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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 681 · 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.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) not relevant (b) very strong (c) very specific
  2. 2.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  3. 3.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
  4. 4.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: measured results from our class experiment? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  5. 5.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  6. 6.🔎 Before using a number in a debate, you should… (a) hide the source (b) check where it came from (c) make it bigger (d) round it to 100
  7. 7.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  8. 8.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  9. 9.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  10. 10.True or false: “It is good for many reasons.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  11. 11.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
  12. 12.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  13. 13.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  14. 14.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) an unsigned poster (b) a chat forward (c) the city water board (d) a guess
  15. 15.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  16. 16.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) loud and long (b) relevant and reliable (c) funny and short (d) old and vague
  17. 17.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  18. 18.True or false: a story you are not sure about is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  19. 19.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) lots of students (b) 30 of 40 students
  20. 20.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  21. 21.True or false: figures from the city water board is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  22. 22.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  23. 23.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  24. 24.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “My neighbour heard it from someone.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  25. 25.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  26. 26.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.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) False (b) True
  28. 28.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.True or false: “A forwarded message says so.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.True or false: “I think I dreamt it.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.True or false: “Lots of people think so.” is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  33. 33.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I think I dreamt it.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  34. 34.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  35. 35.True or false: “I think I dreamt it.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.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
  37. 37.True or false: “A website with no name says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.🔎 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
  39. 39.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  40. 40.🔎 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

Answer key

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

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