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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 476 · 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 is evidence? (a) your loudest point (b) a guess (c) a rhyme (d) facts that back a claim
  2. 2.🧩 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”
  3. 3.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Goodbye…” (b) “Hello, everyone…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This shows that…”
  4. 4.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
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  7. 7.True or false: “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  8. 8.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  9. 9.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  10. 10.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
  11. 11.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) a joke (b) a number you found (c) the point you argue (d) the judges’ marks
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  13. 13.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) ends the debate (b) adds a new topic (c) repeats the claim (d) links proof to the claim
  14. 14.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  15. 15.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.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
  17. 17.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) strong (b) weak (c) complete (d) proven
  18. 18.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
  19. 19.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
  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.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) True (b) False
  22. 22.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  23. 23.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  24. 24.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  25. 25.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  27. 27.🧩 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
  28. 28.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  29. 29.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
  30. 30.True or false: “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  33. 33.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  34. 34.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  35. 35.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  38. 38.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  39. 39.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  40. 40.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence

Answer key

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

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