The document discusses critical reading and identifying assertions in texts. It defines four common types of assertions: facts, conventions, opinions, and preferences. Facts can be proven objectively, conventions are based on social norms, opinions are difficult to verify objectively, and preferences are subjective personal views. The document also discusses formulating counterclaims by considering different perspectives, and determining textual evidence an author provides to support their claims. Overall, the summary emphasizes that critical reading involves logically evaluating claims, considering different viewpoints, and analyzing the evidence an author uses to substantiate their argument.

1. Critical ReadingasReasoning
IdentifyingAssertions
Becominga goodcritical readermeansthatyou are able tologicallyevaluatethe claimsof the writer.
Anywriterwouldwantthe readerto consider—andpossiblyagree./ith---the claimsthathe or she puts
forward.Inexpositorywriting,assertionsbecomethe primarychannel forareaderto assenttoa claim.
/Assertionsare declarative sentencesthatclaimsomethingistrue aboutsomethingelse>implyput,itis
a sentence thatiseithertrue or false.
Readthe followingexamples:
The sampaguita'srootsare usedfor medicinal purposes,suchasananestheticanda sedative.
The sampaguitabelongstothe genusJasminumof the familyOleaceae.
The popularityof sampaguitaflowersismostevidentinplacesof worship.Sampaguitasare the most
beautiful andmostfragrantof all flowers.
There are fourcommontypesof assertion,"whichare classifiedaccordingtothe degree of certainty
theycan be judgedas true or false.Howwouldyouclassifythe previousstatements?
The firsttype of assertionisa fact.This isa statementthatcan be provenobjectivelybydirect
experience, testimoniesof witnesses,verifiedobservations,orthe resultsof research.Because
Statementsof factcan be double-checkedforaccuracy,there isgeneral agreementaboutthe truththey
posiSs
The sampaguita'srootsare usedfor medicinal purposes,suchasan anestheticanda sedative.
Thisstatementisa fact because itcan be directlyverifiedorreliable researchreports.

2. The secondtype is an assertionof-convention,A conventionisaway inwhichsomethingisdone,similar
to traditionsandnorms.Conventionsdependonhistorical precedent,laws,rules,usage,andcustoms.
Thus,theirtruthfulnessisverifiedbyhow commonlyhelddefinitionsandbeliefsare interpret*
Somethingtonote aboutconventionsisthattheymaysoundfactual due to theirbeingderivedfrom
customs,butbecause theyare sociallyacceptedwaysof doingthings,theycannotbe verified
objectivelybymeasurements.
The sampaguitabelongstothe genusJasminumof the familyOleaceae.
Thisstatementisa conventionbecause itisbasedona classificationsystemmade upbyscientistsandis
acceptable tothe scientificcommunity.
rThe thirdtype of assertionisan opinion.Opinionsare basedonfacts,but are difficulttoobjectively
verifybecause ofthe uncertaintyof producingsatisfactoryproofsof soundness.Opinionsresultfrom
ambiguities;the more ambiguousastatement,the more difficultitistoverify.Thus,theyare opento
disputes-z
The popularityof sampaguitaflowersismostevidentinplacesof worship.
The above statementisan opinionbecause itisbasedonanobservationthatneedstobe provenby
studiesandrepeatedobservation;there are toomanyfactors involvedthatmakesexplicitjudgment
difficult.
4he fourthtype of assertionisa preference.Preferencesare basedonpersonal choice;therefore,they
are subjectiveandcannotbe objectivelyprovenorlogicallyattacked/
Sampaguitasare the most beautiful andmostfragrantof all flowers.
Thisstatementisa preference because itsaysalot aboutthe type of flowersthatthe writerlikes,
insteadof objectivelycomparingthe qualitiesof sampaguitastothat of otherflowers.
FormulatingCounterclaims

3. To be an effective critical thinker,itisnotenoughjustto be able to identifyclaimsandassertions.The
abilitytoanalyze anargumentisessential tounderstandingthe textmore deeply,butunderstandingthe
claimisnot the onlyfacetof the argument.Youmust a lsolearnhow toanalyze the counterclaimsand
evidence providedbythe text.
Beingable torecognize andformulate counterclaimsinreactiontoanargumentisa characteristicof a
goodcritical readerßounterclaimsare claimsmade torebuta previousclaim.Theyprovideacontrasting
perspective tothe mainargument
By beingable tolocate and provide counterclaimstoanargument,youshow a deepcompetence and
familiaritywiththe writer'stopic.Itshowsthatyouare examiningdifferentperspectivesandnotjust
passivelyacceptingthe writer'sclaim.Itshowsthatyouhave thoroughlyconsideredthe topic,andare
willingtoengage differentviewpoints
fromyour own,thusremainingobjective. Italsohelpsyouclarifywhatyourpersonal positionisonthe
topic.
The followingquestionswill helpyouformulate acounterclaim:
What are the majorpointson whichyouand the authorcan disagree?
What istheirstrongestargument?Whatdidthey say to defendtheirposition?
What are the meritsof theirview?
What are the weaknessesorshortcomingsintheirargument?
Are there any hiddenassumptions?
Whichlinesfromthe textbestsupportthe counterclaimyouhave formulated?
DeterminingTextual Evidence

4. To betterevaluate the author'sargument,youshouldbe able todetermine the evidence fromthe text.
Thiswill allowyoutovalidate the assertionsof the authorand yourowncounterclaimsasa responseto
readingÆvidence isdefinedasthe detailsgivenbythe authorto supporthis/herclainyThe evidence
providedbythe writersubstantiatesthe text.Itrevealsandbuildsonthe positionof the writerand
makesthe readingmore interesting.Evidence iscrucial inswayingthe readertoyour side.A juryor
judge,forexample,reliesonevidence presentedbyalawyerbefore itmakesadecisionregardinga
case.
Evidence caninclude the following:
facts andstatistics(objectivelyvalidatedinformationonyoursubject);opinionfromexperts(leading
authoritiesonatopic,such as researchersoracademics);andpersonal anecdotes(generalizable,
relevant,andobjectivelyconsidered).
The followingare some questionstohelpyoudetermineevidence fromthe text:
What questionscanyouask aboutthe claims?
your questions?
detailsinthe paragraph?
to the claim?
reinforce the claim?interesting?Why?
What are some claimsthatdo not seemtohave support?What kindsof supportcouldtheybe provided
with?
Whatare some detailsthatyoufindquestionable?Whydoyouthinkso?Are Some detailsoutdated,
inaccurate,exaggerated,ortakenoutof context?

5. Are the sourcesreliable?
The followingare the characteristicsof goodevidence:
unified;relevanttothe central point;specificandconcrete;accurate;andrepresentative ortypical.
Exercises
A. DeterminingExplicitandImplicitInformationinaText
To get a betterideaof whatit meansto identifyimplicitandexplicitinformationinatext,letusgo back
to the speechof PresidentQuezon.The followingstatementscontainideastakenfromthe speech.
Write "l" if the statementcontainsanimplicitideafromthe speech.Write "E"if the statementmentions
somethingexplicitlyfromthe text.Goback to the textto locate exactlywhere the explicitinformationis
found,andthenhighlightit.
1. The strengthof a nationis foundedorvthe characterof itspeople.
2. If a country's citizenshave highsocial idealsandastrongmoral fiber,theycansurvive anytrial that
theyexperience.
3. Today's Filipinos,comparedtotheirancestors,have lostthe powerforgrowthbecause theylivein
easiercircumstances.
4. Filipinosnowadaysare more selfishthantheywere inthe past.
5. A social code is necessaryinordertobuildnational spiritualreconstruction.
B. Inferringfromthe Text