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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 762 · 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.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Some people say it helps somehow.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  2. 2.🔎 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
  3. 3.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Lots of people think so.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  4. 4.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  5. 5.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  6. 6.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) lots of students (b) 30 of 40 students
  7. 7.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I saw it on a random poster once.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  8. 8.True or false: “It is good for many reasons.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  9. 9.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) not relevant (b) very specific (c) very strong
  10. 10.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: measured results from our class experiment? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  11. 11.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  12. 12.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
  13. 13.🔎 Before using a number in a debate, you should… (a) round it to 100 (b) hide the source (c) make it bigger (d) check where it came from
  14. 14.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  15. 15.True or false: “Lots of people think so.” is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  16. 16.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “My neighbour heard it from someone.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  17. 17.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “My cousin said so.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  18. 18.True or false: a story you are not sure about is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  19. 19.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  20. 20.True or false: “I think I dreamt it.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  21. 21.True or false: one friend’s guess is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  22. 22.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  23. 23.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  24. 24.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  26. 26.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  27. 27.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  28. 28.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  29. 29.True or false: “Lots of people think so.” is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.True or false: measured results from our class experiment is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Lots of students like it.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  32. 32.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) loud and long (b) funny and short (c) relevant and reliable (d) old and vague
  33. 33.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” (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) True (b) False
  35. 35.True or false: figures from the city water board is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “It is good for many reasons.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  37. 37.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  39. 39.🔎 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
  40. 40.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I think I dreamt it.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant

Answer key

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

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