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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 311 · 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 the claim in an argument? (a) a number you found (b) the point you argue (c) the judges’ marks (d) a joke
  2. 2.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  3. 3.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
  4. 4.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
  5. 5.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
  6. 6.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  8. 8.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  9. 9.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “my friend agrees” (b) “I feel it” (c) a count of litter (d) “dustbins are green”
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  13. 13.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  14. 14.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a rhyme (b) your loudest point (c) a guess (d) facts that back a claim
  16. 16.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) False (b) True
  17. 17.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  19. 19.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) proven (b) strong (c) weak (d) complete
  20. 20.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  21. 21.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
  22. 22.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) False (b) True
  23. 23.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.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
  25. 25.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Hello, everyone…” (b) “This shows that…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Goodbye…”
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  27. 27.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.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) False (b) True
  29. 29.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  30. 30.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.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
  32. 32.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  33. 33.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  34. 34.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  35. 35.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  36. 36.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.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
  39. 39.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
  40. 40.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence

Answer key

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

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