Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 619 · 40 questions

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.

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

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