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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 411 · 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: the school library’s record of books borrowed is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  2. 2.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Lots of people think so.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  3. 3.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  4. 4.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  5. 5.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A website with no name says so.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  6. 6.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) very strong (b) not relevant (c) very specific
  7. 7.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  8. 8.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) funny and short (b) old and vague (c) relevant and reliable (d) loud and long
  9. 9.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  10. 10.True or false: figures from the city water board is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  11. 11.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  12. 12.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: measured results from our class experiment? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  13. 13.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Lots of students like it.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  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.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A forwarded message says so.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  16. 16.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  17. 17.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) lots of students (b) 30 of 40 students
  19. 19.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Some people say it helps somehow.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  20. 20.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  21. 21.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  22. 22.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) a chat forward (b) an unsigned poster (c) the city water board (d) a guess
  24. 24.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
  25. 25.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
  26. 26.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) False (b) True
  27. 27.True or false: measured results from our class experiment is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  28. 28.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  29. 29.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  31. 31.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “My neighbour heard it from someone.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  32. 32.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
  33. 33.True or false: “Everybody knows it.” is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  34. 34.🔎 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
  35. 35.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  36. 36.True or false: “It is good for many reasons.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.True or false: “A website with no name says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “My cousin said so.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  39. 39.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  40. 40.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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