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Assertion and Its Types

The document discusses four types of assertions: facts, which can be proven; conventions, which are socially accepted; opinions, which are difficult to verify objectively; and preferences, which are subjective personal choices. Examples of each type are provided using information about seawater.

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Lyra Mei Lobetaña Andrin
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24 views1 page

Assertion and Its Types

The document discusses four types of assertions: facts, which can be proven; conventions, which are socially accepted; opinions, which are difficult to verify objectively; and preferences, which are subjective personal choices. Examples of each type are provided using information about seawater.

Uploaded by

Lyra Mei Lobetaña Andrin
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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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 assertions which are classified according to the degree of certainty they can be
judged as true or false.

1. FACT- is a statement that can be proven objectively by direct experience, testimonies of witnesses,
verified observations, or the results of research
Example: According to experts, seawater contains high amounts of minerals such as sodium, chloride,
sulphate, magnesium and calcium. (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- is a way in which something is done similar to traditions and norms. Its truthfulness
can be verified only by reference to historical precedents, laws, rules, usage, and customs. Something to
note about conventions is that they may sound factual due to their being derived from customs, but
because they are socially accepted ways of doing things, they cannot be verified objectively by
measurements.
Example: Seawater is classified as a heterogenous and homogenous mixture. (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- is a statement based on facts but is difficult to objectively verify because of the uncertainty
of producing satisfactory proofs of soundness. Opinions result from ambiguities; the more ambiguous a
statement, the more difficult it is to verify. Thus, they are open to disputes.
Example: Swimming in seawater is the best activity to refresh and relax your mind, body, and soul. (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 personal choice in which the writer is under no obligation to support or prove
the truthfulness of the statement. They are subjective and cannot be objectively proven or logically
attacked.
Example: I love to make frequent trips to places with seawater rather than those without it. (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.

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