LESSON 5:

CLAIMS OF FACT, POLICY, AND

VALUE

Roselyn V. Villaguarda
English 10 Teacher
As individuals, we are often compelled to
respond to different kinds of issues around us.
When responding or expressing opinion
towards an issue, it is important to be able to
identify the writer’s or the speaker’s claim. A
clear understanding of someone’s beliefs, or
ideas about something enables others to give
appropriate feedback or reactions.
CLAIMS OF FACT, POLICY, AND VALUE
Identifying one’s claims is an essential skill when
expressing opinion on a certain issue especially in the field
of writing.
A CLAIM refers to a clear assertion of a person’s ideas,
opinions, or propositions.
The use of claims may serve the purpose of convincing or
persuading readers or a specific audience to agree with a
specific stand or rationale on an issue.
 Generally, claims may be classified as claims of fact,
claims of value, and claims of policy.
 CLAIMS OF FACT

 This category of claims states something

about things in the past, in the present, and
in the future.
This also deals with ideas or claims that can
be proven or disproved with the help of
factual evidences. This fact claim is basically
debatable yet verifiable.
 CLAIMS OF FACT
 The 2020 national budget amounting to Php4.1 trillion,
which is 12 percent larger than the 2019 budget, can really
help in boosting the economy through various
infrastructural projects.

(The claims focus on the budget and the possible result of its
implementation in terms of economic growth. These can be proven [or
disproved] after the actual implementation of the target
infrastructural projects using the given amount specified in the
national budget.)
 CLAIMS OF FACT
 Being the richest city in the country, the City of Makati
can implement better projects needed by its citizens.

(The claim is debatable since no evidences are initially

presented. The claim focuses not only on being the
richest city but on the implementation of better projects.
This can also be proven [or disproved] using verifiable
evidences.)
 CLAIMS OF VALUE
 A claim of value, also known as value claim,
presents an assertion as to whether something is
good or bad, or one concept or idea is better
than another. This also emphasizes and weighs
the benefits of the subject matter. This is
debatable in nature since people may have
different opinions on the given claims or
concepts.
 CLAIMS OF VALUE

 Taking vitamins is better than eating fruits and

vegetables in terms of boosting our immune system.

(This claim is based on one’s opinion, judgment, or

experience as to which one is better than the other.
The claim may be truthful to some but not to all.)
Claims of Value
 If I were to choose, I would prefer the work from home
(WFH) scheme than working in the office as this gives
me more family time.

(The claim is based on one’s opinion or judgment about

the worth of WFH scheme. This is arguable since benefits
of WFH may vary from one person to another.)
Claims of Policy

 A claim of policy supports that an action should or

should not be done to address a certain case or policy.
Policy claim indicates that an action should be carried
out either in support or in opposition of a particular
argument.
Claims of Policy
 The city’s health department must learn from how
other cities successfully address the concerns against
COVID-19.

(This claim supports the idea of learning from the best

practices of other cities leading to a particular call to
action.)
Claims of Policy

To further improve one’s skills in speaking before a

large number of audience, one must consider enrolling
in personality development classes that can help boost
confidence and improve one’s self-image.

(The writer presents a particular course of action.)

Study the statements that follow. Then, identify the statements is an
example of Claim of Fact, Claim of Value, Claim of Policy
1. The Department of Education (DepEd) got the highest allocation for
the 2020 National Budget.
2. Taking drugs without a doctor’s prescription can endanger one’s life.
3. The use of substantial research in writing is a great way for authors to
achieve their purpose.
4. It is necessary for stakeholders in the community to support every
school in making sure that education continues for all learners.
5. Honesty is the best policy.
Study the statements that follow. Then, identify the statements is an
example of Claim of Fact, Claim of Value, Claim of Policy
1. The Department of Education (DepEd) got the highest allocation for
the 2020 National Budget. Claim of Fact
2. Taking drugs without a doctor’s prescription can endanger one’s life.
Claim of Fact
3. The use of substantial research in writing is a great way for authors to
achieve their purpose. Claim of Value
4. It is necessary for stakeholders in the community to support every
school in making sure that education continues for all learners. Claim of
Policy
5. Honesty is the best policy. Claim of Value
 CLAIM OF FACT
• Claims that are based on facts or
data (verifiable
• A fact claim is not a fact, it only
claims to be a fact. It is arguable
because the speaker cannot prove it
directly.
Examples:
Smoking increases the risk of lung
cancer by 80%.
Vaccines have been proven to prevent
the spread of certain diseases.
Ex: Covid-19 is a highly infectious
disease.
CLAIM OF VALUE CLAIM OF POLICY
• May involve tastes and morals (good • Involve action on what people
or bad), judgments, appraisals, and should or should not do.
evaluations
• assert specific plans or courses of
• Make judgment and express action should be instituted as
approval or disapproval of taste and solutions to problems
morality
Examples:
• Good/bad, right/wrong, one thing is The local government should impose a
better than the other curfew for minors from 11:00 PM to
5:00 PM
Examples:
It is right for workers to demand higher
wages because the prices of basic
commodities have risen significantly
Ex: It is right for the government to Ex: The government should impose
impose restrictions to control the spread health protocols and other restrictions
of Covid-19 to control the spread of Covid-19.