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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 322 · 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 joke (b) a number you found (c) the point you argue (d) the judges’ marks
  2. 2.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
  3. 3.🧩 What is evidence? (a) facts that back a claim (b) a rhyme (c) your loudest point (d) a guess
  4. 4.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  5. 5.🧩 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
  6. 6.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “I feel it” (b) “my friend agrees” (c) a count of litter (d) “dustbins are green”
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  9. 9.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  12. 12.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Goodbye…” (b) “Hello, everyone…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This shows that…”
  13. 13.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
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  15. 15.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
  16. 16.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  17. 17.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) links proof to the claim (b) adds a new topic (c) ends the debate (d) repeats the claim
  18. 18.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
  19. 19.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
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  21. 21.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  22. 22.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  23. 23.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  24. 24.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  26. 26.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
  27. 27.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  29. 29.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  31. 31.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
  32. 32.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
  33. 33.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) weak (b) proven (c) complete (d) strong
  34. 34.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  35. 35.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.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
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  40. 40.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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