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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 713 · 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: “It is good for many reasons.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  3. 3.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  4. 4.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  5. 5.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) an unsigned poster (b) a guess (c) the city water board (d) a chat forward
  6. 6.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  7. 7.True or false: figures from the city water board is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  8. 8.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  9. 9.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “My neighbour heard it from someone.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  10. 10.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  11. 11.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
  12. 12.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) old and vague (b) funny and short (c) loud and long (d) relevant and reliable
  13. 13.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on saving water: “My favourite colour is green.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  14. 14.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  15. 15.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) 30 of 40 students (b) lots of students
  16. 16.True or false: measured results from our class experiment is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  17. 17.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  19. 19.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A forwarded message says so.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  20. 20.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  21. 21.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  22. 22.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  23. 23.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I think I dreamt it.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  24. 24.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  25. 25.True or false: one friend’s guess is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  26. 26.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “It is good for many reasons.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  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: “Lots of students like it.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A website with no name says so.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  31. 31.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  32. 32.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  33. 33.True or false: “Lots of people think so.” is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.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
  35. 35.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  36. 36.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: measured results from our class experiment? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  37. 37.🔎 Before using a number in a debate, you should… (a) check where it came from (b) make it bigger (c) round it to 100 (d) hide the source
  38. 38.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  39. 39.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Lots of students like it.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant

Answer key

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

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