Probability adverbs: probably, possibly, presumably
RAWS 2nd Quarter Reviewer
LESSON 5.1: Explain critical reading as
reasoning
Critical reading is engaging in analytic activity which involves the
reader by asking questions about the text and the author’s claim.
Critical readers are doing the process of evaluating, analyzing, and
interpreting the assertion of the hidden meaning of the whole text.
While reasoning as defined by Merriam Webster dictionary is an act
of giving statements for justification and explanation. It is the ability of
someone to defend something by giving out reasons.
Therefore, when reading critically, it is necessary to question the
different arguments used by the author, as any problem can weaken
the authenticity of the conclusion.
Remember that Critical reading is not meant to criticize but to assess
the validity of textual evidence.
Steps Used in Critical Reading As Reasoning
By Maxine Rafaella C. Rodriguez and Marella Therese A. Tiongson
1. Identifying assertions
Identify by a common type of assertion such as fact, convention,
opinion and preference
2. Formulating counterclaim
Counterclaims are made to rebut a previous claim
3. Determining evidence
Evidence is the details given by the authors to support his/her claims
Example:
You are asking your father for an android cellphone, that is your
claim. Then your father answers you. “No, you can’t!” this is his
counterclaim. He might say that you already have a cellphone.
Therefore when you are going to formulate reason for the
counterclaim, you should state the reason why you are asking for an
android cellphone. You might say that you could use it in your online
classes because android cellphone would be very useful in this new
normal classroom set-up.
When you write your counterclaim, you are expressing unfavorable
statements. Therefore it is needed to use hedges words or phrases
to be able to give a courteous tone.
Different forms of hedges
Modals: may, could, would, should, might, certain, must, etc.
Frequency adverbs: usually, generally, commonly
Example:
The common colds caused by a virus.
With hedges:
The common colds must be caused by a virus.
The common virus is certain to be caused by a virus.
LESSON 6.1: Assertions
What is an Evaluative Statement?
It is a statement that states one’s sound judgement about something
through writing which is supported by reasons and evidences. It also
presents the strengths and weaknesses of something based on a set
of criteria which needs to be factual, substantial, and unbiased.
How to Formulate an Evaluative Statement:
To formulate an evaluative statement, one needs to read the entire
text carefully and critically to understand and to check for possible
fallacies in the argument presented by the writer. Just like any other
writing, the formulation of the evaluative statements is done in the
same way except that the statement is about your own judgment of
the text’s content and properties. You may formulate your evaluative
statements in two ways such as formulating assertions and
counterclaims. Meanwhile, you will be formulating meaningful
counterclaims at the second part of this module.
The question now is, how are you going to form evaluative
statements? It’s very simple! Just remember the following pointers:
1. Begin with the positives before you point out the negatives.
Remember that your evaluative statement should be
factual, substantial and unbiased. When giving your
negative feedback, it should not sound insulting on the part
of the evaluatee (one who is evaluated).
2. Suggest a solution/s or suggestion/s on how to improve the
written material being evaluated and provide justification
how these will work.
3. Keep your feedback concise and precise.
4. Be careful in giving your feedback. Since evaluations pass
judgment onto works of authors, they must be written and
expressed with care and much diligence.
ASSERTION AND ITS TYPES:
A good critical reader does not only understand the meaning of a
reading material but also logically evaluates whether the claims of the
writer are true or false. Assertions serve as a primary way for the
readers to consider and possibly agree with the claims presented by
the writer in an expository writing.
Assertions are declarative sentences that give one’s belief about
something else as if it is true though it may not be. It is expressed as
an argument. Usually, these assertions contain languages that
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expresses evaluation such as useful, significant, important, insightful, (The last sample sentence is a preference because it expresses the
detailed, up-to-date, comprehensive, practical, impressive, etc. personal choice of the writer to places with seawater over those
places without it.)
For example, you were asked to answer the question, “Do you
believe education should continue regardless of the situation we are
facing right now?” and you would give your opinion or argument LESSON 6.2: Counterclaims
about it. Afterwards you would make an assertion whether you agree
or disagree with the issue, thus, take a stand and support it with your Formulating Counterclaims
reason/s. To be an effective critical thinker, it is not enough just to be able to
identify claims and assertions. The ability to analyze an argument is
There are four types of assertions which are classified according to essential to understanding the text more deeply, but understanding
the degree of certainty they can be judged as true or false. the claim is not the only facet of the argument. You must also learn
how to analyze the counterclaims and evidence provided by the text.
1. FACT- is a statement that can be proven objectively by Being able to recognize and formulate counterclaims in reaction to an
direct experience, testimonies of witnesses, verified
argument is a characteristic of a good critical reader.
observations, or the results of research.
Example: Counterclaims are claims made to rebut a previous claim. To
According to experts, seawater contains high amounts of minerals
rebut means to contradict someone’s statement through a formal
such as sodium, chloride, sulphate, magnesium and calcium. argument. They provide a contrasting perspective to the main
(The first sample sentence is classified as a fact since the mineral argument.
contents of seawater can be tested and proven through experiments
and researches.) To be able to locate counterclaims to an argument, remember the
following:
2. CONVENTION- is a way in which something is done similar 1. Show competence and familiarity with the writer’s topic.
to traditions and norms. Its truthfulness can be verified only
2. Examine different perspectives and not just passively
by reference to historical precedents, laws, rules, usage,
accepting the writer’s claim.
and customs. Something to note about conventions is that 3. Consider the topic, and make sure you are willing to
they may sound factual due to their being derived from
engage different viewpoints from your own.
customs, but because they are socially accepted ways of 4. Clarify your personal position on the topic.
doing things, they cannot be verified objectively by
measurements.
Example:
Seawater is classified as a heterogenous and homogenous mixture.
(The second sample sentence is a convention because the
classification of seawater is based on the classification system made
by scientists and is acceptable to the scientific community.)

