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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 682 · 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.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) lots of students (b) 30 of 40 students
  2. 2.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) very specific (b) not relevant (c) very strong
  3. 3.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  4. 4.True or false: In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  5. 5.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Lots of people think so.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  6. 6.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  7. 7.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  8. 8.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
  9. 9.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) loud and long (b) funny and short (c) old and vague (d) relevant and reliable
  10. 10.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I saw it on a random poster once.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  11. 11.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  12. 12.True or false: “A forwarded message says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  13. 13.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  14. 14.🔎 Before using a number in a debate, you should… (a) make it bigger (b) hide the source (c) check where it came from (d) round it to 100
  15. 15.True or false: “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
  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.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  19. 19.🔎 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
  20. 20.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  21. 21.True or false: “A website with no name says so.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  22. 22.True or false: “Lots of people think so.” is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) a guess (b) a chat forward (c) the city water board (d) an unsigned poster
  24. 24.True or false: a story you are not sure about is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  25. 25.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  26. 26.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  27. 27.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  28. 28.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  29. 29.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on saving water: “My favourite colour is green.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  30. 30.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Lots of students like it.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  31. 31.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  32. 32.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  33. 33.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  34. 34.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
  35. 35.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  37. 37.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  38. 38.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  39. 39.True or false: “I think I dreamt it.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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