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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 915 · 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.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “It is good for many reasons.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  2. 2.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) the city water board (b) an unsigned poster (c) a guess (d) a chat forward
  3. 3.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  4. 4.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I saw it on a random poster once.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  5. 5.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) 30 of 40 students (b) lots of students
  6. 6.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “My cousin said so.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  7. 7.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  8. 8.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Lots of students like it.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  9. 9.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  10. 10.True or false: “Some people say it helps somehow.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  11. 11.🔎 Before using a number in a debate, you should… (a) check where it came from (b) round it to 100 (c) hide the source (d) make it bigger
  12. 12.True or false: “Everybody knows it.” is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  13. 13.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  14. 14.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) very strong (b) not relevant (c) very specific
  15. 15.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Lots of people think so.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  16. 16.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  17. 17.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “My neighbour heard it from someone.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  18. 18.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  19. 19.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  20. 20.True or false: a story you are not sure about is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  21. 21.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  22. 22.True or false: one friend’s guess is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.🔎 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
  24. 24.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  25. 25.True or false: “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  26. 26.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  27. 27.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  28. 28.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Some people say it helps somehow.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  29. 29.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  30. 30.True or false: “I think I dreamt it.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  32. 32.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: measured results from our class experiment? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  34. 34.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  35. 35.True or false: one friend’s guess is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  37. 37.True or false: “Lots of students like it.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) loud and long (b) relevant and reliable (c) old and vague (d) funny and short
  39. 39.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Studies show things.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  40. 40.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence

Answer key

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

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