4. The egg came first
than the chicken
As the geneticist J.B.S. Haldane remarked, “The most
frequently asked question is: “Which came first, the
chicken or the egg?” The fact that it is still asked proves
either that many people have never been taught the
process of evolution or that they don’t believe it. “With
that in mind, the answer become obvious. Bird evolved
from reptiles, so the first bird must have come out of an
egg – laid by a reptile.
5. The very first supercontinent was
called “Vaalbara” and it started
forming more than 3 billion years ago.
Pangea was the name
of the earth’s original
(first) continent.
6. Professor David Benton says it’s a
myth that sugary food and drinks
make children hyperactive.
Sugar makes
children hyper.
7. The Aztecs, who flourished between
1300 – 1521, traded for cocoa beans,
which they couldn’t grow. They also
demanded cocoa as tribute or tax from
conquered territories.
Chocolate was once
used as currency
8. According to the National Center for
Atmospheric Research in Boulder,
Colorado, an average cloud weighs about
100 elephants while a big storm the
clouds weighs about 200,000 elephants.
A cloud weighs
like 100
elephants
9. What makes you believe
that a certain idea or
information is factual?
Opinionated?
11. •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.
12. •Assertion - is an artistic method involving s
strong declaration, a forceful or confident and
positive statement regarding a belief or a fact.
Often, it is without proof or ant support. Its
purpose is to express ideas or feelings directly.
•Assertion may be
-a FACT
-AN OPINION
-A BELIEF
-A COMMONPLACE ASSERTION
13. • A fact is a verifiable statement. It can be proven
objectively by verified observations or the results of
research among others
•an opinion is a personal judgment based on facts;
hence, it is debatable and potentially changeable
•Belief is a conviction based on cultural or personal
faith, morality or values.
•Commonplace assertion is a stereotype, an
oversimplification or a prejudice, which is a half-
baked opinion based on insufficient or unexamined
evidence, but it presented as if it were a fact
14. FOUR TYPES OF ASSERTION
1. Basic Assertion - it is a simple and direct statement for
expressing feelings, opinions, and beliefs.
Example:
“I wish I could have expressed this idea earlier, because now
someone else has taken the credit.”
2. Emphatic Assertion - it conveys empathy to someone, and
usually has two parts: the first contains recognition of the feelings
or situations of the other person, and the second express care and
support for the other person’s feelings or rights.
Example:
“I understand you are busy, and me too, but it is difficult for me to
finish this project on my own. So, I want you to help me complete
this project.”
15. 3. Escalating Assertion - it happens when someone is not able to
respond to a person’s basic assertions. As a result, that person
becomes firm about him or her.
Example:
“If you do not finish this work by 6:00 tonight, I will engage the
services of another worker.”
4. Language Assertion - this uses the first-person pronoun “I”.
This is used for expressing negative feelings, but this is helpful
in laying emphasis on a person’s feelings of anger and a solution
is suggested.
Example:
“When you speak harshly to me, I cannot talk and move as usual
because I feel embarrassed. Therefore, I want you to speak in
low tone and then give me a task.”
17. FACT OR OPINION?
It’s 30 ͦ C outside
FACT
It’s very hot outside
OPINION
verifiable
objective
unverifiable
subjective
It can be proven objectively
by verified observations or
the results of research among
others
It is a thought, belief or judgment that
a person or a group of people have
about something or someone which are
based mainly on their belief. It may
also be a judgment made by an expert.
Editor's Notes
Everyday conversation and writing is characterized not only by factual statements, but also expressions of one’s personal views, judgment, beliefs and convictions. In other words, we often make statements or assertions of fact, opinion, belief and even prejudice. This is because we often process and interpret factual evidence based on our own values, feelings, tastes, and experiences.
Whenever you browse your newsfeed, will you be able to tell how much of the posts you read is factual, and how much is opinionated? If you can’t tell between fact and opinion or assertion, then you are likely to fall victim to misinformation or fake news. As a 21st century learner, you should be able to tell the difference between the two. Similarly, you are also expected to know how to properly construct statements of opinion or assertion. Below is a detailed discussion of opinion and commonplace assertion
Assertion - is an artistic method involving s strong declaration, a forceful or confident and positive statement regarding a belief or a fact. Often, it is without proof or ant support. Its purpose is to express ideas or feelings directly.
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
COMMONPLACE ASSERTION is often accepted from others (families, friends, media etc.), making it too common to be questioned about its truthfulness.
These categories of assertion are so prevalent in social media today, and the distinction between one another is slowly becoming unclear because of how netizens present everything as facts. This is why every social media needs to be a critical and informed reader to be able to verify the truthfulness of the information he/she comes across.
Explanation
It is a basic assertion because the statement is merely an opinion.)
The statement is an emphatic assertion basically because the speaker shows empathy or care towards the feeling of others. On the second state ‘So, I want you to help me this project’ shows his/he stand about the situation.)
3. (It is an escalating assertion because the speaker did not receive any response, so he showed strong conviction that he meant what he says.)
4. The statement is an example of language assertion because the speaker used negation “cannot” to express his/her feelings.)
GROUP ACTIVITY
By this time, you should be able to distinguish between facts and opinions or assertions.
Practice your skill by reading this commentary and identify the FACT AND OPINIONS embedded in the article. Explain why is it a FACT or OPINION…
