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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 935 · 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: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Lots of students like it.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  3. 3.True or false: a story you are not sure about is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  4. 4.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  5. 5.True or false: “Some people say it helps somehow.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  6. 6.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  7. 7.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  8. 8.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  9. 9.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  10. 10.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  11. 11.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  12. 12.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  13. 13.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) lots of students (b) 30 of 40 students
  14. 14.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  15. 15.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Some people say it helps somehow.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  17. 17.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  18. 18.True or false: one friend’s guess is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  19. 19.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Studies show things.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  21. 21.True or false: figures from the city water board is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  22. 22.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  23. 23.True or false: In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  24. 24.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “It is good for many reasons.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  26. 26.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
  27. 27.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  28. 28.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) funny and short (b) relevant and reliable (c) loud and long (d) old and vague
  29. 29.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  31. 31.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  32. 32.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  33. 33.True or false: “Lots of students like it.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.True or false: In a debate on saving water: “My favourite colour is green.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  35. 35.True or false: “Everybody knows it.” is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.True or false: “I think I dreamt it.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  38. 38.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  39. 39.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) not relevant (b) very specific (c) very strong
  40. 40.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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