← Claim, evidence and reasoning lesson New set →

Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 864 · 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 evidence? (a) a guess (b) a rhyme (c) facts that back a claim (d) your loudest point
  2. 2.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  3. 3.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  4. 4.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  7. 7.True or false: “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  8. 8.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
  9. 9.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  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.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  12. 12.🧩 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”
  13. 13.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  16. 16.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  17. 17.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  19. 19.True or false: “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  21. 21.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) complete (b) strong (c) weak (d) proven
  22. 22.🧩 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
  23. 23.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  24. 24.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
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  26. 26.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) adds a new topic (b) links proof to the claim (c) ends the debate (d) repeats the claim
  27. 27.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Goodbye…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Hello, everyone…” (d) “This shows that…”
  28. 28.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  29. 29.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) a joke (b) a number you found (c) the judges’ marks (d) the point you argue
  30. 30.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
  31. 31.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
  32. 32.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  33. 33.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  34. 34.True or false: “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.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
  36. 36.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.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
  40. 40.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence

Answer key

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

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