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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 705 · 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.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) proven (b) complete (c) weak (d) strong
  2. 2.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) repeats the claim (b) links proof to the claim (c) adds a new topic (d) ends the debate
  3. 3.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
  4. 4.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  5. 5.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) a number you found (b) the point you argue (c) a joke (d) the judges’ marks
  6. 6.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  9. 9.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a rhyme (b) facts that back a claim (c) a guess (d) your loudest point
  10. 10.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
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  12. 12.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  13. 13.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  15. 15.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
  16. 16.🧩 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”
  17. 17.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  19. 19.True or false: “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  21. 21.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.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
  24. 24.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  26. 26.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  27. 27.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  29. 29.True or false: “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.🧩 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
  31. 31.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.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
  33. 33.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Hello, everyone…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Goodbye…” (d) “This shows that…”
  34. 34.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  35. 35.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  38. 38.True or false: “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence

Answer key

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

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