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Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 974 · 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.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) 30 of 40 students (b) lots of students
  2. 2.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  3. 3.True or false: a story you are not sure about is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  4. 4.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  5. 5.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  6. 6.True or false: a story you are not sure about is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  7. 7.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  8. 8.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “My cousin said so.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  9. 9.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  10. 10.🔎 Before using a number in a debate, you should… (a) hide the source (b) round it to 100 (c) check where it came from (d) make it bigger
  11. 11.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) very strong (b) very specific (c) not relevant
  12. 12.🔎 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
  13. 13.True or false: “Some people say it helps somehow.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  14. 14.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.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
  16. 16.🔎 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
  17. 17.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) loud and long (b) relevant and reliable (c) funny and short (d) old and vague
  19. 19.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Lots of people think so.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  20. 20.True or false: “I saw it on a random poster once.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  21. 21.True or false: figures from the city water board is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.True or false: figures from the city water board is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  24. 24.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a survey of 300 students in our school? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  25. 25.True or false: “A website with no name says so.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
  26. 26.True or false: “I think I dreamt it.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  28. 28.True or false: one friend’s guess is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  31. 31.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.True or false: “A website with no name says so.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “It is good for many reasons.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  34. 34.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
  35. 35.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) False (b) True
  36. 36.True or false: In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Lots of students like it.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  39. 39.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I think I dreamt it.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  40. 40.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence

Answer key

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

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