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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 580 · 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 its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  2. 2.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  3. 3.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  4. 4.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) very strong (b) very specific (c) not relevant
  5. 5.🔎 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
  6. 6.True or false: “I think I dreamt it.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  7. 7.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  8. 8.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Some people say it helps somehow.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  9. 9.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Lots of people think so.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  10. 10.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  11. 11.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  12. 12.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) a chat forward (b) an unsigned poster (c) the city water board (d) a guess
  13. 13.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  14. 14.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on saving water: “My favourite colour is green.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  15. 15.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Studies show things.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  16. 16.🔎 Before using a number in a debate, you should… (a) round it to 100 (b) check where it came from (c) hide the source (d) make it bigger
  17. 17.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
  18. 18.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  19. 19.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  20. 20.True or false: “Some people say it helps somehow.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  21. 21.True or false: “It is good for many reasons.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.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) True (b) False
  23. 23.True or false: “I saw it on a random poster once.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  24. 24.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  25. 25.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: measured results from our class experiment? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  26. 26.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.True or false: “Lots of people think so.” is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  28. 28.True or false: “A forwarded message says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) funny and short (b) loud and long (c) old and vague (d) relevant and reliable
  30. 30.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  31. 31.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “It is good for many reasons.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  33. 33.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) lots of students (b) 30 of 40 students
  36. 36.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  37. 37.True or false: “Everybody knows it.” is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.True or false: a story you are not sure about is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  40. 40.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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