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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 768 · 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.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) very strong (b) very specific (c) not relevant
  2. 2.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  3. 3.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “It is good for many reasons.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  4. 4.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) funny and short (b) old and vague (c) loud and long (d) relevant and reliable
  5. 5.True or false: In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
  6. 6.True or false: figures from the city water board is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  7. 7.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Lots of people think so.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  8. 8.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  9. 9.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  10. 10.🔎 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
  11. 11.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  12. 12.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  13. 13.🔎 Before using a number in a debate, you should… (a) round it to 100 (b) make it bigger (c) hide the source (d) check where it came from
  14. 14.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  15. 15.True or false: In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) 30 of 40 students (b) lots of students
  17. 17.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  18. 18.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: measured results from our class experiment? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  19. 19.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  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: In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (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? “I think I dreamt it.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  24. 24.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  26. 26.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  27. 27.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on saving water: “My favourite colour is green.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  28. 28.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A website with no name says so.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  29. 29.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.True or false: a story you are not sure about is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.True or false: In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.True or false: “I saw it on a random poster once.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.True or false: figures from the city water board is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  34. 34.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  35. 35.True or false: measured results from our class experiment is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  37. 37.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  39. 39.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence

Answer key

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

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