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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 906 · 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 evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  2. 2.🧩 What is evidence? (a) facts that back a claim (b) a rhyme (c) your loudest point (d) a guess
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  4. 4.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  6. 6.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) a number you found (b) the judges’ marks (c) the point you argue (d) a joke
  7. 7.🧩 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
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  9. 9.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  10. 10.True or false: “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  12. 12.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “my friend agrees” (b) “dustbins are green” (c) “I feel it” (d) a count of litter
  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.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
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  16. 16.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) ends the debate (b) adds a new topic (c) repeats the claim (d) links proof to the claim
  17. 17.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  18. 18.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) complete (b) weak (c) strong (d) proven
  19. 19.True or false: “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  21. 21.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  22. 22.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  24. 24.🧩 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
  25. 25.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  26. 26.True or false: “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  27. 27.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  28. 28.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
  29. 29.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) False (b) True
  30. 30.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  31. 31.🧩 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
  32. 32.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  33. 33.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
  34. 34.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
  35. 35.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
  36. 36.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) False (b) True
  37. 37.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is a claim — the point being argued. (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) False (b) True
  40. 40.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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