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