← Claim, evidence and reasoning lesson New set →

Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 393 · 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.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “This shows that…” (b) “Goodbye…” (c) “Hello, everyone…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  4. 4.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  5. 5.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) a number you found (b) the judges’ marks (c) a joke (d) the point you argue
  6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  7. 7.True or false: “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  8. 8.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
  9. 9.🧩 What is evidence? (a) your loudest point (b) a guess (c) a rhyme (d) facts that back 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) False (b) True
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  12. 12.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
  13. 13.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  16. 16.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  17. 17.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  19. 19.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  20. 20.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) complete (b) weak (c) strong (d) proven
  21. 21.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “my friend agrees” (b) “dustbins are green” (c) “I feel it” (d) a count of litter
  22. 22.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  24. 24.🧩 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
  25. 25.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  26. 26.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) repeats the claim (b) links proof to the claim (c) adds a new topic (d) ends the debate
  27. 27.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
  28. 28.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  29. 29.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.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
  31. 31.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
  32. 32.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  34. 34.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  36. 36.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  38. 38.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
  39. 39.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
  40. 40.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence

Answer key

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

Free debate lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/debate-for-students