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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 230 · 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? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  2. 2.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  3. 3.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) ends the debate (b) links proof to the claim (c) repeats the claim (d) adds a new topic
  4. 4.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  5. 5.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) strong (b) proven (c) weak (d) complete
  6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  8. 8.True or false: “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  9. 9.🧩 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
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  11. 11.🧩 What is evidence? (a) facts that back a claim (b) a guess (c) your loudest point (d) a rhyme
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  13. 13.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  14. 14.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  16. 16.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  17. 17.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  19. 19.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  20. 20.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the judges’ marks (b) the point you argue (c) a joke (d) a number you found
  21. 21.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.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
  23. 23.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Goodbye…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This shows that…” (d) “Hello, everyone…”
  25. 25.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  26. 26.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  28. 28.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) True (b) False
  29. 29.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  30. 30.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  31. 31.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  32. 32.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  33. 33.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  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) a claim (c) reasoning
  36. 36.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.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) False (b) True
  39. 39.True or false: “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  40. 40.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

Answer key

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

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