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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 392 · 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 does reasoning do? (a) adds a new topic (b) ends the debate (c) repeats the claim (d) links proof to the claim
  2. 2.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  4. 4.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) strong (b) complete (c) proven (d) weak
  5. 5.🧩 What is evidence? (a) facts that back a claim (b) a rhyme (c) your loudest point (d) a guess
  6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  8. 8.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  9. 9.True or false: “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  11. 11.🧩 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”
  12. 12.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  13. 13.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  14. 14.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Hello, everyone…” (b) “This shows that…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Goodbye…”
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  16. 16.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  17. 17.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  19. 19.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  20. 20.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
  21. 21.🧩 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
  22. 22.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  23. 23.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  24. 24.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  25. 25.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the judges’ marks (b) the point you argue (c) a joke (d) a number you found
  26. 26.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.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
  28. 28.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
  29. 29.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  31. 31.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  32. 32.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  33. 33.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  35. 35.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  36. 36.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  38. 38.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  39. 39.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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