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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 437 · 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: In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  3. 3.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “My cousin said so.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  4. 4.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  5. 5.True or false: “It is good for many reasons.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  6. 6.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Studies show things.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  7. 7.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  8. 8.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  9. 9.True or false: “I think I dreamt it.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  10. 10.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Some people say it helps somehow.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  11. 11.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  12. 12.True or false: a story you are not sure about is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  13. 13.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  14. 14.True or false: In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  15. 15.True or false: “A forwarded message says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.True or false: “Lots of people think so.” is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  17. 17.🔎 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
  18. 18.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  19. 19.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  20. 20.True or false: “It is good for many reasons.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  21. 21.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) False (b) True
  22. 22.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  23. 23.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  24. 24.True or false: one friend’s guess is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  26. 26.True or false: figures from the city water board is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  27. 27.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) lots of students (b) 30 of 40 students
  28. 28.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) funny and short (b) loud and long (c) relevant and reliable (d) old and vague
  29. 29.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  30. 30.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A forwarded message says so.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  32. 32.True or false: “I saw it on a random poster once.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  33. 33.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I saw it on a random poster once.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  35. 35.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) a guess (b) an unsigned poster (c) a chat forward (d) the city water board
  36. 36.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  37. 37.True or false: “A forwarded message says so.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  39. 39.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  40. 40.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “It is good for many reasons.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant

Answer key

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

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