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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 321 · 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) a guess (b) your loudest point (c) a rhyme (d) facts that back a claim
  2. 2.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
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  4. 4.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  6. 6.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
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  8. 8.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) strong (b) complete (c) proven (d) weak
  9. 9.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Hello, everyone…” (c) “Goodbye…” (d) “This shows that…”
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  12. 12.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  13. 13.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  14. 14.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) False (b) True
  15. 15.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
  16. 16.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  17. 17.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  18. 18.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
  19. 19.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  20. 20.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  21. 21.🧩 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
  22. 22.True or false: “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” 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 a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  26. 26.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) ends the debate (b) links proof to the claim (c) repeats the claim (d) adds a new topic
  27. 27.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  28. 28.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  29. 29.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  30. 30.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
  31. 31.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” 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: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  37. 37.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the point you argue (b) a joke (c) the judges’ marks (d) a number you found
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  40. 40.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

Answer key

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

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