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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 507 · 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? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  2. 2.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  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.True or false: “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  6. 6.🧩 What is evidence? (a) your loudest point (b) a rhyme (c) facts that back a claim (d) a guess
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  9. 9.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) False (b) True
  10. 10.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
  11. 11.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
  12. 12.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) proven (b) strong (c) weak (d) complete
  13. 13.True or false: “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  15. 15.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.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
  17. 17.True or false: “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  19. 19.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
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  21. 21.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
  22. 22.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) links proof to the claim (b) ends the debate (c) repeats the claim (d) adds a new topic
  23. 23.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Goodbye…” (c) “This shows that…” (d) “Hello, everyone…”
  24. 24.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) True (b) False
  25. 25.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) True (b) False
  26. 26.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
  27. 27.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  28. 28.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the judges’ marks (b) the point you argue (c) a number you found (d) a joke
  29. 29.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  31. 31.True or false: “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.🧩 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
  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: “Every child should learn to swim.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.True or false: “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  40. 40.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence

Answer key

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

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