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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 855 · 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: one friend’s guess is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) very specific (b) very strong (c) not relevant
  3. 3.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “My cousin said so.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  4. 4.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
  5. 5.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  6. 6.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  7. 7.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  8. 8.True or false: “A website with no name says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  9. 9.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Lots of students like it.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  10. 10.🔎 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
  11. 11.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  12. 12.True or false: measured results from our class experiment is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  13. 13.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) an unsigned poster (b) the city water board (c) a chat forward (d) a guess
  14. 14.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  15. 15.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: measured results from our class experiment? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  17. 17.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  18. 18.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
  19. 19.True or false: “Lots of people think so.” is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  21. 21.True or false: In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  22. 22.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  23. 23.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  24. 24.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “My neighbour heard it from someone.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  25. 25.True or false: one friend’s guess is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  26. 26.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  27. 27.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  28. 28.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “It is good for many reasons.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  29. 29.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  31. 31.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  33. 33.True or false: “I think I dreamt it.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.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
  35. 35.🔎 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
  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: 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
  38. 38.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) loud and long (b) old and vague (c) funny and short (d) relevant and reliable
  39. 39.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A forwarded message says so.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  40. 40.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence

Answer key

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

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