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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 747 · 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.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  2. 2.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  4. 4.True or false: “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  5. 5.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) adds a new topic (b) ends the debate (c) repeats the claim (d) links proof to the claim
  6. 6.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) True (b) False
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  9. 9.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Hello, everyone…” (c) “Goodbye…” (d) “This shows that…”
  10. 10.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  11. 11.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “dustbins are green” (b) “I feel it” (c) “my friend agrees” (d) a count of litter
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  13. 13.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  14. 14.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.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
  16. 16.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  17. 17.True or false: “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  18. 18.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  19. 19.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the judges’ marks (b) the point you argue (c) a number you found (d) a joke
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  21. 21.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) proven (b) weak (c) complete (d) strong
  22. 22.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  23. 23.True or false: “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  25. 25.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  26. 26.🧩 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
  27. 27.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
  28. 28.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  29. 29.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a guess (b) facts that back a claim (c) a rhyme (d) your loudest point
  32. 32.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  34. 34.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  35. 35.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.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
  37. 37.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  40. 40.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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