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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 541 · 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 evidence? (a) your loudest point (b) facts that back a claim (c) a guess (d) a rhyme
  2. 2.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Goodbye…” (b) “This shows that…” (c) “Hello, everyone…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
  3. 3.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) repeats the claim (b) ends the debate (c) links proof to the claim (d) adds a new topic
  4. 4.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  5. 5.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
  6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  7. 7.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) strong (b) proven (c) complete (d) weak
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  9. 9.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
  10. 10.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
  11. 11.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the judges’ marks (b) a number you found (c) the point you argue (d) a joke
  12. 12.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
  13. 13.True or false: “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  15. 15.True or false: “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  16. 16.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
  17. 17.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
  18. 18.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
  19. 19.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  21. 21.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  22. 22.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  23. 23.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  27. 27.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  28. 28.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  29. 29.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  30. 30.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.🧩 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
  33. 33.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  34. 34.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  35. 35.True or false: “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  38. 38.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  40. 40.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “dustbins are green” (b) “my friend agrees” (c) “I feel it” (d) a count of litter

Answer key

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

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