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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 619 · 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: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  2. 2.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  4. 4.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  5. 5.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  6. 6.True or false: “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  7. 7.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  8. 8.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
  9. 9.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a guess (b) a rhyme (c) facts that back a claim (d) your loudest point
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  11. 11.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  13. 13.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  14. 14.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  15. 15.🧩 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
  16. 16.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  17. 17.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
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  19. 19.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) complete (b) weak (c) strong (d) proven
  20. 20.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  21. 21.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  22. 22.True or false: “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  24. 24.🧩 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”
  25. 25.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Goodbye…” (c) “Hello, everyone…” (d) “This shows that…”
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  27. 27.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) ends the debate (b) links proof to the claim (c) adds a new topic (d) repeats the claim
  28. 28.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
  29. 29.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the judges’ marks (b) the point you argue (c) a joke (d) a number you found
  30. 30.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  34. 34.True or false: “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.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
  36. 36.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
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  38. 38.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) False (b) True
  39. 39.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  40. 40.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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