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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 420 · 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: “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
  2. 2.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  3. 3.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a guess (b) your loudest point (c) facts that back a claim (d) a rhyme
  4. 4.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the point you argue (b) the judges’ marks (c) a joke (d) a number you found
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  6. 6.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  9. 9.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  10. 10.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
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  12. 12.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) weak (b) complete (c) proven (d) strong
  13. 13.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  14. 14.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
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  16. 16.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” 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) False (b) True
  18. 18.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
  19. 19.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  21. 21.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
  22. 22.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  23. 23.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  24. 24.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
  25. 25.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Hello, everyone…” (b) “This shows that…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Goodbye…”
  26. 26.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  27. 27.True or false: “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  28. 28.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  29. 29.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  30. 30.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  32. 32.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) False (b) True
  33. 33.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
  34. 34.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  35. 35.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  36. 36.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
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  38. 38.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
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  40. 40.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence

Answer key

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

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