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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 189 · 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? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  2. 2.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  3. 3.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) weak (b) strong (c) proven (d) complete
  4. 4.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a guess (b) your loudest point (c) facts that back a claim (d) a rhyme
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  6. 6.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This shows that…” (c) “Hello, everyone…” (d) “Goodbye…”
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  8. 8.True or false: “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  9. 9.True or false: “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  10. 10.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
  11. 11.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) adds a new topic (b) links proof to the claim (c) ends the debate (d) repeats the claim
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  13. 13.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
  14. 14.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  16. 16.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  17. 17.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  18. 18.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  19. 19.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  20. 20.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) a count of litter (b) “I feel it” (c) “dustbins are green” (d) “my friend agrees”
  21. 21.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  22. 22.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  23. 23.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  24. 24.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  26. 26.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
  27. 27.True or false: “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.True or false: “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.True or false: “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  33. 33.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  34. 34.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.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
  36. 36.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  37. 37.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the judges’ marks (b) a number you found (c) the point you argue (d) a joke
  38. 38.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is evidence — a fact that backs 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 evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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