← Strong and weak evidence lesson New set →

Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 638 · 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: “My cousin said so.” is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  2. 2.🔎 Before using a number in a debate, you should… (a) hide the source (b) round it to 100 (c) make it bigger (d) check where it came from
  3. 3.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Lots of students like it.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  4. 4.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Lots of people think so.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  5. 5.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Some people say it helps somehow.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  6. 6.True or false: “Lots of students like it.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  7. 7.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  8. 8.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  9. 9.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A website with no name says so.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  10. 10.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) 30 of 40 students (b) lots of students
  11. 11.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
  12. 12.True or false: “A website with no name says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  13. 13.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  14. 14.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) loud and long (b) old and vague (c) relevant and reliable (d) funny and short
  15. 15.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  16. 16.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
  17. 17.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) very specific (b) very strong (c) not relevant
  19. 19.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  21. 21.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  24. 24.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  25. 25.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  26. 26.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) True (b) False
  27. 27.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  28. 28.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “It is good for many reasons.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  29. 29.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  30. 30.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  31. 31.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I think I dreamt it.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  32. 32.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
  33. 33.True or false: “Everybody knows it.” is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.🔎 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
  35. 35.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Studies show things.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  36. 36.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.True or false: “Everybody knows it.” is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  39. 39.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) the city water board (b) a guess (c) an unsigned poster (d) a chat forward
  40. 40.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence

Answer key

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

Free debate lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/debate-for-students