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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 868 · 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: “Some people say it helps somehow.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  3. 3.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) not relevant (b) very specific (c) very strong
  4. 4.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) 30 of 40 students (b) lots of students
  5. 5.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
  6. 6.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
  7. 7.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
  8. 8.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  9. 9.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  10. 10.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  11. 11.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “My cousin said so.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  12. 12.True or false: “A forwarded message says so.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  13. 13.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  14. 14.True or false: In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.True or false: figures from the city water board is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  16. 16.True or false: “Everybody knows it.” is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  17. 17.True or false: one friend’s guess is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  18. 18.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  19. 19.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) funny and short (b) loud and long (c) relevant and reliable (d) old and vague
  20. 20.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  21. 21.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  22. 22.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  23. 23.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  24. 24.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.True or false: In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  26. 26.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A forwarded message says so.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  28. 28.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  29. 29.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) False (b) True
  30. 30.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) a guess (b) the city water board (c) an unsigned poster (d) a chat forward
  31. 31.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Studies show things.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  32. 32.True or false: “A website with no name says so.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  34. 34.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
  35. 35.True or false: a story you are not sure about is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “It is good for many reasons.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  37. 37.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  38. 38.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  39. 39.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.True or false: “A website with no name says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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