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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 79 · 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.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  2. 2.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  4. 4.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the point you argue (b) a joke (c) a number you found (d) the judges’ marks
  5. 5.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  6. 6.True or false: “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  7. 7.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  8. 8.🧩 What is evidence? (a) your loudest point (b) a rhyme (c) facts that back a claim (d) a guess
  9. 9.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  10. 10.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  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) True (b) False
  14. 14.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  15. 15.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Hello, everyone…” (c) “This shows that…” (d) “Goodbye…”
  16. 16.True or false: “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  17. 17.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) adds a new topic (b) repeats the claim (c) ends the debate (d) links proof to the claim
  18. 18.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  19. 19.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  21. 21.🧩 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
  22. 22.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “dustbins are green” (b) “my friend agrees” (c) a count of litter (d) “I feel it”
  23. 23.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  24. 24.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) weak (b) strong (c) complete (d) proven
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  26. 26.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.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
  28. 28.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
  29. 29.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  30. 30.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  31. 31.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
  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.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  34. 34.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  36. 36.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.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) True (b) False
  38. 38.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  39. 39.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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