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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 707 · 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 school should have a library period every day.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  2. 2.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Hello, everyone…” (b) “This shows that…” (c) “Goodbye…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  4. 4.True or false: “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  7. 7.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  8. 8.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the point you argue (b) the judges’ marks (c) a number you found (d) a joke
  9. 9.🧩 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”
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  11. 11.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  13. 13.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) ends the debate (b) adds a new topic (c) links proof to the claim (d) repeats the claim
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  15. 15.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
  16. 16.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a guess (b) a rhyme (c) facts that back a claim (d) your loudest point
  17. 17.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  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.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.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
  21. 21.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  22. 22.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) complete (b) weak (c) proven (d) strong
  23. 23.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
  24. 24.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  26. 26.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
  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) reasoning (c) evidence
  28. 28.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  29. 29.True or false: “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.🧩 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
  32. 32.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  33. 33.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  34. 34.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  35. 35.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
  36. 36.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.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
  39. 39.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
  40. 40.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence

Answer key

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

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