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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 814 · 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: 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
  2. 2.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) not relevant (b) very strong (c) very specific
  3. 3.True or false: In a debate on saving water: “My favourite colour is green.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  4. 4.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) 30 of 40 students (b) lots of students
  5. 5.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  6. 6.True or false: In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  7. 7.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  8. 8.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) loud and long (b) relevant and reliable (c) funny and short (d) old and vague
  9. 9.True or false: In a debate on saving water: “My favourite colour is green.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  10. 10.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  11. 11.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  12. 12.True or false: “Lots of people think so.” is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  13. 13.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  14. 14.True or false: “I saw it on a random poster once.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  15. 15.True or false: “A website with no name says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.🔎 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
  17. 17.True or false: “Everybody knows it.” is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  19. 19.🔎 Before using a number in a debate, you should… (a) round it to 100 (b) hide the source (c) check where it came from (d) make it bigger
  20. 20.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
  21. 21.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  22. 22.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  23. 23.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Lots of people think so.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  25. 25.True or false: In a debate on saving water: “My favourite colour is green.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  26. 26.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  27. 27.True or false: a story you are not sure about is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  29. 29.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.🔎 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
  31. 31.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A forwarded message says so.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  32. 32.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “It is good for many reasons.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  33. 33.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) False (b) True
  34. 34.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  35. 35.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
  36. 36.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Lots of students like it.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  37. 37.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  38. 38.True or false: one friend’s guess is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  39. 39.True or false: figures from the city water board is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  40. 40.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on saving water: “My favourite colour is green.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant

Answer key

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

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