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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 509 · 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? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  2. 2.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
  3. 3.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  4. 4.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
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  6. 6.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “dustbins are green” (b) “my friend agrees” (c) a count of litter (d) “I feel it”
  7. 7.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Hello, everyone…” (b) “Goodbye…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This shows that…”
  8. 8.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the judges’ marks (b) a joke (c) the point you argue (d) a number you found
  9. 9.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  10. 10.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a guess (b) a rhyme (c) your loudest point (d) facts that back a claim
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  12. 12.🧩 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
  13. 13.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  16. 16.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) complete (b) weak (c) proven (d) strong
  17. 17.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  19. 19.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  20. 20.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  21. 21.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  22. 22.True or false: “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.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) True (b) False
  26. 26.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  27. 27.True or false: “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.True or false: “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  29. 29.🧩 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
  30. 30.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  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) True (b) False
  33. 33.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  34. 34.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  35. 35.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) repeats the claim (b) links proof to the claim (c) ends the debate (d) adds a new topic
  36. 36.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.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
  38. 38.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  40. 40.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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