← Strong and weak evidence lesson New set →

Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 908 · 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 weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.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) True (b) False
  3. 3.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  4. 4.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “My neighbour heard it from someone.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  5. 5.True or false: In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  6. 6.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  7. 7.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  8. 8.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  9. 9.🔎 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
  10. 10.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  11. 11.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) loud and long (b) old and vague (c) funny and short (d) relevant and reliable
  12. 12.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  13. 13.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Lots of people think so.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  14. 14.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I think I dreamt it.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  15. 15.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  16. 16.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  17. 17.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  19. 19.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  20. 20.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  21. 21.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
  22. 22.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
  23. 23.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A website with no name says so.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  24. 24.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.True or false: “I saw it on a random poster once.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  26. 26.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  27. 27.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  28. 28.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  29. 29.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.True or false: “I think I dreamt it.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.True or false: In a debate on saving water: “My favourite colour is green.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.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) True (b) False
  33. 33.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) 30 of 40 students (b) lots of students
  35. 35.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  37. 37.True or false: a story you are not sure about is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “My cousin said so.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  39. 39.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  40. 40.True or false: “Lots of people think so.” is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

Free debate lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/debate-for-students