English

Grade 8 • Unit 10: Folktales

LESSON 10.3

Claim and Counterclaim

Table of Contents
Introduction 1

Objectives 2

DepEd Competency 2

Warm-Up 3

Learn about It 3
Claim and Counterclaim 3
Claim 4
Evidence 5
Reason 5
Counterclaim 5

Key Points 7

Check Your Understanding 7

Let’s Step Up! 8

Bibliography 9
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Grade 8 • Unit 10: Folktales

Lesson 10.3

Claim and Counterclaim

Fig. 1. We use claims and counterclaims in building arguments.

Introduction
In building arguments in rhetoric, it is very important to incorporate the correct grammatical
expressions that give a signal to your audience on the type of expression you are making.

In this lesson, you will learn about some common signal words that will help you in forming
a coherent argument or proposition.

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Grade 8 • Unit 10: Folktales

Objectives
In this lesson, you should be able to do the following:
● Present one’s stand regarding an issue by using knowledge of claims and
counterclaims.
● Use common signals or expressions in forming a coherent argument or
proposition.
● Deliver a speech presenting one’s argument using appropriate
expressions or signals for claims and counterclaims.

DepEd Competency
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to use appropriate grammatical
signals or expressions suitable to each pattern of idea development: general to
particular, claim and counterclaim, problem-solution, cause-effect, and others
(EN8G-IIa-9).

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Grade 8 • Unit 10: Folktales

Warm-Up

Informal Debate

Procedure
1. Decide which one you would choose among wealth, beauty, and brain.
2. Write down your thoughts about your choice in your notebook.
3. Then, upon your teacher’s signal, go to the respective area assigned by your teacher
representing your choice.
4. Anyone in your group can speak up and share his or her responses.

Learn about It
Claim and Counterclaim
The purpose of an argument is to persuade or convince a person or a group of people about
a certain case or situation. To win an argument, one must need to know its parts. The four
parts of an argument are claims, counterclaims, evidence, and reasons.

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Grade 8 • Unit 10: Folktales

Vocabulary
evidence
a proof that comes from careful research
(noun)

reason
a statement given to explain a belief or an action
(noun)

claim what one thinks is true about a topic based on

(noun) knowledge and research.

counterclaim the opposite of a claim that is also provable and

(noun) supportable by reasons and evidence

Essential Question
How do we construct an appropriate, relevant, and strong argument?

Claim
A claim is what one thinks is true about a topic
based on knowledge and research. When you make
a claim, it must be argumentative since you are
convincing someone to agree to your
interpretation or understanding of a subject. To
establish this, we need evidence backed up by
reasons.

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Grade 8 • Unit 10: Folktales

Example of a Claim:

Pedro must be the next president of the class.

Evidence
The evidence is the proof or the available facts supporting your claim. Evidence comes from
careful research. Thus, it is hard to give a definite claim when one is not familiar with the
topic.
Examples of evidence supporting the claim above:

● Pedro currently tops the class in GPA.

● Pedro was the vice-president last year.
● Pedro always helps his classmates in whatever way he can.

Reason
A reason, on the other hand, is your logical support. This involves one’s observation and
analysis that justifies the importance of the claim.
Examples of reasons to support the claim above:

● Pedro is a responsible student academically.

● Pedro has leadership experience.
● Pedro is helpful.

Counterclaim
In arguing a claim, you should always consider the potential counterclaims and
counterarguments. A counterclaim is the opposite of a claim, which is also provable and
supportable by reasons and evidence. These are claims that go against what is originally
claimed.

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Grade 8 • Unit 10: Folktales

Examples of counterclaims:

● Pedro can’t be a president because he is too assertive.

● Someone has a broader leadership experience than Pedro.

Do you agree that Pedro should be the next president? There could be differing opinions
about this, but the best way to strengthen your claim is to anticipate the possible
counterclaims. In building arguments, use the graphic organizer.

Below is the graphic organizer you can use to formulate a strong argument.

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Grade 8 • Unit 10: Folktales

Let’s Check In
Recall the two Chinese folktales in this unit. Did the judge and the priest do
the right thing? Explain and prove your answer.

Key Points

● A claim is what one thinks is true about a topic based on knowledge and research,
while a counterclaim is the opposite of a claim, which is also provable and
supportable by reasons and evidence.
● A claim is supported by reasons and evidence.

Check Your Understanding

With a partner, debate on the following issues. Make claims and counterclaims to
prove your point.

1. Military training should be mandatory to all male Filipino citizens like in Korea.
2. The Philippines should stop sending domestic helpers to the Middle East.
3. All scholars in state universities must serve the country for a certain period of
time before they are allowed to work abroad.
4. School administrators and parents must have access to the social media of
their children.
5. Homework should be banned in the primary school year.

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Grade 8 • Unit 10: Folktales

Decide which evidence and logical support are appropriate and relevant
based on the claim that no one should fail in school.

1. Teachers are primarily responsible for classroom learning.

2. Students feel more stressed when they are graded, unlike non-graded
evaluations.
3. Grades are just numbers in cards. They do not reflect the entire character of
the student.
4. School is preparatory training. Real evaluation happens in the workplace.
5. As long as the student reports to school, this matters most.

Write a one-sentence claim based on the following issues.

1. The role of Sangguniang Kabataan in the barangay

2. Increasing funds for military
3. Build, build, build project of the government
4. Replacing textbooks with ebooks
5. Using social media in learning

Let’s Step Up!

On a separate piece of paper, write a short composition with the following prompt:

Is it justifiable to say that literature shapes the culture of the nation? Or does culture
shape the literature of the nation?

Explain your answer. Use claims and counterclaims in building your argument.

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Bibliography

Parts of an Argument: Claims, Counterclaims, Reasons, and Evidence. Accessed March 22,
2022.
https://study.com/academy/lesson/parts-of-an-argument-claims-counterclaims-reaso
ns-and-evidence.html#:~:text='%20Claims%20are%20not%20just%20opinions,to%20
move%20beyond%20mere%20opinions.

Argument Essay: Building an Argument Essay. Accessed March 22, 2022.

https://uwsslec.libguides.com/c.php?g=218007&p=1656025