← Claim, evidence and reasoning lesson New set →

Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

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

Answer key

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

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