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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 396 · 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: In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  2. 2.True or false: “Some people say it helps somehow.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  3. 3.True or false: “It is good for many reasons.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  4. 4.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  5. 5.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  6. 6.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  7. 7.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  8. 8.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “It is good for many reasons.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  9. 9.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) very specific (b) very strong (c) not relevant
  10. 10.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  11. 11.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
  12. 12.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
  13. 13.True or false: “Some people say it helps somehow.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  14. 14.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) a guess (b) an unsigned poster (c) the city water board (d) a chat forward
  16. 16.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  17. 17.True or false: measured results from our class experiment is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  18. 18.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  19. 19.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
  20. 20.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “My cousin said so.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  21. 21.True or false: “Lots of students like it.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  22. 22.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  23. 23.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) old and vague (b) funny and short (c) relevant and reliable (d) loud and long
  24. 24.True or false: one friend’s guess is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.True or false: one friend’s guess is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  26. 26.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  27. 27.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Lots of people think so.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  28. 28.True or false: a story you are not sure about is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  31. 31.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on saving water: “My favourite colour is green.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  32. 32.True or false: figures from the city water board is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  34. 34.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: measured results from our class experiment? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  35. 35.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) lots of students (b) 30 of 40 students
  36. 36.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Lots of students like it.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  37. 37.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.True or false: figures from the city water board is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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