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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 148 · 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 is evidence? (a) your loudest point (b) a rhyme (c) a guess (d) facts that back a claim
  2. 2.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  4. 4.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  5. 5.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) complete (b) proven (c) strong (d) weak
  6. 6.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  7. 7.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) repeats the claim (b) ends the debate (c) links proof to the claim (d) adds a new topic
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  9. 9.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
  10. 10.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
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  13. 13.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) a joke (b) the point you argue (c) a number you found (d) the judges’ marks
  14. 14.🧩 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
  15. 15.True or false: “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  16. 16.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  17. 17.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
  18. 18.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
  19. 19.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  20. 20.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  21. 21.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  22. 22.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Goodbye…” (c) “This shows that…” (d) “Hello, everyone…”
  23. 23.True or false: “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.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
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  26. 26.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  28. 28.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.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
  30. 30.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) a count of litter (b) “my friend agrees” (c) “dustbins are green” (d) “I feel it”
  32. 32.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  34. 34.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  38. 38.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  40. 40.True or false: “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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