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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 402 · 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? “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  2. 2.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  3. 3.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) False (b) True
  4. 4.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “dustbins are green” (b) “I feel it” (c) “my friend agrees” (d) a count of litter
  5. 5.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) ends the debate (b) repeats the claim (c) links proof to the claim (d) adds a new topic
  6. 6.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  7. 7.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) a number you found (b) the judges’ marks (c) the point you argue (d) a joke
  8. 8.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  9. 9.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  10. 10.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  13. 13.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a rhyme (b) facts that back a claim (c) your loudest point (d) a guess
  14. 14.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  16. 16.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  17. 17.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (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) reasoning (c) evidence
  20. 20.🧩 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
  21. 21.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  22. 22.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  23. 23.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  24. 24.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
  25. 25.True or false: “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  27. 27.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  28. 28.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  29. 29.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  30. 30.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) complete (b) weak (c) strong (d) proven
  32. 32.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Hello, everyone…” (c) “This shows that…” (d) “Goodbye…”
  33. 33.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) True (b) False
  34. 34.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.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
  36. 36.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  38. 38.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
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  40. 40.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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