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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 565 · 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.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “my friend agrees” (b) “dustbins are green” (c) “I feel it” (d) a count of litter
  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: “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  4. 4.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) repeats the claim (b) ends the debate (c) adds a new topic (d) links proof to the claim
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  6. 6.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  8. 8.True or false: “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  9. 9.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  10. 10.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a rhyme (b) a guess (c) your loudest point (d) facts that back a claim
  11. 11.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
  12. 12.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  13. 13.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  14. 14.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) proven (b) weak (c) complete (d) strong
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  16. 16.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “This shows that…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Hello, everyone…” (d) “Goodbye…”
  17. 17.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  18. 18.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the point you argue (b) the judges’ marks (c) a number you found (d) a joke
  19. 19.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
  20. 20.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
  21. 21.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  22. 22.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  23. 23.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  25. 25.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  26. 26.🧩 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
  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: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  31. 31.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  32. 32.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  33. 33.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  34. 34.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
  35. 35.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  38. 38.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  39. 39.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.🧩 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

Answer key

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

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