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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 77 · 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: “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
  2. 2.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) proven (b) strong (c) weak (d) complete
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  4. 4.🧩 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
  5. 5.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  6. 6.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) repeats the claim (b) ends the debate (c) links proof to the claim (d) adds a new topic
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  9. 9.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Hello, everyone…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Goodbye…” (d) “This shows that…”
  10. 10.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  11. 11.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
  12. 12.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the judges’ marks (b) a number you found (c) the point you argue (d) a joke
  13. 13.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  15. 15.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
  16. 16.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  17. 17.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a guess (b) your loudest point (c) a rhyme (d) facts that back a claim
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  19. 19.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  21. 21.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  23. 23.True or false: “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  25. 25.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “my friend agrees” (b) “I feel it” (c) a count of litter (d) “dustbins are green”
  26. 26.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
  27. 27.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  28. 28.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  29. 29.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  32. 32.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.True or false: “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  34. 34.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
  35. 35.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  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.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  38. 38.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  39. 39.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.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) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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