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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 523 · 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.🔎 Before using a number in a debate, you should… (a) make it bigger (b) round it to 100 (c) hide the source (d) check where it came from
  3. 3.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  4. 4.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  5. 5.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  6. 6.True or false: “It is good for many reasons.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
  7. 7.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Lots of students like it.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  8. 8.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) relevant and reliable (b) funny and short (c) old and vague (d) loud and long
  9. 9.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  10. 10.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  11. 11.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  12. 12.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  13. 13.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  14. 14.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) 30 of 40 students (b) lots of students
  15. 15.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
  16. 16.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  17. 17.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Studies show things.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  18. 18.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  19. 19.True or false: “A forwarded message says so.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.True or false: a story you are not sure about is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  21. 21.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  22. 22.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  23. 23.True or false: “A website with no name says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I think I dreamt it.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  25. 25.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
  26. 26.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  27. 27.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  28. 28.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  29. 29.True or false: “A forwarded message says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “My neighbour heard it from someone.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  32. 32.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  33. 33.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  34. 34.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A forwarded message says so.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  35. 35.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) an unsigned poster (b) the city water board (c) a guess (d) a chat forward
  36. 36.True or false: “Everybody knows it.” is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  38. 38.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  39. 39.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) very strong (b) not relevant (c) very specific
  40. 40.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Some people say it helps somehow.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific

Answer key

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

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