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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 242 · 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: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  2. 2.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
  3. 3.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  4. 4.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
  5. 5.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) complete (b) weak (c) proven (d) strong
  6. 6.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
  7. 7.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  8. 8.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) True (b) False
  9. 9.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) links proof to the claim (b) ends the debate (c) adds a new topic (d) repeats the claim
  10. 10.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
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  13. 13.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  14. 14.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Hello, everyone…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Goodbye…” (d) “This shows that…”
  15. 15.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  16. 16.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  17. 17.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  19. 19.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  20. 20.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the point you argue (b) the judges’ marks (c) a number you found (d) a joke
  21. 21.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  22. 22.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
  23. 23.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
  24. 24.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  25. 25.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
  26. 26.🧩 What is evidence? (a) facts that back a claim (b) your loudest point (c) a guess (d) a rhyme
  27. 27.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  28. 28.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  31. 31.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) True (b) False
  32. 32.True or false: “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  33. 33.True or false: “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.🧩 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
  35. 35.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  38. 38.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
  39. 39.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “dustbins are green” (b) “I feel it” (c) a count of litter (d) “my friend agrees”
  40. 40.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

Answer key

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

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