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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 143 · 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? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  2. 2.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  3. 3.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a guess (b) facts that back a claim (c) your loudest point (d) a rhyme
  4. 4.🧩 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
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  6. 6.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Goodbye…” (c) “Hello, everyone…” (d) “This shows that…”
  7. 7.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “dustbins are green” (b) “I feel it” (c) a count of litter (d) “my friend agrees”
  8. 8.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  9. 9.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
  10. 10.🧩 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
  11. 11.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  12. 12.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
  13. 13.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) a joke (b) the judges’ marks (c) a number you found (d) the point you argue
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  15. 15.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  16. 16.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  17. 17.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
  18. 18.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
  19. 19.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) adds a new topic (b) ends the debate (c) links proof to the claim (d) repeats the claim
  20. 20.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) complete (b) weak (c) strong (d) proven
  21. 21.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  22. 22.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  24. 24.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
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  27. 27.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  28. 28.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  29. 29.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  33. 33.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  34. 34.True or false: “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  35. 35.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
  36. 36.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  38. 38.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
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  40. 40.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence

Answer key

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

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