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Quarter 2-Module 3

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23 views

Quarter 2-Module 3

Uploaded by

Renren Merlanie Zuniga
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
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Quarter 2 – Module 3: Formulating a Statement of Opinion or Assertion

Fowler H. Ramsay (1986), as outlined in the Colorado State University website,


described assertion as a term generally used to refer to statements of fact, opinion,
belief and prejudice. These types or categories of assertion are quite different from
one another.
1. A fact is a verifiable statement. It can be proven objectively by verified
observations or the results of research among others.
Example: People use their legs to walk.
Why is this a fact?
Because we can prove this statement by mere observation

2. An opinion is a personal judgment based on facts; hence, it is debatable and


potentially changeable.
Example:
I think The Notebook is the best movie of all time.

An opinion is a type of assertion which expresses a judgment, viewpoint, or


statement about matters commonly considered to be subjective. It is a personal
view; however, it is still based on facts. In other words, it is an honest attempt to
draw a conclusion from factual evidence, and not a mere statement of one’s belief,
preference, or prejudice (e.g. The president is the worst leader the country has ever
had.)
An opinion statement is composed mainly of a debatable topic and a focus
(i.e., the specific feeling or belief the writer or speaker has about the topic.) It can
sometimes be distinguished from other constructions because it often uses
qualifying words such as almost, usually, maybe, probably, often, some, most
and in most cases. It does not have to be explicitly stated using the words “I
think...” or “In my opinion...” Take, for instance, the sentence: Most public schools
are ready for distance education. The word “most” makes the sentence an opinion
that is easier to support.
There are three categories of opinion statements, namely:
Statement of Truth
It is an opinion that something is or is not the case.
For example: With the minimal number of Covid-19 cases in the city, Baguio City
clearly has more effective contact tracing methods than most cities in the country.
Statement of Value
It is an opinion statement which claims that something does or does not have
worth.
For example: Hard lockdowns of barangays has not been effective in controlling the
spread of the coronavirus.
Statement of Policy
It claims that something should or should not be done.
For example: Amidst the ongoing pandemic, what teachers and students need is
not academic freeze but material, moral and instructional support from the leaders
in the education department.
Take note that the given examples are claims or statements that are based on
existing facts or on the writer’s interpretation of these facts; hence, they can be
debated or opposed. In other words, they are personal views. They may be true for
the speaker or writer, but they can’t be true for everybody else. It is therefore
important to make the readers aware of the evidence and how it led you to arrive at
your opinion.

3. The third category is called belief, which is a conviction based on cultural or


personal faith, morality or values. A statement of belief may look similar with an
opinion, but they are not based on evidence; that is why they cannot be contested
or argued in a rational or logical manner. A belief is usually a generalization.
For example, a person may believe that killing is bad or consuming alcohol is
bad. But not every religion will support these beliefs. Beliefs are often very strongly
ingrained in us that they influence our behaviors, thoughts, and attitudes in very
powerful ways.

4. Another statement or expression that is somewhat similar to an opinion is called


commonplace assertion. Readers or listeners sometimes confuse the two with
each other; however, a commonplace assertion does not appear to be as subjective
as an opinion. Instead, it claims universality and is presented as an absolute truth.
Further, a commonplace assertion is a statement used to make a declaration or to
express strong belief on a particular topic, often without evidence. They are so
common (because they are passed on by friends, family members, and the media)
that they are believed to be true even without proof, and some statements of
commonplace assertion have become stereotypes, which is a half-baked opinion
based on insufficient or unexamined evidence, but it presented as if it were a fact.
Example:
1. Men are stronger than women.
The first example is a typical stereotype, a statement that many people have
accepted to be true. However, there is no evidence to support this, and there are
many layers of the statement that are ambiguous. For instance, it is not clear if it
refers only to physical strength. This is why the statement is something that many
women have been trying to disprove.
2. An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
As for the second example, many people have also accepted this as a fact.
However, it is not clear how an apple can keep someone so healthy that she
wouldn’t need to visit a physician anymore. Moreover, it is still possible that
someone who eats apple everyday could get sick and will need to visit a doctor.
It is clear from these examples of commonplace assertion that readers need to
be critical about the information they read, so as not to assume that these
unfounded statements are absolute truths. Similarly, writers need restraint in
presenting their prejudices and opinions as factual statements. In other words,
personal views should be presented as opinions, and not as stereotypes or even
facts.

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