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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 328 · 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.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) False (b) True
  2. 2.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the judges’ marks (b) a joke (c) the point you argue (d) a number you found
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  4. 4.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  7. 7.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  9. 9.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  11. 11.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) a count of litter (b) “my friend agrees” (c) “dustbins are green” (d) “I feel it”
  12. 12.True or false: “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  13. 13.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) strong (b) complete (c) weak (d) proven
  14. 14.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) repeats the claim (b) adds a new topic (c) links proof to the claim (d) ends the debate
  15. 15.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Hello, everyone…” (b) “Goodbye…” (c) “This shows that…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
  16. 16.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
  17. 17.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
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  19. 19.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  21. 21.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  22. 22.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
  23. 23.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.🧩 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
  25. 25.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
  26. 26.🧩 What is evidence? (a) facts that back a claim (b) your loudest point (c) a guess (d) a rhyme
  27. 27.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.True or false: “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.True or false: “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  31. 31.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
  32. 32.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  33. 33.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  34. 34.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  35. 35.True or false: “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  38. 38.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  40. 40.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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