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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 401 · 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.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  2. 2.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  3. 3.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This shows that…” (c) “Hello, everyone…” (d) “Goodbye…”
  4. 4.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  5. 5.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  6. 6.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) a joke (b) the point you argue (c) a number you found (d) the judges’ marks
  7. 7.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) ends the debate (b) repeats the claim (c) adds a new topic (d) links proof to the claim
  8. 8.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  9. 9.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  10. 10.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
  11. 11.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a guess (b) facts that back a claim (c) your loudest point (d) a rhyme
  12. 12.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  13. 13.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  14. 14.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) proven (b) strong (c) weak (d) complete
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  16. 16.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  17. 17.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  18. 18.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
  19. 19.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “I feel it” (b) a count of litter (c) “dustbins are green” (d) “my friend agrees”
  20. 20.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  21. 21.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  22. 22.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  23. 23.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  24. 24.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  26. 26.True or false: “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  27. 27.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
  28. 28.True or false: “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  29. 29.True or false: “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  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) False (b) True
  31. 31.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  32. 32.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) False (b) True
  33. 33.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  34. 34.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  35. 35.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  36. 36.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
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  38. 38.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  40. 40.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

Answer key

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

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