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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 737 · 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 evidence? (a) your loudest point (b) a rhyme (c) a guess (d) facts that back a claim
  2. 2.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  4. 4.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  5. 5.🧩 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”
  6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  7. 7.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  8. 8.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) adds a new topic (b) repeats the claim (c) links proof to the claim (d) ends the debate
  9. 9.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  10. 10.🧩 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
  11. 11.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) proven (b) strong (c) complete (d) weak
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  13. 13.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  16. 16.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
  17. 17.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  18. 18.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  19. 19.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  21. 21.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
  22. 22.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
  23. 23.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
  24. 24.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Goodbye…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This shows that…” (d) “Hello, everyone…”
  25. 25.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  27. 27.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  29. 29.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.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
  31. 31.True or false: “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the point you argue (b) a number you found (c) a joke (d) the judges’ marks
  34. 34.🧩 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
  35. 35.True or false: “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.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
  37. 37.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  40. 40.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim

Answer key

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

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