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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 310 · 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 evidence? (a) your loudest point (b) a guess (c) a rhyme (d) facts that back a claim
  2. 2.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  3. 3.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
  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 tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  6. 6.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “This shows that…” (b) “Hello, everyone…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Goodbye…”
  7. 7.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  9. 9.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  13. 13.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
  14. 14.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) strong (b) proven (c) complete (d) weak
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  16. 16.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  17. 17.True or false: “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “dustbins are green” (b) “my friend agrees” (c) “I feel it” (d) a count of litter
  19. 19.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
  20. 20.True or false: “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  21. 21.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) True (b) False
  22. 22.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  23. 23.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
  24. 24.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  25. 25.True or false: “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  26. 26.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  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.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the judges’ marks (b) a joke (c) a number you found (d) the point you argue
  29. 29.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  31. 31.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
  32. 32.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
  33. 33.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.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
  35. 35.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
  36. 36.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.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
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  40. 40.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim

Answer key

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

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