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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 405 · 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 the claim in an argument? (a) the point you argue (b) a joke (c) a number you found (d) the judges’ marks
  2. 2.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  3. 3.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) ends the debate (b) repeats the claim (c) links proof to the claim (d) adds a new topic
  4. 4.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “This shows that…” (b) “Goodbye…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Hello, everyone…”
  5. 5.🧩 What is evidence? (a) your loudest point (b) facts that back a claim (c) a rhyme (d) a guess
  6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  9. 9.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “I feel it” (b) “dustbins are green” (c) “my friend agrees” (d) a count of litter
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  11. 11.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  12. 12.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  13. 13.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) strong (b) complete (c) proven (d) weak
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  16. 16.True or false: “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  17. 17.True or false: “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  18. 18.🧩 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
  19. 19.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  20. 20.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) False (b) True
  21. 21.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  22. 22.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  23. 23.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  24. 24.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  25. 25.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  26. 26.True or false: “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  27. 27.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.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
  29. 29.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  31. 31.True or false: “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  34. 34.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  35. 35.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  38. 38.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  39. 39.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.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

Answer key

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

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