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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 700 · 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.🧩 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
  2. 2.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) False (b) True
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  4. 4.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  5. 5.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Hello, everyone…” (c) “Goodbye…” (d) “This shows that…”
  6. 6.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) strong (b) weak (c) complete (d) proven
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  8. 8.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a guess (b) facts that back a claim (c) a rhyme (d) your loudest point
  9. 9.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  11. 11.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  12. 12.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the point you argue (b) the judges’ marks (c) a number you found (d) a joke
  13. 13.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  14. 14.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
  15. 15.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  16. 16.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  17. 17.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  18. 18.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) links proof to the claim (b) ends the debate (c) repeats the claim (d) adds a new topic
  19. 19.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) False (b) True
  20. 20.True or false: “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  21. 21.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  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? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  27. 27.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  28. 28.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  29. 29.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  30. 30.True or false: “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  32. 32.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
  33. 33.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  34. 34.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  38. 38.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “dustbins are green” (b) “I feel it” (c) a count of litter (d) “my friend agrees”
  39. 39.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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