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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 560 · 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.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  2. 2.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  3. 3.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
  4. 4.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  5. 5.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Lots of students like it.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  6. 6.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  7. 7.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  8. 8.True or false: “It is good for many reasons.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  9. 9.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  10. 10.🔎 Before using a number in a debate, you should… (a) round it to 100 (b) make it bigger (c) hide the source (d) check where it came from
  11. 11.True or false: “I think I dreamt it.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
  12. 12.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  13. 13.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  14. 14.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) loud and long (b) old and vague (c) funny and short (d) relevant and reliable
  15. 15.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I saw it on a random poster once.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  16. 16.True or false: a story you are not sure about is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  17. 17.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
  18. 18.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  19. 19.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “My neighbour heard it from someone.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  20. 20.True or false: one friend’s guess is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  21. 21.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) 30 of 40 students (b) lots of students
  23. 23.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  24. 24.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “My cousin said so.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  25. 25.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  26. 26.True or false: “Lots of students like it.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  28. 28.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) an unsigned poster (b) a chat forward (c) the city water board (d) a guess
  29. 29.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on saving water: “My favourite colour is green.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  31. 31.True or false: “A website with no name says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  33. 33.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  34. 34.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) very strong (b) very specific (c) not relevant
  35. 35.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Studies show things.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  37. 37.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  38. 38.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  39. 39.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  40. 40.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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