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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 404 · 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 forwarded message says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “My cousin said so.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  3. 3.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) 30 of 40 students (b) lots of students
  4. 4.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  5. 5.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  6. 6.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  7. 7.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Lots of people think so.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  8. 8.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  9. 9.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  10. 10.True or false: “Lots of people think so.” is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  11. 11.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  12. 12.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  13. 13.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
  14. 14.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  15. 15.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) very strong (b) not relevant (c) very specific
  16. 16.True or false: one friend’s guess is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  17. 17.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  19. 19.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  20. 20.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  21. 21.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on saving water: “My favourite colour is green.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  22. 22.True or false: “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.True or false: “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  25. 25.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
  26. 26.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I saw it on a random poster once.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  27. 27.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
  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: In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  31. 31.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  32. 32.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  33. 33.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) False (b) True
  34. 34.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  35. 35.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  37. 37.🔎 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
  38. 38.True or false: “Lots of people think so.” is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  39. 39.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) True (b) False
  40. 40.True or false: “Everybody knows it.” is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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