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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 289 · 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) links proof to the claim (b) repeats the claim (c) adds a new topic (d) ends the debate
  2. 2.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  4. 4.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
  5. 5.🧩 What is evidence? (a) facts that back a claim (b) your loudest point (c) a guess (d) a rhyme
  6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  7. 7.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
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  9. 9.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Hello, everyone…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Goodbye…” (d) “This shows that…”
  10. 10.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) False (b) True
  11. 11.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  13. 13.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
  14. 14.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.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
  17. 17.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
  18. 18.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  19. 19.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  21. 21.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  22. 22.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  23. 23.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  27. 27.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  28. 28.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  29. 29.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  30. 30.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.True or false: “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.🧩 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”
  34. 34.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.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
  36. 36.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  38. 38.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the point you argue (b) a joke (c) a number you found (d) the judges’ marks
  40. 40.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) weak (b) strong (c) proven (d) complete

Answer key

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

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