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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 390 · 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) facts that back a claim (c) a guess (d) a rhyme
  2. 2.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
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  4. 4.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  5. 5.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  8. 8.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  9. 9.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  11. 11.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) weak (b) complete (c) strong (d) proven
  12. 12.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) a number you found (b) the judges’ marks (c) the point you argue (d) a joke
  13. 13.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  14. 14.True or false: “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) ends the debate (b) links proof to the claim (c) repeats the claim (d) adds a new topic
  16. 16.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  17. 17.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  18. 18.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
  19. 19.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  21. 21.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  22. 22.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Goodbye…” (c) “This shows that…” (d) “Hello, everyone…”
  23. 23.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
  24. 24.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) True (b) False
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  27. 27.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  29. 29.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  30. 30.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.🧩 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
  32. 32.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  34. 34.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  35. 35.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.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
  37. 37.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.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
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  40. 40.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) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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