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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 365 · 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.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) a count of litter (b) “dustbins are green” (c) “I feel it” (d) “my friend agrees”
  2. 2.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a guess (b) facts that back a claim (c) your loudest point (d) a rhyme
  3. 3.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  4. 4.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  6. 6.True or false: “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  7. 7.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  8. 8.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
  9. 9.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “This shows that…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Hello, everyone…” (d) “Goodbye…”
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  11. 11.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the point you argue (b) a number you found (c) the judges’ marks (d) a joke
  12. 12.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) links proof to the claim (b) repeats the claim (c) ends the debate (d) adds a new topic
  13. 13.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  14. 14.True or false: “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.True or false: “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  17. 17.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
  18. 18.True or false: “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  19. 19.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  21. 21.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  23. 23.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  24. 24.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.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
  26. 26.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
  27. 27.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  28. 28.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
  29. 29.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  30. 30.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) True (b) False
  31. 31.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) proven (b) strong (c) complete (d) weak
  32. 32.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  33. 33.🧩 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
  34. 34.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  35. 35.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  36. 36.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  38. 38.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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