← Claim, evidence and reasoning lesson New set →

Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

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

Answer key

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

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