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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 1 · 40 questions
TalentJR

Debater's tip (Claim → evidence → reasoning): Claim: the point being argued — often a “should” sentence. Evidence: a fact, number, record or example that can be checked. Reasoning: explains how the evidence proves the claim — it often begins “This shows that…”, “So…” or “That means…”.

NameDateTime takenScore ___ / 40
  1. 1.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  2. 2.True or false: “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  3. 3.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the judges’ marks (b) a number you found (c) the point you argue (d) a joke
  4. 4.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  6. 6.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  7. 7.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “dustbins are green” (b) “my friend agrees” (c) “I feel it” (d) a count of litter
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  9. 9.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  11. 11.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  12. 12.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a rhyme (b) facts that back a claim (c) a guess (d) your loudest point
  13. 13.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  16. 16.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) links proof to the claim (b) adds a new topic (c) ends the debate (d) repeats the claim
  17. 17.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Hello, everyone…” (b) “Goodbye…” (c) “This shows that…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  19. 19.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  21. 21.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  23. 23.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) complete (b) strong (c) proven (d) weak
  24. 24.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  27. 27.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  28. 28.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  29. 29.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  31. 31.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  33. 33.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  34. 34.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  38. 38.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  40. 40.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

  1. a claim
  2. True
  3. the point you argue
  4. reasoning
  5. evidence
  6. True
  7. a count of litter
  8. reasoning
  9. True
  10. evidence
  11. False
  12. facts that back a claim
  13. True
  14. reasoning
  15. a claim
  16. links proof to the claim
  17. “This shows that…”
  18. a claim
  19. evidence
  20. reasoning
  21. True
  22. reasoning
  23. weak
  24. False
  25. True
  26. reasoning
  27. evidence
  28. a claim
  29. False
  30. reasoning
  31. True
  32. True
  33. evidence
  34. False
  35. False
  36. True
  37. a claim
  38. a claim
  39. a claim
  40. False

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