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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 457 · 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? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  2. 2.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
  3. 3.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  4. 4.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) complete (b) weak (c) strong (d) proven
  5. 5.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
  6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  9. 9.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a guess (b) your loudest point (c) facts that back a claim (d) a rhyme
  10. 10.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
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  12. 12.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) repeats the claim (b) adds a new topic (c) ends the debate (d) links proof to the claim
  13. 13.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  15. 15.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) True (b) False
  16. 16.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Hello, everyone…” (b) “This shows that…” (c) “Goodbye…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
  17. 17.True or false: “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  19. 19.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the judges’ marks (b) the point you argue (c) a number you found (d) a joke
  20. 20.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  21. 21.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  22. 22.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  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: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  25. 25.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  26. 26.True or false: “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  27. 27.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  29. 29.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  31. 31.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  32. 32.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  33. 33.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “I feel it” (b) “my friend agrees” (c) a count of litter (d) “dustbins are green”
  34. 34.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  36. 36.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.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
  38. 38.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
  39. 39.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
  40. 40.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

Answer key

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

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