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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 225 · 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.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
  2. 2.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  3. 3.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) a count of litter (b) “my friend agrees” (c) “I feel it” (d) “dustbins are green”
  4. 4.🧩 What is evidence? (a) your loudest point (b) a guess (c) a rhyme (d) facts that back a claim
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  6. 6.True or false: “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  8. 8.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
  9. 9.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  11. 11.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  12. 12.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  13. 13.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “This shows that…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Hello, everyone…” (d) “Goodbye…”
  14. 14.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the judges’ marks (b) a joke (c) the point you argue (d) a number you found
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  16. 16.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
  17. 17.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  19. 19.🧩 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
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  21. 21.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  22. 22.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  23. 23.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
  24. 24.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  25. 25.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) ends the debate (b) links proof to the claim (c) adds a new topic (d) repeats the claim
  26. 26.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  27. 27.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  28. 28.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  29. 29.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
  30. 30.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.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
  32. 32.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.True or false: “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  34. 34.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  35. 35.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  36. 36.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  37. 37.True or false: “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  39. 39.True or false: “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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