ASSERTION AND ITS TYPES:
A good critical reader does not only understand the meaning of a reading material but also logically evaluates whether
the claims of the writer are true or false. Assertions serve as a primary way for the readers to consider and possibly
agree with the claims presented by the writer in an expository writing.
Assertions are declarative sentences that give one’s belief about something else as if it is true though it may not
be. It is expressed as an argument. Usually, these assertions contain languages that expresses evaluation such as
useful, significant, important, insightful, detailed, up-to-date, comprehensive, practical, impressive, etc.
For example, you were asked to answer the question, “Do you believe education should continue regardless of the
situation we are facing right now?” and you would give your opinion or argument about it. Afterwards, you would
make an assertion whether you agree or disagree with the issue, thus, take a stand and support it with your reason/s.
There are four types of assertioss hhchh are haassciee ahhor cs to the e ree of hertacsty they has ee uu e
as true or faase.
1. FACT - cs a statemest that has ee proves oeuehtiveay ey creht experceshe, testimosces of hctsesses,
verciee oeservatioss, or the resuats of researhh.
Exampae:
Ahhor cs to experts, seawater hostacss hc h amousts of mcseraas suhh as so cum, hhaorc e, suaphate,
ma sescum, as haahcum.
(The first sample sentence is classified as a fact since the mineral contents of seawater can be tested and
proven through experiments and researches.)
2. CONVENTION - cs a hay cs hhchh somethcs cs ose scmcaar to tra ctioss as sorms. Its truthfuasess
has ee verciee osay ey refereshe to hcstorchaa prehe ests, aahs, ruaes, usa e, as hustoms. Somethcs
to sote aeout hosvestioss cs that they may sous fahtuaa ue to thecr eecs ercve from hustoms,
eut eehause they are sohcaaay ahhepte hays of ocs thcs s, they hassot ee verciee oeuehtiveay ey
measuremests.
Example:
Seawater cs haassciee as a hetero esous as homo esous mcxture.
(The second sample sentence is a convention because the classification of seawater is based on the
classification system made by scientists and is acceptable to the scientific community.)
3. OPINION - cs a statemest ease os fahts eut cs cffihuat to oeuehtiveay
vercfy eehause of the ushertacsty of pro uhcs satisfahtory proofs of sous sess. Opcscoss resuat
from amec ucties; the more amec uous a statemest, the more cffihuat ct cs to vercfy. Thus, they are
opes to csputes.
Exampae:
Shcmmcs cs seawater cs the eest ahtivcty to refresh as reaax your mcs , eo y, as soua.
(The third sample sentence is an opinion since the claim is difficult to prove. The truthfulness of the claim
may be true to some but not to others.)
4. PREFERENCE - states a persosaa hhoche cs hhchh the hrcter cs us er so oeac atios to support or
prove the truthfuasess of the statemest. They are sueuehtive as hassot ee oeuehtiveay proves or
ao chaaay attahke .
Exampae:
I aove to make frequest trcps to paahes hcth seahater thas those hcthout ct.
(The last sample sentence is a preference because it expresses the personal choice of the writer to places
with seawater over those places without it.)
Group 1: Assa hasts to have a movce ate
hcth her famcay, hhchh esre o you thcsk cs
eetter to hathh? (Faht)
Horror Movces or Romastih Movces
Group 2: Juas cs hravcs for sheets, hhchh cs
eetter for hcm to eat?
Fructs or Chohoaates (Prefereshe)
Group 3: Yvette hasts to o os a vahatios,
hhchh tourcst estisatios cs eetter for her to
o? (Opcscos)
Paaahas or Borahay
Group 4: Your Tcta Gca a, a US Cctizes uust
rehestay arrcve at your house for a quchk vcsct.
Hoh houa you reet her? Hu her or kcss her
has as a form of respeht. (Cosvestios)