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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 315 · 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? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  2. 2.True or false: “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  4. 4.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  6. 6.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Goodbye…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Hello, everyone…” (d) “This shows that…”
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  9. 9.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  10. 10.🧩 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
  11. 11.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  12. 12.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a guess (b) your loudest point (c) facts that back a claim (d) a rhyme
  13. 13.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  15. 15.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  16. 16.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “I feel it” (b) a count of litter (c) “my friend agrees” (d) “dustbins are green”
  17. 17.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) complete (b) strong (c) proven (d) weak
  18. 18.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
  19. 19.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) adds a new topic (b) links proof to the claim (c) repeats the claim (d) ends the debate
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  21. 21.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  23. 23.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  25. 25.True or false: “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  27. 27.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
  28. 28.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) a joke (b) a number you found (c) the judges’ marks (d) the point you argue
  29. 29.True or false: “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  31. 31.True or false: “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  34. 34.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  35. 35.True or false: “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.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
  37. 37.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) False (b) True
  38. 38.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
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  40. 40.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

Answer key

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

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