← Claim, evidence and reasoning lesson New set →

Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 307 · 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.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  2. 2.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  3. 3.🧩 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”
  4. 4.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  5. 5.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
  6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  7. 7.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) proven (b) weak (c) complete (d) strong
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  9. 9.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  12. 12.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  13. 13.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
  14. 14.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) a number you found (b) the judges’ marks (c) a joke (d) the point you argue
  15. 15.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) repeats the claim (b) ends the debate (c) links proof to the claim (d) adds a new topic
  17. 17.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.🧩 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
  19. 19.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  20. 20.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
  21. 21.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  22. 22.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
  23. 23.🧩 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
  24. 24.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  27. 27.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
  28. 28.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) False (b) True
  29. 29.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
  30. 30.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Goodbye…” (b) “This shows that…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Hello, everyone…”
  31. 31.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  32. 32.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  33. 33.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  34. 34.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.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
  36. 36.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
  37. 37.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a rhyme (b) facts that back a claim (c) a guess (d) your loudest point
  39. 39.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) False (b) True
  40. 40.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning

Answer key

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

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