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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 154 · 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 the claim in an argument? (a) the point you argue (b) a joke (c) a number you found (d) the judges’ marks
  2. 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. 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. 4.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Goodbye…” (c) “This shows that…” (d) “Hello, everyone…”
  5. 5.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a rhyme (b) facts that back a claim (c) your loudest point (d) a guess
  6. 6.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  7. 7.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  9. 9.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  11. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 16.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  17. 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. 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. 19.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) complete (b) weak (c) proven (d) strong
  20. 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. 21.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  23. 23.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  24. 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. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  26. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 33.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  34. 34.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  35. 35.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  36. 36.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  37. 37.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  39. 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. 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

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

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