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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 83 · 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.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
  2. 2.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  4. 4.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  6. 6.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “I feel it” (b) a count of litter (c) “my friend agrees” (d) “dustbins are green”
  7. 7.True or false: “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  8. 8.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Hello, everyone…” (c) “This shows that…” (d) “Goodbye…”
  9. 9.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the judges’ marks (b) a joke (c) the point you argue (d) a number you found
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  11. 11.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
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  13. 13.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
  14. 14.🧩 What is evidence? (a) facts that back a claim (b) a rhyme (c) your loudest point (d) a guess
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  16. 16.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  17. 17.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) strong (b) complete (c) weak (d) proven
  18. 18.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) adds a new topic (b) repeats the claim (c) links proof to the claim (d) ends the debate
  19. 19.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
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  21. 21.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  22. 22.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  23. 23.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  25. 25.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) True (b) False
  26. 26.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
  27. 27.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  28. 28.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (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) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  30. 30.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  32. 32.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
  33. 33.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
  34. 34.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) True (b) False
  35. 35.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  36. 36.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  37. 37.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
  38. 38.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  40. 40.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

Answer key

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

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