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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 456 · 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.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  2. 2.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) a number you found (b) the point you argue (c) the judges’ marks (d) a joke
  3. 3.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Goodbye…” (b) “This shows that…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Hello, everyone…”
  4. 4.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) a count of litter (b) “my friend agrees” (c) “dustbins are green” (d) “I feel it”
  5. 5.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) proven (b) weak (c) strong (d) complete
  6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  8. 8.🧩 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
  9. 9.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  10. 10.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  11. 11.🧩 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
  12. 12.🧩 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
  13. 13.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) adds a new topic (b) repeats the claim (c) links proof to the claim (d) ends the debate
  14. 14.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  16. 16.True or false: “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  17. 17.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  18. 18.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  19. 19.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  21. 21.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  23. 23.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  24. 24.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.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
  26. 26.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) True (b) False
  27. 27.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  28. 28.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a rhyme (b) a guess (c) facts that back a claim (d) your loudest point
  33. 33.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  34. 34.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.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
  36. 36.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  37. 37.True or false: “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  40. 40.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning

Answer key

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

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