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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 674 · 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.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Goodbye…” (c) “Hello, everyone…” (d) “This shows that…”
  2. 2.🧩 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
  3. 3.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) strong (b) complete (c) proven (d) weak
  4. 4.🧩 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”
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  7. 7.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
  8. 8.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the judges’ marks (b) the point you argue (c) a number you found (d) a joke
  9. 9.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  10. 10.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  13. 13.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) links proof to the claim (b) ends the debate (c) adds a new topic (d) repeats the claim
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  15. 15.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  16. 16.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  17. 17.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  18. 18.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  19. 19.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  21. 21.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
  22. 22.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
  23. 23.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  24. 24.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  25. 25.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  27. 27.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.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) False (b) True
  29. 29.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  31. 31.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  32. 32.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
  33. 33.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  34. 34.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  35. 35.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  38. 38.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a rhyme (b) a guess (c) facts that back a claim (d) your loudest point
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  40. 40.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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