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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 454 · 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 does reasoning do? (a) repeats the claim (b) links proof to the claim (c) ends the debate (d) adds a new topic
  2. 2.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
  3. 3.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “This shows that…” (b) “Goodbye…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Hello, everyone…”
  4. 4.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “dustbins are green” (b) “my friend agrees” (c) a count of litter (d) “I feel it”
  5. 5.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
  6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  7. 7.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
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  9. 9.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) complete (b) weak (c) proven (d) strong
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  12. 12.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
  13. 13.🧩 What is evidence? (a) facts that back a claim (b) a guess (c) a rhyme (d) your loudest point
  14. 14.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
  15. 15.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  16. 16.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
  17. 17.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  18. 18.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
  19. 19.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  21. 21.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  23. 23.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” 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 a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  25. 25.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  26. 26.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) False (b) True
  27. 27.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
  28. 28.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  30. 30.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.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
  33. 33.🧩 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
  34. 34.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  36. 36.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  37. 37.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the judges’ marks (b) a number you found (c) a joke (d) the point you argue
  38. 38.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  39. 39.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  40. 40.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence

Answer key

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

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