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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 925 · 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.🧩 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”
  2. 2.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) repeats the claim (b) ends the debate (c) links proof to the claim (d) adds a new topic
  3. 3.🧩 What is evidence? (a) facts that back a claim (b) your loudest point (c) a guess (d) a rhyme
  4. 4.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  6. 6.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the point you argue (b) a number you found (c) a joke (d) the judges’ marks
  7. 7.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  8. 8.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) complete (b) strong (c) weak (d) proven
  9. 9.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
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  11. 11.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Hello, everyone…” (b) “Goodbye…” (c) “This shows that…” (d) “Once upon a time…”
  12. 12.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  13. 13.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  16. 16.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  17. 17.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  19. 19.True or false: “In our class survey, 30 of 40 students said they read more when given time.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  21. 21.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.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
  23. 23.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  24. 24.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  26. 26.True or false: “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.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
  28. 28.True or false: “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  29. 29.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
  30. 30.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
  31. 31.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  32. 32.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.🧩 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
  34. 34.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  36. 36.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.🧩 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
  38. 38.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
  39. 39.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  40. 40.True or false: “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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