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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 455 · 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 shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) a number you found (b) a joke (c) the judges’ marks (d) the point you argue
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  4. 4.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
  5. 5.🧩 What is evidence? (a) facts that back a claim (b) your loudest point (c) a rhyme (d) a guess
  6. 6.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  7. 7.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) False (b) True
  8. 8.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  9. 9.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Hello, everyone…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This shows that…” (d) “Goodbye…”
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  11. 11.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) complete (b) proven (c) weak (d) strong
  12. 12.🧩 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”
  13. 13.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
  14. 14.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  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.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  17. 17.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  19. 19.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (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: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.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
  24. 24.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  26. 26.True or false: “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  27. 27.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  28. 28.True or false: “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  29. 29.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
  30. 30.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
  31. 31.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  32. 32.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  34. 34.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) True (b) False
  35. 35.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) links proof to the claim (b) repeats the claim (c) adds a new topic (d) ends the debate
  36. 36.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.True or false: “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  39. 39.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
  40. 40.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

Answer key

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

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