Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 650 · 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: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
2. 2.True or false: figures from the city water board is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
3. 3.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) loud and long (b) funny and short (c) old and vague (d) relevant and reliable
4. 4.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
5. 5.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
6. 6.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
7. 7.True or false: In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
8. 8.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
9. 9.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
10. 10.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Studies show things.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
11. 11.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
12. 12.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
13. 13.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
14. 14.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
15. 15.🔎 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
16. 16.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
17. 17.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) a guess (b) an unsigned poster (c) the city water board (d) a chat forward
18. 18.True or false: “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
19. 19.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Lots of students like it.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
20. 20.True or false: In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
21. 21.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Lots of people think so.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
22. 22.True or false: “Everybody knows it.” is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
23. 23.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I think I dreamt it.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
24. 24.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I saw it on a random poster once.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
25. 25.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) very strong (b) not relevant (c) very specific
26. 26.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
27. 27.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
28. 28.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
29. 29.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “My cousin said so.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
30. 30.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
31. 31.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
32. 32.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
33. 33.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
34. 34.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
35. 35.True or false: “A forwarded message says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
36. 36.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
37. 37.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “It is good for many reasons.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
38. 38.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “My neighbour heard it from someone.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
39. 39.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
40. 40.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence

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