This document discusses different types of assertions that are commonly used in writing. It defines assertions as statements used to convey an author's ideas or feelings about a work of literature and convince readers to agree. There are three main types of assertions: basic assertions directly state personal beliefs, emphatic assertions express understanding of others' feelings while also asserting one's own rights, and I-language assertions express personal feelings and preferences using "I" when disagreeing. Examples of each type are provided.

2. COMMONPLACE ASSERTIONS
•“STEREOTYPES.” THESE ARE STATEMENTS THAT
SOUND TRUE BUT ARE GENERALLY BASED ON
COMMON OPINIONS.
•THIS FORM OF ASSERTION USUALLY INCLUDES
CLAIMS LIKE THOSE THAT SAY MEN ARE ALWAYS
STRONGER THAN WOMEN.

3. EXAMPLES
• GOOD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE.
• MILK IS GOOD FOR YOU.

4. IN ENGLISH, AN ASSERTION IS USUALLY FORMULATED
AFTER ACTIVITIES LIKE EXPLORING READING
MATERIALS, SUCH AS STORIES OR POEMS OR VIEWING A
PLAY.
ASSERTIONS ARE USUALLY WRITTEN IN ORDER FOR A
WRITER TO CONVEY HIS OR HER IDEAS OR FEELINGS
TOWARDS A PARTICULAR WORK OF LITERATURE, AND
CONVINCE OR INFLUENCE THE READERS TO TAKE AND
AGREE WITH HIS/HER IDEAS OR VIEWS.

5. IN A LARGER CONTEXT, AN ASSERTION MAY BE
USED IN BOTH FORMAL AND INFORMAL
WRITING AND IS USUALLY CATEGORIZED INTO
VARIOUS TYPES. THE MOST COMMON TYPES
INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: BASIC ASSERTION,
EMPHATIC ASSERTION, AND I-LANGUAGE
ASSERTION.

6. BASIC ASSERTION
•IS A TYPE OF ASSERTION THAT DIRECTLY EXPRESSES
THE WRITER’S FEELINGS AND BELIEFS THROUGH
SIMPLE STATEMENTS. THIS TYPE IS USUALLY USED
IN STANDING UP FOR PERSONAL BELIEFS, RIGHTS,
FEELINGS, OR OPINIONS.

7. EXAMPLES
“I WOULD LIKE TO FINISH THIS EMAIL BEFORE WE HAVE OUR
CONVERSATION.”
“I WOULD LIKE YOU TO WAIT UNTIL I HAVE FINISHED
SPEAKING.”

8. EMPHATIC ASSERTION
INVOLVES EXPRESSING EMPATHY AND EXPOUNDING ON
HOW THE WRITER UNDERSTANDS THE FEELINGS AND
EMOTIONS OF THE LITERARY AUTHOR. THIS TYPE MAY BE
USED IN BOTH FORMAL AND INFORMAL WRITING.
IT CONSISTS OF 2 PARTS THE RECOGNITION OF THE
OTHER’S SITUATION OR FEELINGS FOLLOWED BY
ANOTHER STATEMENT STANDING UP FOR THE SPEAKER’S
RIGHTS.

9. EXAMPLE
“I RECOGNIZE YOU ARE BUSY WITH MULTIPLE PROJECTS,
BUT I STILL NEED A RESPONSE TO MY EMAIL BY THURSDAY.”

10. I-LANGUAGE ASSERTION
EXPRESSES THE FEELINGS AND PREFERENCES OF
THE WRITER. THIS TYPE IS CALLED I-LANGUAGE
BECAUSE THE WRITER USUALLY USES THE PRONOUN
‘I’ IN ASSERTING DISAGREEMENT. THIS TYPE IS OFTEN
USED IN WRITING REVIEWS, REACTION OR
REFLECTION PAPERS.

11. EXAMPLE
“WHEN YOU ARE LATE TO A MEETING, I BECOME IRRITABLE
BECAUSE I FEEL AS IF YOU DO NOT VALUE OUR WORK
ENOUGH TO BE ON TIME. THEREFORE, I WOULD LIKE YOU TO
ARRIVE ON TIME FOR OUR MEETINGS.”