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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 350 · 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? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  2. 2.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  4. 4.True or false: “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  5. 5.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) repeats the claim (b) ends the debate (c) links proof to the claim (d) adds a new topic
  6. 6.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
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  8. 8.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) True (b) False
  9. 9.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  10. 10.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  11. 11.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a rhyme (b) a guess (c) your loudest point (d) facts that back a claim
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  13. 13.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Hello, everyone…” (b) “This shows that…” (c) “Goodbye…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
  14. 14.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) complete (b) strong (c) weak (d) proven
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  16. 16.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) a joke (b) the judges’ marks (c) the point you argue (d) a number you found
  17. 17.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  19. 19.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
  20. 20.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  21. 21.🧩 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
  22. 22.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  23. 23.True or false: “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  25. 25.🧩 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
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  27. 27.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) a count of litter (b) “dustbins are green” (c) “my friend agrees” (d) “I feel it”
  28. 28.🧩 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
  29. 29.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
  30. 30.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  32. 32.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  33. 33.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
  34. 34.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) True (b) False
  35. 35.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
  36. 36.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  38. 38.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  40. 40.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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