Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 775 · 40 questions

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…”.

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

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