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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 504 · 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? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  2. 2.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) ends the debate (b) links proof to the claim (c) repeats the claim (d) adds a new topic
  3. 3.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  4. 4.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) a number you found (b) a joke (c) the judges’ marks (d) the point you argue
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  9. 9.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  10. 10.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  11. 11.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) proven (b) complete (c) strong (d) weak
  12. 12.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
  13. 13.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) True (b) False
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  15. 15.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  17. 17.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) False (b) True
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  19. 19.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  21. 21.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
  22. 22.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a guess (b) facts that back a claim (c) your loudest point (d) a rhyme
  23. 23.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Hello, everyone…” (c) “Goodbye…” (d) “This shows that…”
  24. 24.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  26. 26.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  28. 28.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  30. 30.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
  31. 31.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.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
  33. 33.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  35. 35.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  36. 36.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  37. 37.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  40. 40.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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