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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 431 · 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: “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
  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.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Goodbye…” (c) “This shows that…” (d) “Hello, everyone…”
  4. 4.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “dustbins are green” (b) a count of litter (c) “my friend agrees” (d) “I feel it”
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  6. 6.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) a number you found (b) the point you argue (c) a joke (d) the judges’ marks
  7. 7.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  9. 9.🧩 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
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  11. 11.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
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  13. 13.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) proven (b) complete (c) weak (d) strong
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  15. 15.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
  16. 16.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  17. 17.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  19. 19.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  21. 21.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  22. 22.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  23. 23.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.True or false: “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.🧩 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
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  27. 27.🧩 What is evidence? (a) facts that back a claim (b) a guess (c) a rhyme (d) your loudest point
  28. 28.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  29. 29.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  30. 30.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  32. 32.🧩 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
  33. 33.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) True (b) False
  34. 34.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  35. 35.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  37. 37.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) True (b) False
  38. 38.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  39. 39.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) links proof to the claim (b) ends the debate (c) adds a new topic (d) repeats the claim
  40. 40.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

Answer key

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

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