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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

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

Answer key

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

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