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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 270 · 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 does reasoning do? (a) adds a new topic (b) links proof to the claim (c) ends the debate (d) repeats the claim
  2. 2.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the judges’ marks (b) a number you found (c) a joke (d) the point you argue
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  4. 4.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is a claim — the point being argued. (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) evidence (c) a claim
  6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  7. 7.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “I feel it” (b) a count of litter (c) “dustbins are green” (d) “my friend agrees”
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  9. 9.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) strong (b) proven (c) weak (d) complete
  10. 10.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  11. 11.True or false: “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  12. 12.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  13. 13.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) True (b) False
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  16. 16.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  17. 17.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
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  19. 19.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  20. 20.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  21. 21.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (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.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  26. 26.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
  27. 27.🧩 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
  28. 28.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  29. 29.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  30. 30.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  31. 31.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
  32. 32.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  33. 33.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Goodbye…” (b) “Hello, everyone…” (c) “This shows that…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
  34. 34.True or false: “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.True or false: “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  37. 37.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) True (b) False
  38. 38.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
  39. 39.True or false: “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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