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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 490 · 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) a guess (b) a rhyme (c) facts that back a claim (d) your loudest point
  2. 2.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) weak (b) proven (c) complete (d) strong
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  4. 4.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “This shows that…” (b) “Goodbye…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Hello, everyone…”
  5. 5.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
  6. 6.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “dustbins are green” (b) a count of litter (c) “I feel it” (d) “my friend agrees”
  7. 7.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  8. 8.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  9. 9.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  11. 11.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) links proof to the claim (b) ends the debate (c) repeats the claim (d) adds a new topic
  12. 12.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
  13. 13.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) a joke (b) the judges’ marks (c) the point you argue (d) a number you found
  14. 14.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  17. 17.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  19. 19.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) False (b) True
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  21. 21.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  24. 24.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  25. 25.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  26. 26.True or false: “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  27. 27.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  29. 29.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  30. 30.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
  31. 31.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  32. 32.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
  33. 33.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  34. 34.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  35. 35.True or false: “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  38. 38.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  40. 40.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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