 19.True or false: “It is good for many reasons.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.True or false: “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  21. 21.True or false: “Lots of people think so.” is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  22. 22.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) lots of students (b) 30 of 40 students
  23. 23.True or false: a story you are not sure about is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  25. 25.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  26. 26.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  27. 27.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.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) False (b) True
  29. 29.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.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
  31. 31.True or false: In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  33. 33.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  34. 34.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  35. 35.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
  36. 36.True or false: “I think I dreamt it.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.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
  38. 38.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I think I dreamt it.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  39. 39.True or false: “I saw it on a random poster once.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  40. 40.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Studies show things.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable

Answer key

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

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