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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 936 · 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? “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  2. 2.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  3. 3.True or false: “Every child should learn to swim.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  4. 4.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  5. 5.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) weak (b) complete (c) strong (d) proven
  6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  8. 8.🧩 What is evidence? (a) facts that back a claim (b) a rhyme (c) your loudest point (d) a guess
  9. 9.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  11. 11.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the judges’ marks (b) a number you found (c) a joke (d) the point you argue
  12. 12.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
  13. 13.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  14. 14.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  15. 15.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  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.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) links proof to the claim (b) adds a new topic (c) repeats the claim (d) ends the debate
  18. 18.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  19. 19.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
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  21. 21.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  22. 22.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
  23. 23.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  24. 24.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  26. 26.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  28. 28.True or false: “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (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) False (b) True
  30. 30.True or false: “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  31. 31.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
  32. 32.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  33. 33.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  34. 34.True or false: “Our PE register shows fitness scores rose after daily games were tried for a term.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  35. 35.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
  36. 36.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  37. 37.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  39. 39.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “This shows that…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Hello, everyone…” (d) “Goodbye…”
  40. 40.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

Answer key

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

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