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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 684 · 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: a story you are not sure about is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  2. 2.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  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) True (b) False
  4. 4.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “My neighbour heard it from someone.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  5. 5.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) the city water board (b) an unsigned poster (c) a chat forward (d) a guess
  6. 6.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  7. 7.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Lots of students like it.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  8. 8.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  9. 9.True or false: “A website with no name says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  10. 10.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: measured results from our class experiment? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  11. 11.True or false: measured results from our class experiment is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  12. 12.True or false: “Lots of people think so.” is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  13. 13.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Some people say it helps somehow.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  14. 14.True or false: a story you are not sure about is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  15. 15.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) not relevant (b) very strong (c) very specific
  16. 16.🔎 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
  17. 17.True or false: “Everybody knows it.” is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  18. 18.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  19. 19.True or false: one friend’s guess is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  21. 21.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  22. 22.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  23. 23.True or false: “Lots of students like it.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  24. 24.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
  25. 25.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  26. 26.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I saw it on a random poster once.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  27. 27.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) 30 of 40 students (b) lots of students
  28. 28.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  29. 29.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  30. 30.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.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
  32. 32.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  33. 33.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  34. 34.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “It is good for many reasons.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  35. 35.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Studies show things.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  36. 36.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) loud and long (b) old and vague (c) funny and short (d) relevant and reliable
  37. 37.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “My cousin said so.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  38. 38.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  39. 39.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  40. 40.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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