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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 577 · 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.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
  2. 2.True or false: “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  3. 3.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) repeats the claim (b) adds a new topic (c) ends the debate (d) links proof to the claim
  4. 4.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Goodbye…” (b) “This shows that…” (c) “Hello, everyone…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
  5. 5.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a guess (b) your loudest point (c) a rhyme (d) facts that back a claim
  6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  7. 7.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the point you argue (b) the judges’ marks (c) a joke (d) a number you found
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  9. 9.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  10. 10.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  11. 11.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  13. 13.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  15. 15.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) True (b) False
  16. 16.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  17. 17.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.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
  19. 19.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.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) True (b) False
  21. 21.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  22. 22.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) complete (b) strong (c) proven (d) weak
  23. 23.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  24. 24.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  26. 26.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “my friend agrees” (b) “dustbins are green” (c) a count of litter (d) “I feel it”
  27. 27.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  28. 28.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  29. 29.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  31. 31.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  33. 33.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  34. 34.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
  35. 35.🧩 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
  36. 36.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  38. 38.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  39. 39.True or false: “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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