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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 559 · 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? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  2. 2.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  3. 3.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
  4. 4.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) False (b) True
  5. 5.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “my friend agrees” (b) “I feel it” (c) a count of litter (d) “dustbins are green”
  6. 6.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) a number you found (b) the judges’ marks (c) a joke (d) the point you argue
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  8. 8.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Goodbye…” (b) “Hello, everyone…” (c) “This shows that…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
  9. 9.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  10. 10.True or false: “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  11. 11.🧩 What is evidence? (a) your loudest point (b) facts that back a claim (c) a rhyme (d) a guess
  12. 12.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) adds a new topic (b) repeats the claim (c) ends the debate (d) links proof to the claim
  13. 13.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  15. 15.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
  16. 16.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  17. 17.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  18. 18.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
  19. 19.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
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  21. 21.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  22. 22.True or false: “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  24. 24.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  25. 25.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  26. 26.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) complete (b) weak (c) proven (d) strong
  27. 27.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
  28. 28.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.True or false: “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  33. 33.True or false: “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  36. 36.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  37. 37.True or false: “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  40. 40.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

Answer key

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

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