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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 985 · 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? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  2. 2.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  3. 3.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
  4. 4.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
  5. 5.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) weak (b) proven (c) strong (d) complete
  6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  7. 7.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  9. 9.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  13. 13.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  14. 14.True or false: “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  15. 15.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) a joke (b) a number you found (c) the judges’ marks (d) the point you argue
  16. 16.True or false: “Our class should start a recycling corner.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  17. 17.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  18. 18.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) ends the debate (b) adds a new topic (c) links proof to the claim (d) repeats the claim
  19. 19.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  20. 20.True or false: “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  21. 21.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  22. 22.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  23. 23.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
  24. 24.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  25. 25.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
  26. 26.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  28. 28.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  29. 29.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  31. 31.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  32. 32.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  33. 33.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
  34. 34.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a rhyme (b) your loudest point (c) facts that back a claim (d) a guess
  35. 35.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  36. 36.True or false: “Every school should have a daily sports period.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.True or false: “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  38. 38.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
  39. 39.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) a count of litter (b) “my friend agrees” (c) “I feel it” (d) “dustbins are green”
  40. 40.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Goodbye…” (c) “Hello, everyone…” (d) “This shows that…”

Answer key

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

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