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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 383 · 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 the claim in an argument? (a) a number you found (b) a joke (c) the point you argue (d) the judges’ marks
  2. 2.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) False (b) True
  3. 3.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “dustbins are green” (b) “my friend agrees” (c) a count of litter (d) “I feel it”
  4. 4.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  6. 6.🧩 What is evidence? (a) facts that back a claim (b) your loudest point (c) a guess (d) a rhyme
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  8. 8.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
  9. 9.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  10. 10.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
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  12. 12.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
  13. 13.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  15. 15.True or false: “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  16. 16.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  17. 17.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) weak (b) complete (c) proven (d) strong
  18. 18.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  19. 19.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  21. 21.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  22. 22.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  24. 24.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  27. 27.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  28. 28.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  29. 29.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  31. 31.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.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) False (b) True
  34. 34.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  35. 35.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This shows that…” (c) “Hello, everyone…” (d) “Goodbye…”
  36. 36.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  37. 37.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  39. 39.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  40. 40.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) ends the debate (b) adds a new topic (c) links proof to the claim (d) repeats the claim

Answer key

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

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