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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 73 · 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: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — 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 weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  3. 3.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I saw it on a random poster once.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  4. 4.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) the city water board (b) a guess (c) an unsigned poster (d) a chat forward
  5. 5.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
  6. 6.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  7. 7.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  8. 8.True or false: one friend’s guess is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  9. 9.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  10. 10.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  11. 11.True or false: In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  12. 12.True or false: “Everybody knows it.” is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  13. 13.True or false: figures from the city water board is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  14. 14.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  15. 15.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) lots of students (b) 30 of 40 students
  16. 16.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  17. 17.True or false: “It is good for many reasons.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.True or false: In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  19. 19.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  20. 20.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  21. 21.🔎 Before using a number in a debate, you should… (a) make it bigger (b) round it to 100 (c) check where it came from (d) hide the source
  22. 22.True or false: “Everybody knows it.” is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.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
  24. 24.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  25. 25.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) funny and short (b) old and vague (c) loud and long (d) relevant and reliable
  26. 26.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.True or false: “I think I dreamt it.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
  28. 28.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A forwarded message says so.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  29. 29.True or false: measured results from our class experiment is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.True or false: “A website with no name says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  32. 32.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.True or false: measured results from our class experiment is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  34. 34.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “My cousin said so.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  35. 35.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  36. 36.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.🔎 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
  38. 38.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “It is good for many reasons.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  39. 39.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  40. 40.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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