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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 120 · 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 learn first aid.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) complete (b) proven (c) strong (d) weak
  3. 3.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a guess (b) your loudest point (c) a rhyme (d) facts that back a claim
  4. 4.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  6. 6.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) adds a new topic (b) links proof to the claim (c) repeats the claim (d) ends the debate
  7. 7.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  8. 8.🧩 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
  9. 9.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  11. 11.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  13. 13.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  14. 14.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the judges’ marks (b) the point you argue (c) a number you found (d) a joke
  15. 15.True or false: “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “my friend agrees” (b) “I feel it” (c) “dustbins are green” (d) a count of litter
  17. 17.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  19. 19.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (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) True (b) False
  22. 22.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  23. 23.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
  24. 24.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  25. 25.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
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  27. 27.True or false: “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Hello, everyone…” (b) “This shows that…” (c) “Goodbye…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
  29. 29.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.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) False (b) True
  31. 31.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  32. 32.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
  33. 33.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  34. 34.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  35. 35.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  36. 36.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
  37. 37.True or false: “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  40. 40.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim

Answer key

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

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