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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 625 · 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: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  2. 2.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  3. 3.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a guess (b) your loudest point (c) facts that back a claim (d) a rhyme
  4. 4.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  5. 5.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Hello, everyone…” (b) “Goodbye…” (c) “This shows that…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
  6. 6.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) adds a new topic (b) repeats the claim (c) ends the debate (d) links proof to the claim
  7. 7.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  9. 9.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) a count of litter (b) “dustbins are green” (c) “my friend agrees” (d) “I feel it”
  10. 10.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  11. 11.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  13. 13.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) strong (b) proven (c) complete (d) weak
  14. 14.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
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  16. 16.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  17. 17.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) a joke (b) a number you found (c) the point you argue (d) the judges’ marks
  19. 19.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  21. 21.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  22. 22.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  23. 23.🧩 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
  24. 24.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  27. 27.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  28. 28.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  29. 29.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  30. 30.True or false: “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  32. 32.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  33. 33.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
  34. 34.True or false: “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  35. 35.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  36. 36.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
  37. 37.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
  38. 38.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) True (b) False
  39. 39.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) False (b) True
  40. 40.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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