← Claim, evidence and reasoning lesson New set →

Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 768 · 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.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) a count of litter (b) “I feel it” (c) “my friend agrees” (d) “dustbins are green”
  2. 2.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  4. 4.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the judges’ marks (b) the point you argue (c) a joke (d) a number you found
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  6. 6.🧩 What is evidence? (a) your loudest point (b) a rhyme (c) a guess (d) facts that back a claim
  7. 7.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Goodbye…” (c) “Hello, everyone…” (d) “This shows that…”
  8. 8.🧩 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
  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.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
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  13. 13.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  15. 15.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) proven (b) strong (c) complete (d) weak
  16. 16.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  17. 17.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  19. 19.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  20. 20.True or false: “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  21. 21.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  22. 22.True or false: “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  23. 23.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  25. 25.🧩 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
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  27. 27.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  28. 28.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  29. 29.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  30. 30.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
  31. 31.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  32. 32.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  33. 33.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  38. 38.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.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
  40. 40.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) repeats the claim (b) adds a new topic (c) ends the debate (d) links proof to the claim

Answer key

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

Free debate lessons, practice and worksheets at talentjr.in/debate-for-students