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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 433 · 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 eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  2. 2.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a guess (b) your loudest point (c) a rhyme (d) facts that back a claim
  3. 3.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) repeats the claim (b) adds a new topic (c) ends the debate (d) links proof to the claim
  4. 4.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “dustbins are green” (b) “I feel it” (c) a count of litter (d) “my friend agrees”
  5. 5.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
  6. 6.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
  7. 7.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
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  9. 9.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  10. 10.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  12. 12.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  13. 13.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  14. 14.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Hello, everyone…” (c) “Goodbye…” (d) “This shows that…”
  15. 15.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.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
  17. 17.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  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? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  20. 20.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  21. 21.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.🧩 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
  23. 23.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  24. 24.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  25. 25.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) strong (b) proven (c) complete (d) weak
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  27. 27.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  28. 28.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  30. 30.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.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
  32. 32.🧩 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
  33. 33.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  34. 34.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  35. 35.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the point you argue (b) a number you found (c) the judges’ marks (d) a joke
  36. 36.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.True or false: “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  40. 40.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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