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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 677 · 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: figures from the city water board is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  2. 2.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) False (b) True
  3. 3.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) old and vague (b) funny and short (c) relevant and reliable (d) loud and long
  4. 4.True or false: “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  5. 5.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) not relevant (b) very strong (c) very specific
  6. 6.True or false: a story you are not sure about is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  7. 7.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
  8. 8.True or false: one friend’s guess is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  9. 9.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  10. 10.🔎 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
  11. 11.True or false: “I saw it on a random poster once.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  12. 12.True or false: figures from the city water board is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  13. 13.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  14. 14.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.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
  16. 16.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
  17. 17.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  18. 18.True or false: In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  19. 19.True or false: “I saw it on a random poster once.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (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.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  22. 22.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A website with no name says so.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  23. 23.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  25. 25.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  26. 26.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  27. 27.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) lots of students (b) 30 of 40 students
  28. 28.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  29. 29.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  30. 30.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
  31. 31.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I saw it on a random poster once.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  32. 32.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  33. 33.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.True or false: “I think I dreamt it.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.True or false: In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Lots of people think so.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  37. 37.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  38. 38.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “My cousin said so.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  39. 39.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Lots of students like it.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  40. 40.True or false: “It is good for many reasons.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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