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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 97 · 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 specific (no who, what or how many). (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  3. 3.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  4. 4.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  5. 5.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is weak evidence. (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 relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  7. 7.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A website with no name says so.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  8. 8.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  9. 9.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on homework: “Mount Everest is very tall.” (a) not reliable (b) not specific (c) not relevant
  10. 10.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  11. 11.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Lots of people think so.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  12. 12.True or false: “It is good for many reasons.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  13. 13.True or false: a story you are not sure about is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  14. 14.🔎 Before using a number in a debate, you should… (a) make it bigger (b) hide the source (c) round it to 100 (d) check where it came from
  15. 15.True or false: a story you are not sure about is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  17. 17.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  19. 19.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  20. 20.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) 30 of 40 students (b) lots of students
  21. 21.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) a guess (b) the city water board (c) a chat forward (d) an unsigned poster
  22. 22.True or false: “I saw it on a random poster once.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  23. 23.True or false: “A forwarded message says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  24. 24.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) True (b) False
  25. 25.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I saw it on a random poster once.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  26. 26.True or false: “Everybody knows it.” is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  27. 27.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Lots of students like it.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  28. 28.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
  29. 29.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.True or false: “Everybody knows it.” is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  33. 33.True or false: figures from the city water board is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  34. 34.True or false: “Studies show things.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  35. 35.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) True (b) False
  36. 36.True or false: “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on saving water: “My favourite colour is green.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  38. 38.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  39. 39.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.True or false: “Lots of students like it.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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