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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 748 · 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: “Children should help with chores at home.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  2. 2.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the judges’ marks (b) a number you found (c) the point you argue (d) a joke
  3. 3.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “This shows that…” (c) “Hello, everyone…” (d) “Goodbye…”
  4. 4.🧩 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
  5. 5.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
  6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  7. 7.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
  8. 8.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
  9. 9.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  12. 12.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) proven (b) complete (c) strong (d) weak
  13. 13.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  15. 15.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a guess (b) facts that back a claim (c) a rhyme (d) your loudest point
  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? “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  18. 18.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) False (b) True
  19. 19.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  20. 20.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) links proof to the claim (b) adds a new topic (c) ends the debate (d) repeats the claim
  21. 21.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  22. 22.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  23. 23.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  24. 24.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
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  27. 27.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
  28. 28.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  29. 29.True or false: “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  31. 31.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  32. 32.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  33. 33.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.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
  35. 35.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
  36. 36.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  38. 38.🧩 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
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  40. 40.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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