Lesson Text and Context Connections:

Assertion and Counterclaims

1
Formulating Assertions

What is an Assertion?

Becoming a good critical reader means that you are able to logically evaluate the
claims of the writer. Assertions become the primary channel for a reader to assent to a
claim.
Assertion is a stylistic approach or technique involving a confident or strong
declaration, a forceful or confident and positive statement regarding an opinion, a belief,
fact or even feelings. Your assertion is meant to convince your reader or hearer to
accept what you are saying. This is partly similar to making a claim, although according
to hhtp://literarydevices.net/assertion/, an assertion is often without proof or support
whereas claims have to be explained, reasoned or evidenced.
Assertion is an honest and appropriate expression of one’s feelings, opinions,
and needs. Its purpose is to express ideas or feelings directly, for instance, “I have put
my every effort to complete this task today.” Standing up for your rights and not being
taken advantage of is one definition of being assertive. It also means communicating
what you really want in a clear fashion, respecting your own rights and feelings and the
rights and feelings of others.
How do you make assertions and how do you back them up? You can make
assertions by taking the view of the writer, the people involved in the text, or as a third
person reader/commenter. Further, you have to state your assertion in a statement
form, in a declarative tone. You can make assertions about the content and the text
properties- the structure and the language used. In doing this, you are also evaluating
or making judgments about the text you are reading.
It is important though that you can back up or give reason for making such
assertion based on the text and not from your imagination. In doing so, you have to go
back to the text content, structure, and language used. The following reminders will help
you in defending your assertion:

 Understand the content of the text. If there is a main point, is it clear? If there
is not or if is implied, can you make a statement that asserts its main point?
 Examine the supporting ideas or evidences. Are all the supporting details
relevant to the main point the text is trying to convey? Are these supporting ideas
adequate or enough?
 Look at the structure and the language of the text- the organization and the
words used. In Lesson 1, you are introduced to the different text organization
(from narrative to argumentative or persuasive texts) and the use of cohesive
devices in Lesson 2. You can use these elements in making further assertions
about the structure of text.

Reading and Writing: Final Module | 1

 Tiongson’s Types of Assertion

There are four types of assertions which are classified according to the degree of
certainty they can be judged as true or false.

1. ASSERTION OF FACT

This is a statement that can be proven objectively by direct experiences,

testimonies of witnesses, verified observations, or the results of research.
Example 1: The sampaguita’s roots are used for medicinal purposes, such as
an anesthetic and a sedative.
This statement is a fact because it can be directly verified by experience or
reliable research reports.

Example 2: According to experts, seawater contains high amounts of minerals

such as sodium, chloride, sulphate, magnesium and calcium.
This sentence is classified as a fact since the mineral contents of seawater can
be tested and proven through experiments and researches.

2. ASSERTION OF OPINION
Opinions are based on facts, but are 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 1: The popularity of sampaguita flowers is most evident in places of

worship.
The above statement is an opinion because it is based on an observation that
needs to be proven by studies and repeated observation; there are too many
factors involved that makes explicit judgment difficult.

Example 2: Swimming in seawater is the best activity to refresh and relax your
mind, body, and soul.
The above statement is an opinion since the claim is difficult to prove. The truth-
fulness of the claim may be true to some but not to others.

Reading and Writing: Final Module | 2

3. ASSERTION OF CONVENTION

A convention is a way in which something is done, similar to traditions and

norms. Its truthfulness can be verified only by reference to historical precedents,
laws, rules, usage, and customs. Something to note about conventions is that
they may sound factual due to their being derived from customs, but because
they are socially accepted ways of doing things, they cannot be verified
objectively by measurements.

Example 1: The sampaguita belongs to the genus Jasminum of the family

Oleaceae.

This statement is a convention because it is based on a classification system

made up by scientists and is acceptable to the scientific community.

Example 2: Seawater is classified as a heterogenous and homogenous mixture.

This 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.

4. ASSERTION OF PREFERENCE

Preferences are based on personal choice; therefore, they are subjective and
cannot be objectively proven or logically attacked. The writer is under no
obligation to support or prove the truthfulness of the statement.

Example 1: Sampaguitas are the most beautiful and most fragrant of all flowers.

This statement is a preference because it says a lot about the type of flowers that
the writer likes, instead of objectively comparing the qualities of sampaguitas to
that of other flowers.

Example 2: I love to make frequent trips to places with seawater rather than
those without it.

This sentence is a preference because it expresses the personal choice of the

writer to places with seawater over those places without it.

Reading and Writing: Final Module | 3

Formulating Counterclaims

To be an effective critical thinker, it is not enough just to be able to identify claims

and assertions. It is also important to have the ability to analyze an argument and
counterclaims.

Counterclaims are claims made to rebut a previous claim. They provide a

contrasting perspective to the main argument.

Counterclaims – answer the question “What are other credible possibilities?

The following questions will help you formulate a counterclaim:

 What are the major points on which you and the author can disagree?
 What is the strongest argument? What did they say to defend their position?
 What are the merits of their view?
 What are the weaknesses or shortcomings in their argument?
 Are there any hidden assumptions?
 Which lines from the text best support the counterclaim you have formulated?

Steps in Writing a Counterclaim

Step One – Ways to begin counterclaim paragraphs

 Many people believe that . . .
 It is often thought that . . .
 It might seem as if . . .
 While it is common . . .
Step Two – Ways to transition from the opposite side back to your opinion
 What this argument fails to consider is . . .
 This view sounds convincing at first but . . .
 Although the core claim is valid, it suffers from the flaw in its . . .
Step Three – Write a counterclaim. Use one of the sentence starters in step one.
Remember to transition back to your opinion. Use one of the sentences
starters in step two.

Counterclaim example:
It is often thought that social studies are the favorite academic class for junior high
school students. However, what this argument fails to consider is that science allows
for more hands-on activities. For example, when studying amphibians, you get to
dissect a frog rather than just read about an event from the past.

Reading and Writing: Final Module | 4