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Debate Worksheet: Claim, Evidence, Reasoning

Debate lesson 1: Claim, evidence and reasoning · Set 987 · 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.🧩 What is the claim in an argument? (a) the judges’ marks (b) the point you argue (c) a number you found (d) a joke
  2. 2.🧩 An argument with a claim but no evidence is… (a) strong (b) proven (c) complete (d) weak
  3. 3.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
  4. 4.🧩 What does reasoning do? (a) links proof to the claim (b) adds a new topic (c) repeats the claim (d) ends the debate
  5. 5.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
  6. 6.🧩 Which words often start a piece of reasoning? (a) “Once upon a time…” (b) “Goodbye…” (c) “Hello, everyone…” (d) “This shows that…”
  7. 7.True or false: “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  8. 8.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This suggests that chores teach children to plan their time.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  9. 9.True or false: “School canteens should serve more fruit.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  10. 10.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our class should start a recycling corner.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  11. 11.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Children should help with chores at home.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  12. 12.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should plant one tree every year.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  13. 13.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  14. 14.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every school should have a daily sports period.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  15. 15.True or false: “This tells us that beginners learn swimming quickly with a little practice.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) True (b) False
  16. 16.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So a recycling corner could stop much of that waste.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  17. 17.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Every child should learn to swim.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  18. 18.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Students should learn first aid.” (a) reasoning (b) evidence (c) a claim
  19. 19.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is a claim — the point being argued. (a) False (b) True
  20. 20.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “The canteen sold 300 fruit cups in the week they cost ₹10.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  21. 21.🧩 Which is the best evidence for “Our school needs more dustbins”? (a) a count of litter (b) “I feel it” (c) “my friend agrees” (d) “dustbins are green”
  22. 22.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “So planting trees really does make our campus greener.” (a) evidence (b) reasoning (c) a claim
  23. 23.🧩 What is evidence? (a) a rhyme (b) facts that back a claim (c) your loudest point (d) a guess
  24. 24.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  25. 25.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Last year, Class 7 planted 40 saplings and 35 are still growing.” (a) a claim (b) reasoning (c) evidence
  26. 26.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “That means students who know first aid could help at once.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  27. 27.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “Our swimming coach’s register shows 18 of 20 beginners could float within a month.” (a) reasoning (b) a claim (c) evidence
  28. 28.True or false: “Our eco club counted 200 plastic bottles thrown away in one week.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  29. 29.True or false: “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) False (b) True
  30. 30.🧩 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
  31. 31.True or false: “Students should plant one tree every year.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  32. 32.True or false: “That means daily exercise really does make students fitter.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) False (b) True
  33. 33.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “School canteens should serve more fruit.” (a) a claim (b) evidence (c) reasoning
  34. 34.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that giving time to read helps students read more.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning
  35. 35.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) False (b) True
  36. 36.True or false: “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  37. 37.True or false: “Children should help with chores at home.” is evidence — a fact that backs the point. (a) True (b) False
  38. 38.🧩 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
  39. 39.True or false: “Students should learn first aid.” is reasoning — it links the evidence to the point. (a) True (b) False
  40. 40.🧩 Claim, evidence or reasoning? “This shows that students choose fruit when it is easy to buy.” (a) evidence (b) a claim (c) reasoning

Answer key

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

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