← Claim, evidence and reasoning lesson New set →

Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 557 · 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 does reasoning do? (a) adds a new topic (b) repeats the claim (c) links proof to the claim (d) ends the debate
  2. 2.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  4. 4.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  6. 6.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) a joke (b) the point you argue (c) a number you found (d) the judges’ marks
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  8. 8.True or false: “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  9. 9.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  11. 11.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a guess (b) a rhyme (c) facts that back a claim (d) your loudest point
  12. 12.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  13. 13.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  14. 14.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
  15. 15.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  16. 16.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
  17. 17.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) weak (b) proven (c) strong (d) complete
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  19. 19.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
  20. 20.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  21. 21.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) False (b) True
  22. 22.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  23. 23.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  24. 24.True or false: “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  26. 26.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) True (b) False
  27. 27.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.True or false: “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “dustbins are green” (b) a count of litter (c) “my friend agrees” (d) “I feel it”
  32. 32.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
  33. 33.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  34. 34.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.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
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  38. 38.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
  39. 39.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This shows that…” (c) “Hello, everyone…” (d) “Goodbye…”
  40. 40.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim

Answer key

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

Free debate lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/debate-for-students