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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 479 · 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: “Lots of people think so.” is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  2. 2.True or false: “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
  3. 3.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  4. 4.True or false: “Some people say it helps somehow.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
  5. 5.True or false: a story you are not sure about is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  6. 6.🔎 Before using a number in a debate, you should… (a) round it to 100 (b) hide the source (c) make it bigger (d) check where it came from
  7. 7.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  8. 8.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “It is good for many reasons.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  9. 9.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) not relevant (b) very specific (c) very strong
  10. 10.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  11. 11.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
  12. 12.True or false: “I saw it on a random poster once.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  13. 13.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  14. 14.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  15. 15.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  16. 16.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) a guess (b) the city water board (c) a chat forward (d) an unsigned poster
  17. 17.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  18. 18.True or false: “I think I dreamt it.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  19. 19.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  20. 20.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “My cousin said so.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  21. 21.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) old and vague (b) funny and short (c) loud and long (d) relevant and reliable
  22. 22.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  23. 23.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  24. 24.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A forwarded message says so.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  25. 25.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
  26. 26.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) True (b) False
  27. 27.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  28. 28.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.True or false: “Lots of people think so.” is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.True or false: In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Some people say it helps somehow.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  32. 32.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  33. 33.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is weak evidence. (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: 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
  36. 36.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.True or false: a story you are not sure about is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I saw it on a random poster once.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  39. 39.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  40. 40.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence

Answer key

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

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