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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 416 · 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 website with no name says so.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.True or false: “A forwarded message says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  3. 3.True or false: In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  4. 4.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) very specific (b) very strong (c) not relevant
  5. 5.True or false: “A forwarded message says so.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  6. 6.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  7. 7.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  8. 8.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
  9. 9.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  10. 10.True or false: “A website with no name says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  11. 11.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  12. 12.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) funny and short (b) relevant and reliable (c) loud and long (d) old and vague
  13. 13.True or false: In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
  14. 14.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  15. 15.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  16. 16.True or false: a story you are not sure about is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  17. 17.True or false: In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  18. 18.True or false: “Some people say it helps somehow.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  19. 19.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  21. 21.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  22. 22.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Lots of students like it.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  23. 23.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  24. 24.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) the city water board (b) a guess (c) a chat forward (d) an unsigned poster
  26. 26.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) 30 of 40 students (b) lots of students
  27. 27.True or false: one friend’s guess is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  28. 28.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.True or false: “It is good for many reasons.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  31. 31.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
  32. 32.🔎 Before using a number in a debate, you should… (a) make it bigger (b) hide the source (c) check where it came from (d) round it to 100
  33. 33.True or false: In a debate on saving water: “My favourite colour is green.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.True or false: “Lots of students like it.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Studies show things.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  37. 37.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  39. 39.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
  40. 40.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “It is good for many reasons.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable

Answer key

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

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