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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 586 · 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: “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  3. 3.True or false: “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  4. 4.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  6. 6.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  8. 8.True or false: “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  9. 9.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  10. 10.🧩 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
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  13. 13.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  14. 14.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
  15. 15.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.🧩 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
  17. 17.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) complete (b) strong (c) proven (d) weak
  18. 18.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) False (b) True
  19. 19.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  20. 20.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
  21. 21.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  22. 22.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
  23. 23.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) a count of litter (b) “dustbins are green” (c) “I feel it” (d) “my friend agrees”
  24. 24.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  26. 26.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
  27. 27.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  28. 28.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a rhyme (b) your loudest point (c) a guess (d) facts that back a claim
  29. 29.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) adds a new topic (b) links proof to the claim (c) repeats the claim (d) ends the debate
  30. 30.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Hello, everyone…” (b) “Goodbye…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This shows that…”
  33. 33.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the point you argue (b) a number you found (c) the judges’ marks (d) a joke
  34. 34.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  35. 35.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  36. 36.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  39. 39.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) False (b) True
  40. 40.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence

Answer key

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

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