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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 556 · 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) a rhyme (b) a guess (c) your loudest point (d) facts that back a claim
  2. 2.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the point you argue (b) the judges’ marks (c) a joke (d) a number you found
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  4. 4.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) adds a new topic (b) repeats the claim (c) links proof to the claim (d) ends the debate
  5. 5.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
  6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  8. 8.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  9. 9.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  10. 10.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
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  13. 13.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “I feel it” (b) “dustbins are green” (c) a count of litter (d) “my friend agrees”
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  16. 16.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  17. 17.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) True (b) False
  18. 18.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  19. 19.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Hello, everyone…” (b) “Goodbye…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This shows that…”
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  21. 21.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  22. 22.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  24. 24.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  26. 26.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
  27. 27.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  28. 28.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  29. 29.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  31. 31.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) proven (b) complete (c) weak (d) strong
  32. 32.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  33. 33.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  35. 35.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
  36. 36.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  38. 38.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  40. 40.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning

Answer key

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

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