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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 55 · 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 class should start a recycling corner.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  2. 2.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) ends the debate (b) repeats the claim (c) adds a new topic (d) links proof to the claim
  3. 3.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
  4. 4.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) weak (b) strong (c) proven (d) complete
  5. 5.🧩 What is evidence? (a) your loudest point (b) facts that back a claim (c) a guess (d) a rhyme
  6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  9. 9.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) a number you found (b) a joke (c) the point you argue (d) the judges’ marks
  10. 10.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  11. 11.🧩 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
  12. 12.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
  13. 13.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Goodbye…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This shows that…” (d) “Hello, everyone…”
  14. 14.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
  15. 15.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  17. 17.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  19. 19.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  21. 21.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “I feel it” (b) “my friend agrees” (c) a count of litter (d) “dustbins are green”
  22. 22.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  23. 23.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  24. 24.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  25. 25.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) True (b) False
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  27. 27.True or false: “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  28. 28.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  33. 33.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  34. 34.🧩 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
  35. 35.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.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
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  38. 38.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
  39. 39.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  40. 40.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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