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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 672 · 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 joke (b) the point you argue (c) the judges’ marks (d) a number you found
  2. 2.🧩 What is evidence? (a) your loudest point (b) a rhyme (c) a guess (d) facts that back a claim
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  4. 4.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  6. 6.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “my friend agrees” (b) “dustbins are green” (c) a count of litter (d) “I feel it”
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  8. 8.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
  9. 9.🧩 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
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  13. 13.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  14. 14.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  15. 15.True or false: “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  16. 16.True or false: “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  17. 17.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) links proof to the claim (b) repeats the claim (c) ends the debate (d) adds a new topic
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  19. 19.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
  20. 20.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  21. 21.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  22. 22.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
  23. 23.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Goodbye…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Hello, everyone…” (d) “This shows that…”
  24. 24.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  27. 27.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  28. 28.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  29. 29.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.True or false: “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  32. 32.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  33. 33.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  34. 34.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) proven (b) complete (c) weak (d) strong
  35. 35.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  40. 40.True or false: “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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