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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

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

Answer key

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

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