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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 52 · 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.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Goodbye…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Hello, everyone…” (d) “This shows that…”
  2. 2.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
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  4. 4.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  5. 5.🧩 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”
  6. 6.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  7. 7.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) repeats the claim (b) adds a new topic (c) links proof to the claim (d) ends the debate
  8. 8.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  9. 9.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  10. 10.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
  11. 11.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  12. 12.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
  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: “Children should help with chores at home.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  17. 17.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the point you argue (b) a number you found (c) a joke (d) the judges’ marks
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  19. 19.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) complete (b) strong (c) weak (d) proven
  20. 20.🧩 What is evidence? (a) facts that back a claim (b) a guess (c) a rhyme (d) your loudest point
  21. 21.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.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) True (b) False
  23. 23.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  24. 24.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  27. 27.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
  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.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
  30. 30.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  31. 31.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  33. 33.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.🧩 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
  35. 35.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  36. 36.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
  37. 37.True or false: “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  40. 40.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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