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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 937 · 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: “Everybody knows it.” is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I think I dreamt it.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  3. 3.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) not relevant (b) very specific (c) very strong
  4. 4.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “My cousin said so.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  5. 5.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Some people say it helps somehow.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  6. 6.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  7. 7.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  8. 8.🔎 Before using a number in a debate, you should… (a) hide the source (b) check where it came from (c) round it to 100 (d) make it bigger
  9. 9.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A website with no name says so.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  10. 10.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “My neighbour heard it from someone.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  11. 11.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “It is good for many reasons.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  12. 12.True or false: one friend’s guess is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  13. 13.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  14. 14.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  15. 15.True or false: measured results from our class experiment is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  17. 17.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
  18. 18.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  19. 19.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
  20. 20.True or false: measured results from our class experiment is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  21. 21.True or false: In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.True or false: a story you are not sure about is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  23. 23.True or false: “I saw it on a random poster once.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) funny and short (b) old and vague (c) loud and long (d) relevant and reliable
  26. 26.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  28. 28.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) 30 of 40 students (b) lots of students
  29. 29.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: measured results from our class experiment? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  30. 30.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  31. 31.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  32. 32.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  33. 33.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Studies show things.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  34. 34.True or false: “A forwarded message says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  35. 35.True or false: “Lots of people think so.” is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  37. 37.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Lots of students like it.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  38. 38.True or false: “Everybody knows it.” is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” (a) not specific (b) not relevant (c) not reliable
  40. 40.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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