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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 409 · 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.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: measured results from our class experiment? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  2. 2.True or false: “I think I dreamt it.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  3. 3.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) very strong (b) not relevant (c) very specific
  4. 4.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  5. 5.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A forwarded message says so.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  6. 6.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  7. 7.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  8. 8.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) 30 of 40 students (b) lots of students
  9. 9.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) True (b) False
  10. 10.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  11. 11.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  12. 12.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  13. 13.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  14. 14.True or false: “Lots of students like it.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  15. 15.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Studies show things.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  16. 16.True or false: a story you are not sure about is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  17. 17.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  19. 19.True or false: In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  21. 21.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  22. 22.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) the city water board (b) an unsigned poster (c) a chat forward (d) a guess
  23. 23.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  24. 24.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  26. 26.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Lots of people think so.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  27. 27.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) relevant and reliable (b) funny and short (c) loud and long (d) old and vague
  29. 29.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.True or false: “Lots of people think so.” is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  33. 33.True or false: “I saw it on a random poster once.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I saw it on a random poster once.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  35. 35.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
  36. 36.True or false: “A website with no name says so.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Some people say it helps somehow.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  38. 38.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  39. 39.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.True or false: measured results from our class experiment is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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