Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 28 · 40 questions

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…”.

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

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