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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

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

Answer key

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

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