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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 751 · 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: “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  2. 2.True or false: “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  3. 3.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) ends the debate (b) repeats the claim (c) adds a new topic (d) links proof to the claim
  4. 4.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) weak (b) strong (c) complete (d) proven
  5. 5.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “I feel it” (b) “dustbins are green” (c) “my friend agrees” (d) a count of litter
  6. 6.🧩 What is evidence? (a) your loudest point (b) a guess (c) facts that back a claim (d) a rhyme
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  9. 9.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  13. 13.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  14. 14.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
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  16. 16.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  17. 17.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
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  19. 19.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  21. 21.True or false: “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  22. 22.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Goodbye…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Hello, everyone…” (d) “This shows that…”
  23. 23.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) a number you found (b) the point you argue (c) a joke (d) the judges’ marks
  24. 24.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
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  26. 26.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
  27. 27.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  28. 28.True or false: “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.True or false: “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  33. 33.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  35. 35.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  36. 36.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  38. 38.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  40. 40.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

Answer key

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

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