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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 800 · 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 the claim in an argument? (a) a number you found (b) the judges’ marks (c) a joke (d) the point you argue
  2. 2.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Goodbye…” (b) “This shows that…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Hello, everyone…”
  3. 3.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) repeats the claim (b) ends the debate (c) adds a new topic (d) links proof to the claim
  4. 4.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  5. 5.🧩 What is evidence? (a) your loudest point (b) a guess (c) facts that back a claim (d) a rhyme
  6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  7. 7.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
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  9. 9.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  10. 10.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  12. 12.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
  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.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  15. 15.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) proven (b) strong (c) weak (d) complete
  16. 16.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  17. 17.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  18. 18.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  19. 19.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  20. 20.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  21. 21.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.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
  23. 23.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  24. 24.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  25. 25.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “I feel it” (b) “my friend agrees” (c) a count of litter (d) “dustbins are green”
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  27. 27.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  28. 28.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  29. 29.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  30. 30.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  31. 31.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  33. 33.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  34. 34.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  35. 35.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
  36. 36.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  38. 38.True or false: “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  39. 39.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
  40. 40.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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