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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 325 · 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) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  2. 2.🧩 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
  3. 3.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  4. 4.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  6. 6.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  7. 7.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) strong (b) proven (c) weak (d) complete
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  9. 9.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “I feel it” (b) “my friend agrees” (c) “dustbins are green” (d) a count of litter
  10. 10.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  12. 12.True or false: “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  13. 13.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  14. 14.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  16. 16.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  17. 17.🧩 What is evidence? (a) your loudest point (b) a guess (c) facts that back a claim (d) a rhyme
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  19. 19.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
  20. 20.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) repeats the claim (b) adds a new topic (c) ends the debate (d) links proof to the claim
  21. 21.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This shows that…” (c) “Hello, everyone…” (d) “Goodbye…”
  22. 22.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  23. 23.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  27. 27.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  28. 28.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  29. 29.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.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
  31. 31.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  32. 32.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  33. 33.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  34. 34.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the point you argue (b) the judges’ marks (c) a number you found (d) a joke
  36. 36.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  37. 37.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
  38. 38.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
  39. 39.🧩 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
  40. 40.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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