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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 51 · 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 the claim in an argument? (a) the point you argue (b) a number you found (c) the judges’ marks (d) a joke
  2. 2.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  4. 4.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  5. 5.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) complete (b) weak (c) strong (d) proven
  6. 6.True or false: “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  7. 7.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  9. 9.🧩 What is evidence? (a) your loudest point (b) a rhyme (c) a guess (d) facts that back a claim
  10. 10.🧩 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
  11. 11.🧩 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
  12. 12.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Goodbye…” (c) “Hello, everyone…” (d) “This shows that…”
  13. 13.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  14. 14.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
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  16. 16.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
  17. 17.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  18. 18.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  19. 19.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  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.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  23. 23.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  24. 24.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) a count of litter (b) “dustbins are green” (c) “I feel it” (d) “my friend agrees”
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  26. 26.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) links proof to the claim (b) adds a new topic (c) repeats the claim (d) ends the debate
  27. 27.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.🧩 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
  29. 29.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) False (b) True
  30. 30.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  33. 33.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
  34. 34.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  35. 35.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.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
  38. 38.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  40. 40.True or false: “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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