← Claim, evidence and reasoning lesson New set →

Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 259 · 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.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) a joke (b) a number you found (c) the point you argue (d) the judges’ marks
  2. 2.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  4. 4.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
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  6. 6.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  7. 7.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a rhyme (b) your loudest point (c) a guess (d) facts that back a claim
  8. 8.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) ends the debate (b) adds a new topic (c) repeats the claim (d) links proof to the claim
  9. 9.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “dustbins are green” (b) “my friend agrees” (c) a count of litter (d) “I feel it”
  10. 10.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  11. 11.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
  12. 12.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Hello, everyone…” (b) “Goodbye…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This shows that…”
  13. 13.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  14. 14.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) weak (b) strong (c) proven (d) complete
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  16. 16.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  17. 17.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
  18. 18.True or false: “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  19. 19.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  21. 21.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  22. 22.True or false: “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.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
  25. 25.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  27. 27.True or false: “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.True or false: “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  31. 31.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  33. 33.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  34. 34.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  36. 36.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  38. 38.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  40. 40.True or false: “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

Free debate lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/debate-for-students