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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 848 · 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? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  2. 2.🧩 What is evidence? (a) your loudest point (b) a guess (c) facts that back a claim (d) a rhyme
  3. 3.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  4. 4.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “dustbins are green” (b) a count of litter (c) “my friend agrees” (d) “I feel it”
  5. 5.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the point you argue (b) a joke (c) the judges’ marks (d) a number you found
  6. 6.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  7. 7.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) proven (b) weak (c) complete (d) strong
  8. 8.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  9. 9.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  10. 10.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  11. 11.True or false: “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  13. 13.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) adds a new topic (b) links proof to the claim (c) ends the debate (d) repeats the claim
  14. 14.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
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  16. 16.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  17. 17.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  18. 18.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  19. 19.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  21. 21.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  22. 22.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  23. 23.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  24. 24.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  27. 27.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
  28. 28.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  29. 29.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  30. 30.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  31. 31.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.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) False (b) True
  33. 33.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  34. 34.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  35. 35.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
  36. 36.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  39. 39.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Hello, everyone…” (c) “Goodbye…” (d) “This shows that…”
  40. 40.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning

Answer key

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

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