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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 915 · 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: “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
  2. 2.🧩 What is evidence? (a) facts that back a claim (b) a guess (c) a rhyme (d) your loudest point
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  4. 4.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  5. 5.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) True (b) False
  6. 6.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) strong (b) weak (c) proven (d) complete
  7. 7.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) “my friend agrees” (b) a count of litter (c) “I feel it” (d) “dustbins are green”
  8. 8.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  9. 9.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  11. 11.🧩 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
  12. 12.🧩 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
  13. 13.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  15. 15.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
  16. 16.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  17. 17.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  18. 18.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the judges’ marks (b) a number you found (c) the point you argue (d) a joke
  19. 19.True or false: “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  20. 20.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  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.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) True (b) False
  23. 23.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  24. 24.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.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
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  27. 27.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  28. 28.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  29. 29.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Hello, everyone…” (b) “Goodbye…” (c) “Once upon a time…” (d) “This shows that…”
  30. 30.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  33. 33.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
  34. 34.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  35. 35.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  36. 36.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  37. 37.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  39. 39.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  40. 40.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) adds a new topic (b) ends the debate (c) links proof to the claim (d) repeats the claim

Answer key

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

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