← Claim, evidence and reasoning lesson New set →

Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 113 · 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.True or false: “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  2. 2.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) a count of litter (b) “I feel it” (c) “my friend agrees” (d) “dustbins are green”
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  4. 4.🧩 What is evidence? (a) facts that back a claim (b) a rhyme (c) a guess (d) your loudest point
  5. 5.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) adds a new topic (b) repeats the claim (c) links proof to the claim (d) ends the debate
  6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  8. 8.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) strong (b) complete (c) proven (d) weak
  9. 9.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  10. 10.True or false: “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  11. 11.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Goodbye…” (b) “This shows that…” (c) “Hello, everyone…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
  12. 12.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
  13. 13.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  15. 15.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  17. 17.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  18. 18.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  19. 19.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
  20. 20.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  21. 21.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  22. 22.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  24. 24.True or false: “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  26. 26.True or false: “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  28. 28.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  30. 30.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) a number you found (b) a joke (c) the judges’ marks (d) the point you argue
  32. 32.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  33. 33.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  34. 34.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
  35. 35.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  38. 38.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  40. 40.True or false: “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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