← Strong and weak evidence lesson New set →

Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 98 · 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: 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
  2. 2.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “It is good for many reasons.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  3. 3.True or false: a story you are not sure about is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  4. 4.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I saw it on a random poster once.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  5. 5.🔎 Which source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) an unsigned poster (b) a guess (c) the city water board (d) a chat forward
  6. 6.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  7. 7.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  8. 8.True or false: “A website with no name says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  9. 9.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Everybody knows it.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  10. 10.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  11. 11.True or false: measured results from our class experiment is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  12. 12.True or false: “A forwarded message says so.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
  13. 13.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: an unsigned post with no source? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  14. 14.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) True (b) False
  15. 15.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  16. 16.True or false: “It is good for many reasons.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  17. 17.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  18. 18.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: “Lots of people think so.”? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  19. 19.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  20. 20.True or false: the school library’s record of books borrowed is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  21. 21.🔎 Before using a number in a debate, you should… (a) make it bigger (b) round it to 100 (c) hide the source (d) check where it came from
  22. 22.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) not relevant (b) very strong (c) very specific
  24. 24.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Studies show things.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  25. 25.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) 30 of 40 students (b) lots of students
  26. 26.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on school gardens: “Cricket is popular in India.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  28. 28.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.True or false: “I saw it on a random poster once.” — this is weak because it is not specific (no who, what or how many). (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  31. 31.True or false: In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.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
  33. 33.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is strong evidence. (a) False (b) True
  34. 34.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the attendance register for the whole year? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  35. 35.True or false: a story you are not sure about is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.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
  37. 37.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
  38. 38.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “My neighbour heard it from someone.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  39. 39.True or false: “My cousin said so.” is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  40. 40.True or false: “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

Free debate lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/debate-for-students