← Strong and weak evidence lesson New set →

Debate Worksheet: Strong and Weak Evidence

Debate lesson 3: Strong and weak evidence · Set 996 · 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 source is most reliable in a debate on saving water? (a) a guess (b) an unsigned poster (c) the city water board (d) a chat forward
  2. 2.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: measured results from our class experiment? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  3. 3.True or false: “A forwarded message says so.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) False (b) True
  4. 4.🔎 What makes evidence strong? (a) loud and long (b) funny and short (c) relevant and reliable (d) old and vague
  5. 5.True or false: measured results from our class experiment is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  6. 6.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on saving water: “My favourite colour is green.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  7. 7.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I saw it on a random poster once.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  8. 8.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: one friend’s guess? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  9. 9.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Studies show things.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  10. 10.🔎 A fact about cricket in a debate on school uniforms is… (a) very strong (b) very specific (c) not relevant
  11. 11.True or false: the attendance register for the whole year is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  12. 12.True or false: a story you are not sure about is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  13. 13.🔎 Which is more specific? (a) 30 of 40 students (b) lots of students
  14. 14.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A forwarded message says so.” (a) not relevant (b) not reliable (c) not specific
  15. 15.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “I think I dreamt it.” (a) not specific (b) not reliable (c) not relevant
  16. 16.True or false: “Lots of people think so.” is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  17. 17.True or false: “I saw it on a random poster once.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  18. 18.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on sports periods: “Mangoes grow in summer.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  19. 19.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school nurse’s record of sick days? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  20. 20.True or false: “A website with no name says so.” — this is weak because its source is not reliable. (a) True (b) False
  21. 21.🔎 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
  22. 22.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a fact from our science textbook? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  23. 23.True or false: “My neighbour heard it from someone.” — this is weak because it is not relevant to the topic. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: the school library’s record of books borrowed? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  25. 25.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
  26. 26.True or false: an unsigned post with no source is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.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) True (b) False
  28. 28.True or false: a fact from our science textbook is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  29. 29.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a rumour forwarded in a chat group? (a) strong evidence (b) weak evidence
  30. 30.True or false: a rumour forwarded in a chat group is weak evidence. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.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
  33. 33.True or false: a survey of 300 students in our school is weak evidence. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: figures from the city water board? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  35. 35.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “Some people say it helps somehow.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable
  36. 36.🔎 Strong or weak evidence: a story you are not sure about? (a) weak evidence (b) strong evidence
  37. 37.True or false: the school nurse’s record of sick days is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.True or false: measured results from our class experiment is strong evidence. (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? “A lot of water gets wasted somewhere.” (a) not reliable (b) not relevant (c) not specific
  40. 40.🔎 Why is this weak evidence? In a debate on reading: “Trains run on tracks.” (a) not relevant (b) not specific (c) not reliable

Answer key

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

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