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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 912 · 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: “Children should help with chores at home.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  2. 2.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  4. 4.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “dustbins are green” (b) “my friend agrees” (c) “I feel it” (d) a count of litter
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  6. 6.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “This shows that…” (b) “Hello, everyone…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “Goodbye…”
  7. 7.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) proven (b) weak (c) strong (d) complete
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  9. 9.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  10. 10.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  11. 11.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  12. 12.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) links proof to the claim (b) adds a new topic (c) ends the debate (d) repeats the claim
  13. 13.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) a number you found (b) a joke (c) the point you argue (d) the judges’ marks
  14. 14.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.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
  16. 16.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a guess (b) a rhyme (c) your loudest point (d) facts that back a claim
  17. 17.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  19. 19.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
  20. 20.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
  21. 21.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  22. 22.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  23. 23.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  24. 24.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  26. 26.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  28. 28.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  29. 29.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  30. 30.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  31. 31.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  33. 33.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  34. 34.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.True or false: “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  38. 38.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  40. 40.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True

Answer key

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

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