← Claim, evidence and reasoning lesson New set →

Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 784 · 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.🧩 What is evidence? (a) your loudest point (b) a rhyme (c) a guess (d) facts that back a claim
  2. 2.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  3. 3.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
  4. 4.🧩 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
  5. 5.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Goodbye…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “This shows that…” (d) “Hello, everyone…”
  6. 6.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
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  9. 9.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  10. 10.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
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  12. 12.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) strong (b) weak (c) complete (d) proven
  13. 13.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  14. 14.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the point you argue (b) a joke (c) the judges’ marks (d) a number you found
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  16. 16.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  17. 17.True or false: “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  19. 19.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  20. 20.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
  21. 21.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  22. 22.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) repeats the claim (b) adds a new topic (c) ends the debate (d) links proof to the claim
  23. 23.True or false: “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  25. 25.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  26. 26.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “I feel it” (b) “my friend agrees” (c) “dustbins are green” (d) a count of litter
  27. 27.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  28. 28.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) True (b) False
  29. 29.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  31. 31.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
  32. 32.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  33. 33.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.True or false: “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.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
  37. 37.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  40. 40.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

Answer key

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

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