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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 118 · 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: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  2. 2.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
  3. 3.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) strong (b) proven (c) weak (d) complete
  4. 4.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
  5. 5.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a guess (b) facts that back a claim (c) a rhyme (d) your loudest point
  6. 6.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  7. 7.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  9. 9.True or false: “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  11. 11.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Hello, everyone…” (c) “This shows that…” (d) “Goodbye…”
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  13. 13.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  16. 16.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  17. 17.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  18. 18.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
  19. 19.🧩 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”
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  21. 21.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  22. 22.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) adds a new topic (b) links proof to the claim (c) repeats the claim (d) ends the debate
  24. 24.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  27. 27.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  28. 28.True or false: “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  30. 30.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.True or false: “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  33. 33.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  34. 34.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  35. 35.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the judges’ marks (b) a number you found (c) the point you argue (d) a joke
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  40. 40.True or false: “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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