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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 445 · 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.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “I feel it” (b) “dustbins are green” (c) a count of litter (d) “my friend agrees”
  2. 2.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  3. 3.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  4. 4.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  5. 5.🧩 What is evidence? (a) facts that back a claim (b) your loudest point (c) a rhyme (d) a guess
  6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  7. 7.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) adds a new topic (b) ends the debate (c) links proof to the claim (d) repeats the claim
  8. 8.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  9. 9.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Hello, everyone…” (c) “Goodbye…” (d) “This shows that…”
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  11. 11.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the point you argue (b) the judges’ marks (c) a number you found (d) a joke
  12. 12.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  13. 13.True or false: “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  15. 15.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  16. 16.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
  17. 17.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  19. 19.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  21. 21.🧩 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
  22. 22.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) complete (b) proven (c) strong (d) weak
  23. 23.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.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
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  27. 27.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
  28. 28.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  29. 29.True or false: “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  33. 33.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
  34. 34.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  35. 35.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  36. 36.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  37. 37.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.🧩 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
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  40. 40.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

Answer key

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

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