This document discusses different types of assertions and how to formulate counterclaims and identify evidence. It defines assertions as declarative sentences that claim something is true or false. Assertions can be facts that can be proven, conventions based on customs and norms, opinions based on facts but difficult to verify, or preferences based on personal choice. The document also provides guidance on formulating counterclaims by considering points of disagreement, strengths and weaknesses of arguments, and hidden assumptions. It defines evidence as details the author provides to support their claim and sway the reader.

1. ASSERTIONS

2. ASSERTIONS
• are declarative sentences that claim
something is true about something
else. Simply put, it is a sentence that is
either true or false.

3. READ THE FF EXAMPLES:
• 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.

4. ASSERTION IS A FACT
•Statement that can be proven
objectively by direct experience,
testimonies of witnesses, verified
observations, or the results of research.

5. ASSERTION OF CONVENTION
• A convention is a way in which something is done, similar to
traditions and norms.
• Conventions depend on historical precedent, laws, rules,
usage, and customs.
• They may sound factual due to their being derived from
customs, but because they are socially accepted ways of
doing things, they can not be verified objectively by
measurements.

6. ASSERTION IS AN OPINION
• opinions are based on facts, but are
difficult to objectively verify because of
the uncertainty of producing
satisfactory proofs of soundness.

7. ASSERTION IS A PREFERENCE
•Preferences are based on personal
choice.
•Subjective and can not be
objectively proven or logically
attacked.

8. FORMULATING
COUNTERCLAIMS

9. COUNTERCLAIMS
•Are claims made to rebut a previous
claim.
•Provide a contrasting perspective to
the main argument.

10. 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?

11. DETERMINING
TEXTUAL
EVIDENCE

12. EVIDENCE
•Defined as details given by the author to
support his/her claim.
•The evidence provided by the writer
substantiates the text.
•Crucial in swaying the reader to your side.

13. Before the arrival of the Spaniards, the culture and values of the Filipinos
are still in tacked. Precolonial Philippines has their own form of
government and social structure. Every local community is composed of
small kingdom or tribe headed by a chieftain called the ‘rajah’ or ‘datu’.
Social structure also exists and is composed of three classes namely – the
‘maharlika’ or freeman, ‘timawa’ or the middle class and the ‘alipin’ or the
slaves. Judicial, legislative and executive systems, also known as the
branches of the government, are also present during precolonialism. The
‘datu’ formulates the law, ‘village elders’ help the datu in deciding and
promulgating laws and the ‘umalohokan’ or town crier is the one who
disseminates new law or ordinances.
Philippines is also known as sea travellers with the use of their ‘balangay’
or Butuan boat. They also had smooth foreign relation because of the
trading of minerals and goods. Literacy rate is also high because of the
existence of the ‘baybayin’ or the ancient writing method. All of these