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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 851 · 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: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  3. 3.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) ends the debate (b) adds a new topic (c) repeats the claim (d) links proof to the claim
  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.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
  6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  7. 7.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a rhyme (b) your loudest point (c) a guess (d) facts that back a claim
  8. 8.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
  9. 9.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  10. 10.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  13. 13.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) proven (b) complete (c) weak (d) strong
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  16. 16.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  17. 17.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Goodbye…” (b) “Hello, everyone…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This shows that…”
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  19. 19.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
  20. 20.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the point you argue (b) a joke (c) a number you found (d) the judges’ marks
  21. 21.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  22. 22.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  23. 23.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
  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? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  26. 26.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  28. 28.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
  29. 29.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  31. 31.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  33. 33.True or false: “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.True or false: “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  35. 35.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  36. 36.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  38. 38.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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