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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 986 · 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.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  3. 3.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  4. 4.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) repeats the claim (b) ends the debate (c) adds a new topic (d) links proof to the claim
  5. 5.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  6. 6.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  7. 7.True or false: “Our school should have a library period every day.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “A class diary shows children who did chores finished homework on time more often.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  9. 9.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) False (b) True
  10. 10.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  12. 12.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) weak (b) strong (c) complete (d) proven
  13. 13.True or false: “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  14. 14.🧩 What is evidence? (a) your loudest point (b) facts that back a claim (c) a rhyme (d) a guess
  15. 15.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
  16. 16.True or false: “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  17. 17.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  19. 19.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Goodbye…” (b) “Once upon a time…” (c) “Hello, everyone…” (d) “This shows that…”
  20. 20.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  21. 21.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  22. 22.True or false: “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  23. 23.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) False (b) True
  24. 24.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  25. 25.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) True (b) False
  26. 26.True or false: “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  27. 27.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
  28. 28.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The school nurse recorded 25 small cuts and scrapes last term.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  29. 29.True or false: “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  30. 30.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  31. 31.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the point you argue (b) a number you found (c) a joke (d) the judges’ marks
  32. 32.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  33. 33.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  34. 34.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  35. 35.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  36. 36.True or false: “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  37. 37.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  38. 38.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our school should have a library period every day.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  39. 39.🧩 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
  40. 40.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) True (b) False

Answer key

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

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