Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 19 · 40 questions

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…”.

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

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