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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 47 · 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? “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  2. 2.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “I feel it” (b) “my friend agrees” (c) “dustbins are green” (d) a count of litter
  3. 3.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
  4. 4.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  6. 6.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) proven (b) strong (c) weak (d) complete
  7. 7.🧩 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
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  9. 9.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) repeats the claim (b) ends the debate (c) links proof to the claim (d) adds a new topic
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  12. 12.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  13. 13.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  14. 14.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
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  16. 16.True or false: “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” 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) False (b) True
  18. 18.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  19. 19.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “This shows that…” (b) “Goodbye…” (c) “Hello, everyone…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
  20. 20.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the judges’ marks (b) a joke (c) the point you argue (d) a number you found
  21. 21.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  22. 22.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  23. 23.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  24. 24.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  27. 27.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
  28. 28.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
  29. 29.🧩 What is evidence? (a) your loudest point (b) facts that back a claim (c) a guess (d) a rhyme
  30. 30.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  31. 31.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  32. 32.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  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) True (b) False
  39. 39.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
  40. 40.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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