IDENTIFYING ASSERTIONS
Becoming a good critical reader means that you’re
able to logically evaluate the claims of the writer. Any
writer would want the reader to consider–and possibly
agree with–the claims that he or she puts forward. In
expository writing, assertions become the primary
channel for a reader to assent to a claim.
Assertions are declarative sentences that claim
something is true about something else. Simply put, it is
a sentence that is either true or false.
Example:
The sampaguita’s roots are used for medicinal purposes,
such as an anesthetic and a sedative.
The sampaguita belongs to the genus Jasminum of the
family Oleaceae.
The popularity of sampaguita flowers is most evident in
places of worship.
Sampaguitas are the most beautiful and most fragrant
of all flowers.
FOUR TYPES OF ASSERTIONS
fact
convention
opinion
preference
FACT
This is a statement that can be proven objectively by direct
experience, testimonies of witnesses, verified observations, or
the results of research. Because statements of fact can be
double-checked for accuracy, there is general agreement
about the truth they posit.
Ex.
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.
CONVENTION
It is a way in which something is done, similar to
traditions and norms. Conventions depend on historical
precedent, laws, rules, usage, and customs. Thus, their
truthfulness is verified by how commonly held definitions
and beliefs are interpreted.
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.
CONVENTION
Ex.
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.
OPINION
These 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.
Ex.
The popularity of sampaguita flowers is most evident
in places of worship.
This 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.
PREFERENCE
These are based on personal choice; therefore, they are
subjective and cannot be objectively proven or logically
attacked.
Ex.
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.
FORMULATING COUNTERCLAIMS
To be an effective critical thinker, it is not enough just to be able
to identify claims and assertions. The ability to analyse an
argument is essential to understanding the text more deeply,
but understanding the claim is not the only facet of the
argument. You must also learn how to analyse the
counterclaims and evidence provided by the text.
Being able to recognise and formulate counterclaims in
reaction to an argument is a characteristic of a good critical
reader. Counterclaims are claims made to rebut a previous
claim. They provide a contrasting perspective to the main
argument.
By being able to locate and provide
counterclaims to an argument, you show a deep
competence and familiarity with the writer’s topic.
It shows that you are examining various
perspectives and not just passively accepting the
writer’s claim. It shows that you have thoroughly
considered the topic, and are willing to engage
various viewpoints from your own, thus remaining
objective. It also helps you clarify what your
personal position is on the topic.
The following questions will help you 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 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?
DETERMINING TEXTUAL EVIDENCE
To better evaluate the author’s argument, you should be able
to determine the evidence from the text. This will allow you to
validate the assertions of the author and your own
counterclaims as a response to reading. Evidence is defined as
the details given by the author to support his/her claim. The
evidence provided by the writer substantiates the text. It reveals
and builds on the position of the writer and makes the reading
more interesting. Evidence is crucial in swaying the reader to
your side. A jury or judge, for example, relies on evidence
presented by a lawyer before it makes a decision regarding a
case.
Evidence can include the following.
facts and statistics
[objectively validated information on your
subject]
opinion from experts
[leading authorities on a topic, such as
researchers or academics]
personal anecdotes
[generalizable, relevant, and objectively
considered]
The following are some questions to help you
determine evidence from the text:
What questions can you ask about the claims?
Which details in the text answer your questions?
What are the most significant details in the
paragraph?
What is each one’s relationship to the claim?
How does the given detail reinforce the claim?
What details do you find interesting? Why?
What are some claims that do not seem to
have support? What kinds of support could they
be provided with?
What are some details that you find
questionable? Why do you think so?
Are some details outdated, inaccurate,
exaggerated, or taken out of context?
Are the sources reliable?
CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD EVIDENCE
unified
relevant to the central point
specific and concrete
accurate
representative or typical
