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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 834 · 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: a fact from our science textbook is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “My neighbour heard it from someone.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  3. 3.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  4. 4.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  5. 5.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  6. 6.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) relevant and reliable (b) loud and long (c) funny and short (d) old and vague
  7. 7.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) True (b) False
  8. 8.True or false: “Lots of students like it.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  9. 9.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) very strong (b) not relevant (c) very specific
  10. 10.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I saw it on a random poster once.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  11. 11.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A forwarded message says so.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  12. 12.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  13. 13.True or false: “Lots of people think so.” is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  14. 14.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “My cousin said so.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  15. 15.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  16. 16.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  17. 17.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “It is good for many reasons.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  18. 18.True or false: “A website with no name says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  19. 19.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  20. 20.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  21. 21.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) lots of students (b) 30 of 40 students
  22. 22.True or false: In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  24. 24.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Lots of students like it.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  25. 25.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  26. 26.True or false: “Everybody knows it.” is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.True or false: one friend’s guess is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  28. 28.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I think I dreamt it.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  30. 30.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  31. 31.True or false: figures from the city water board is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) a guess (b) a chat forward (c) the city water board (d) an unsigned poster
  33. 33.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) True (b) False
  34. 34.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.True or false: “It is good for many reasons.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  37. 37.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Some people say it helps somehow.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  38. 38.True or false: “Everybody knows it.” is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.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
  40. 40.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence

Answer key

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

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