FORMULATING ASSERTIONS

AND COUNTERCLAIMS
ASSERTIONS

A way to convince a critical reader to accept the

writer’s claim is to formulate assertions. Assertions, as
defined by Tiongson (2016), are “declarative
sentences that claim something is true about
something else.”
These sentences may either be statements of truths or
opinions.
ASSERTIONS

There are four common types of assertion enumerated

by Tiongson. These are the following:
1. Fact – a claim or statement which can produce
objective proof/evidence through direct experience,
testimonies of witnesses, verified observations or
results of research. Assertion is the preferred term for
known information in domains such as logic and math.
ASSERTIONS

There are four common types of assertion enumerated by

Tiongson. These are the following:
1. Fact – Since this type of assertion can be easily
checked through consulting various sources, people
usually agree on the truth it provides.

The Earth is a sphere, or more precisely an oblate

spheroid.
ASSERTIONS

There are four common types of assertion enumerated

by Tiongson. These are the following:
2. Convention – this is referred to as “a way in which
something is done, similar to traditions or norms.”
These assertions solely rely on existing laws, rules,
usage, customs and historical precedent available.
ASSERTIONS

There are four common types of assertion enumerated

by Tiongson. These are the following:
2. Convention – Unlike facts, there are differing
interpretations on varying beliefs, thus verifying the
truth convention assertions can be crucial. Often,
these statements are said to sound “factual” primarily
because the truth of it depends on what is socially
accepted.
ASSERTIONS

There are four common types of assertion enumerated

by Tiongson. These are the following:
3. Opinion – statements such as the one are based on
facts. While facts can be proven to be objective,
opinions are hard to prove as this would have to rely
on reliable and sound proofs. Tiongson said, “The
more ambiguous an opinion is, the more difficult it is
to verify.”
ASSERTIONS

There are four common types of assertion enumerated

by Tiongson. These are the following:
3. Opinion – These statements commonly leave room
for discussion and disputes.
ASSERTIONS

There are four common types of assertion enumerated

by Tiongson. These are the following:
4. Preference – while opinion is based on facts,
preference relies on personal choice. These are
completely subjective assertions that cannot be
objectively proven.
ASSERTIONS

In writing believable assertions, you must need to take

note of the following tips:
- Be knowledgeable. Instinct alone does not yield
effective evidence and support the claim. In order to
make the reader believe in what you’re trying to stand
up, for examine the topic thoroughly. Explore both
sides of the topic, research as much information as
you can.
ASSERTIONS

In writing believable assertions, you must need to take

note of the following tips:
- Back it all up. To make your assertion stable and
solid, it must have strong foundations in the form of
research findings. Be careful and leave out any
irrelevant evidence referenced in the text to avoid
confusion for the readers.
ASSERTIONS

In writing believable assertions, you must need to take

note of the following tips:
- Be clear and concise. Get straight to the facts. Let
them know what you want them to know and present
them complete with supporting details to your claim/s.
COUNTERCLAIMS

A critical reader does not only focus on claim after

claim of a written text. Analyzing an argument must
also involve the understanding of the evidence
presented by the writer as well as its counterclaims.
COUNTERCLAIMS

Counterclaims, as defined by Tiongson (2016), are

“claims made to rebut a previous claim.” This point of
view is in contrast to previous claims made by the
author.
COUNTERCLAIMS

According to the same writer, it takes familiarity of the

topic being discussed in the text as one of the ways to
spot the counterclaims of the writer. In order to present
objectivity, the writer must be aware of the
counterclaims to his/her claims. Considering the other
side of the argument may help you identify the
weaknesses and strengths of your claim, giving you the
leeway to open more details to make the reader believe.
COUNTERCLAIMS

The counterclaims in the text are usually presented in

a straightforward way. After spotting these statements
you as a reader or writer, can clearly define your
position in a particular topic.
COUNTERCLAIMS

Tiongson gave the following questions that can help

one formulate a counterclaim:
- What are the major points on which you and the
author can disagree?
- What is their strongest argument? What did they say
to defend their position?
- What are the merits of their views?
COUNTERCLAIMS

Tiongson gave the following questions that can help

one formulate a counterclaim:
- What are the weaknesses or shortcomings in their
argument?
- Are there any hidden assumptions?
- Which lines form the text best support the
counterclaim you have formulated?