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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

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

Answer key

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

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