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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 146 · 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.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) repeats the claim (b) ends the debate (c) adds a new topic (d) links proof to the claim
  2. 2.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) False (b) True
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  4. 4.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  5. 5.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  6. 6.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  9. 9.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  10. 10.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  13. 13.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  15. 15.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “dustbins are green” (b) “my friend agrees” (c) “I feel it” (d) a count of litter
  16. 16.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a rhyme (b) a guess (c) your loudest point (d) facts that back a claim
  17. 17.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  18. 18.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) a joke (b) the judges’ marks (c) the point you argue (d) a number you found
  19. 19.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) strong (b) proven (c) complete (d) weak
  20. 20.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  21. 21.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
  22. 22.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
  23. 23.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Goodbye…” (b) “This shows that…” (c) “Hello, everyone…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
  24. 24.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  26. 26.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.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) False (b) True
  28. 28.True or false: “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  29. 29.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  30. 30.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  32. 32.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  33. 33.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
  34. 34.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  35. 35.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  36. 36.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  38. 38.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  40. 40.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence

Answer key

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

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