← Claim, evidence and reasoning lesson New set →

Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 818 · 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 PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  2. 2.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) adds a new topic (b) repeats the claim (c) links proof to the claim (d) ends the debate
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  4. 4.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) True (b) False
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  7. 7.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  8. 8.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) a number you found (b) the judges’ marks (c) the point you argue (d) a joke
  9. 9.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) weak (b) complete (c) proven (d) strong
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  11. 11.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Goodbye…” (b) “Hello, everyone…” (c) “This shows that…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
  12. 12.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
  13. 13.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  14. 14.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “my friend agrees” (b) “I feel it” (c) “dustbins are green” (d) a count of litter
  15. 15.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) True (b) False
  16. 16.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  17. 17.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
  18. 18.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  19. 19.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.🧩 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
  21. 21.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” 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 reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  23. 23.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  24. 24.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  26. 26.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  27. 27.🧩 What is evidence? (a) your loudest point (b) a rhyme (c) facts that back a claim (d) a guess
  28. 28.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  29. 29.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  30. 30.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  32. 32.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  33. 33.True or false: “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” 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) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  36. 36.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (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 evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  40. 40.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence

Answer key

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

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