3. OPINION- is a statement based on facts but is difficult to

objectively verify because of the uncertainty of producing
satisfactory proofs of soundness. Opinions result from
ambiguities; the more ambiguous a statement, the more
difficult it is to verify. Thus, they are open to disputes.
Example:
Swimming in seawater is the best activity to refresh and relax your
mind, body, and soul. In this example of counterclaim, Mang Tonyo now needs to support
(The third sample sentence is an opinion since the claim is difficult to his refusal to provide Martha with a smartphone. He should be ready
to give solid, substantiated reasons for his refusal to provide
prove. The truthfulness of the claim may be true to some but not to
something that the family has been spending for all those years. This
others.)
may include evidence of the family’s inability to send her and her
siblings to a private school, and that his budget is not sufficient
4. PREFERENCE- states a personal choice in which the
writer is under no obligation to support or prove the enough to afford a brand new smartphone since the family income
has suffered due to COVID-19.
truthfulness of the statement. They are subjective and
cannot be objectively proven or logically attacked.
Four Elements of Argument
Example:
I love to make frequent trips to places with seawater rather than
those without it. 1. CLAIM- is a statement that asserts facts based on one’s
understanding about a particular topic or issue.

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In the given example, Martha asking his father to buy her a the text and other relevant details to support the idea, through
smartphone is an example of a claim. referencing or mentioning a specific section in the text and through
quoting or directly restating a part of the text.
2. COUNTERCLAIM- is just the opposite of claim. It is a
statement that contradicts one’s claim and is usually
proven and supported by both reasons and evidences.

Mang Tonyo’s negative response to Martha’s claim is an example of

counterclaim.

3. REASON- is the part of an argument where a statement

offers an explanation behind a party’s claim.

Martha’s offering of valid reasons to convince Mang Tonyo that she

needs the smartphone is an example of reason.

4. EVIDENCE – is the statement that proves the truth of a

claim and generally leads to the conclusion of an argument.

Martha provides evidence of the necessity of using smartphone as

part of the new normal life in the time of CoronaVirus is an example
of evidence.

LESSON 7.1: Determining Textual Evidence

Textual evidence is defined as the details given by the author in

order to support his/her claims. It reveals the position of the writer
and makes the reading more interesting. Evidence are details that
strengthen, add variety or weight to any argument.
Let’s take this paragraph as a sample essay about the poem:
“Harlem” by Langston Hughes gives me the feeling, or mood of anger
and depression. It feels like the idea of deferring dreams is hurtful
and maybe even causes one to become resentful before eventually
being overcome by anger. I know this because the poemuses the
words “fosterlikea sore,”which gives me a feeling of pain. Further,
describing deferred dreams as if they “stink like rotten meat” is an
unpleasant image, giving me the feeling of resentment. Finally, when
the poem end with “Or doesit explode?” makes me think of a
person who boils over in anger.
Here, the author claimed that the poem gives him the feeling of anger
and depression. He uses exact words from the poem like foster like a
sore, stink like rotten meat or does it explode which are directly
relevant to his idea of anger and depression. Thus, we can say that
the writer’s claim in this essay is valid and relevant.
In addition, finding textual evidence on a read text helps you make
inferences using concrete evidence on your claim. To support one’s
claim, you should explicitly cite the ideas that support your claim in
your writings.
“It’s not about memorizing, it’s about understanding.”
“The harder you work for something, the greater you’ll feel
when you achieve it. Wishing you the best of luck on your
exam!” ❤️❤️❤️
References:
“DepedTambayan.net. “Reading and Writing Skills Module 5: Critical
Reading as Reasoning.” Accessed on June 17, 2023.
https://depedtambayan.net/wp-
content/uploads/2022/03/readingandwritingskills_q4_m5_criticalreadingasrea
soning_v2.pdf
“DepedTambayan.net. “Reading and Writing Skills Module 6: Formulating
Evaluative Statements.” Accessed on June 17, 2023.
https://depedtambayan.net/wp-
content/uploads/2022/03/readingandwritingskills_q4_m6_formulatingevaluati
vestatements_v2.pdf
“DepedTambayan.net. “Reading and Writing Skills Module 7: Determining
Textual Evidence.” Accessed on June 17, 2023.
https://depedtambayan.net/wp-
content/uploads/2022/03/readingandwritingskills_q4_m5_criticalreadingasrea
soning_v2.pdf

There are different ways on how you can present textual evidence in
your writings. It can be through paraphrasing or restating the text in
your own words, Through summarizing or stating in a shorter way

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