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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 546 · 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 school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  2. 2.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  3. 3.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Lots of people think so.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  4. 4.True or false: “It is good for many reasons.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  5. 5.True or false: “I think I dreamt it.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  6. 6.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) loud and long (b) relevant and reliable (c) funny and short (d) old and vague
  7. 7.🔎 Before using a number in a debate, you should… (a) make it bigger (b) hide the source (c) round it to 100 (d) check where it came from
  8. 8.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I think I dreamt it.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  9. 9.True or false: “Some people say it helps somehow.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  10. 10.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  11. 11.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
  12. 12.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) 30 of 40 students (b) lots of students
  13. 13.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) True (b) False
  14. 14.True or false: one friend’s guess is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  15. 15.True or false: “Lots of students like it.” — 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 school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  17. 17.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
  18. 18.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  19. 19.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  20. 20.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  21. 21.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A website with no name says so.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  22. 22.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  23. 23.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  24. 24.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  25. 25.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  26. 26.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.True or false: “A forwarded message says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  28. 28.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “It is good for many reasons.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  29. 29.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Some people say it helps somehow.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  30. 30.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.True or false: one friend’s guess is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.True or false: “I think I dreamt it.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  33. 33.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
  34. 34.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  35. 35.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  36. 36.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) an unsigned poster (b) a chat forward (c) a guess (d) the city water board
  38. 38.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  39. 39.True or false: “Lots of students like it.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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