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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 600 · 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: “Every child should learn to swim.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) adds a new topic (b) ends the debate (c) repeats the claim (d) links proof to the claim
  3. 3.True or false: “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  4. 4.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
  5. 5.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the point you argue (b) a joke (c) a number you found (d) the judges’ marks
  6. 6.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Hello, everyone…” (c) “This shows that…” (d) “Goodbye…”
  7. 7.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  9. 9.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  11. 11.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  12. 12.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “I feel it” (b) “dustbins are green” (c) a count of litter (d) “my friend agrees”
  13. 13.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) strong (b) proven (c) complete (d) weak
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  15. 15.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  17. 17.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
  18. 18.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  19. 19.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  21. 21.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  22. 22.True or false: “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  23. 23.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  24. 24.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a guess (b) a rhyme (c) facts that back a claim (d) your loudest point
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  27. 27.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  28. 28.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  29. 29.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  30. 30.🧩 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
  31. 31.True or false: “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  33. 33.True or false: “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  34. 34.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  35. 35.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  36. 36.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  38. 38.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
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  40. 40.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim

Answer key

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

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