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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 642 · 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 evidence? (a) a rhyme (b) a guess (c) facts that back a claim (d) your loudest point
  2. 2.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) False (b) True
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  4. 4.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  5. 5.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  6. 6.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  7. 7.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  8. 8.True or false: “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  9. 9.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Hello, everyone…” (c) “This shows that…” (d) “Goodbye…”
  10. 10.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  12. 12.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) complete (b) strong (c) proven (d) weak
  13. 13.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  15. 15.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
  16. 16.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  17. 17.🧩 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”
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  19. 19.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) adds a new topic (b) repeats the claim (c) ends the debate (d) links proof to the claim
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  21. 21.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  22. 22.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  23. 23.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the judges’ marks (b) a joke (c) the point you argue (d) a number you found
  24. 24.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) False (b) True
  25. 25.True or false: “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  27. 27.🧩 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
  28. 28.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  29. 29.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  31. 31.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  32. 32.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  33. 33.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  34. 34.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  35. 35.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  38. 38.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  39. 39.True or false: “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  40. 40.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

Answer key

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

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