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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 4 · 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: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Lots of students like it.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  3. 3.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  4. 4.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) an unsigned poster (b) a chat forward (c) the city water board (d) a guess
  5. 5.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  6. 6.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  7. 7.True or false: In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  8. 8.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  9. 9.True or false: measured results from our class experiment is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  10. 10.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) not relevant (b) very specific (c) very strong
  11. 11.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I saw it on a random poster once.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  12. 12.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  13. 13.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
  14. 14.🔎 Before using a number in a debate, you should… (a) hide the source (b) round it to 100 (c) check where it came from (d) make it bigger
  15. 15.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) 30 of 40 students (b) lots of students
  16. 16.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  17. 17.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  18. 18.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  19. 19.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) old and vague (b) relevant and reliable (c) funny and short (d) loud and long
  21. 21.True or false: figures from the city water board is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  23. 23.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “My neighbour heard it from someone.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  24. 24.True or false: In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  25. 25.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  26. 26.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  27. 27.True or false: “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  29. 29.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on saving water: “My favourite colour is green.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  30. 30.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  31. 31.True or false: measured results from our class experiment is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  33. 33.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  34. 34.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (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.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “My cousin said so.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  37. 37.True or false: “Lots of students like it.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I think I dreamt it.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  39. 39.True or false: “I think I dreamt it.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  40. 40.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: measured results from our class experiment? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence

Answer key

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

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