ST. MARK COLLEGE of baliuag, Bulacan, inc.

JP. Rizal St. Sta. Barbara, Baliuag Bulacan

Email: [email protected] | Tel. No. 305-5264

Name: ___________________________
Grade and Section: _________________
Reading and Writing Skills
Module #: 5 11
Date: ______________________________

TYPES OF CLAIMS IN A WELL WRITTEN TEXT

Students are expected to be able to read and evaluate arguments or opinions in a text but, not all
students are given an equal opportunity to be taught in depth on how to do it. Hence, many learners
develop low self-esteem in engaging reading meaningfully.

The problem is no longer with the students; it is a problem of lack on training and practice in our current
educational system. In fact, everyone can learn to read and evaluate an argument if resources are readily
made available. Analyzing a text in a formal argument presented by an author should be seen beyond
than a mere of something one does for a class. It is a basic life skill that everyone must practice to be
able to make reading engagement fruitful and helpful in our life. Readers must be made aware that the
goal of an author is to convey and persuade, by providing arguments supported with evidences thus,
expect them to change their attitude, belief, or behavior. This poses a challenge to readers. It will now test
the ability of the readers to analyze a text, react, verify issues, affirming one’s value, and make a stance
that would lead to yield right decisions for the betterment of oneself, community and industries. On same
note, readers should also be made fully aware that an opinion, idea, assertion, and arguments cover
certain claims. And there are three types of claim: Fact, Value, and Policy Claim.

What is a Claim?

A claim is an arguable statement – an idea that a speaker or writer expects an audience to accept.
A claim is an opinion, idea, or assertion. Here are some examples: “I think we should protest the Anti-
Terror Bill.” “I believe that the present administration has no concrete plans to fight COVID-19”. “We need
Modernization.” These three claims might all be valid, but it should be supported with evidence to reach
an audience’s agreement.

The word claim comes from the Latin word clamare, which means “to cry out, shout.” Hence, with
the definition of a claim, this can then be argued, verified, or disproved. A claim deals with the searching
for agreement from the audience to agree with the statement or discourse. It also involves anticipation
from the audience’s agreement and anxiousness that they might disagree with. A claim must pose two
sides of a coin. It is a question of whether the audience will agree or not. Because a claim with a certain
answer, whether to agree or not to agree, is not a claim.

Three (3) types of claim in a Written Text

1. The claim of fact. A claim asserts some empirical truth. It is an assertion of:
• A condition that has existed exists or will exist.
• The truth of an assertion to be ascertained by an event. The speaker will give information
and offer an explanation that characterized the events.
• An argument with strong evidence presented as a reason for the arguer’s belief in the
claim.

Examples:

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 1. Action research is conducted to respond to the needs of the students.
2. Illegal mining has already become an issue in the Philippines.
3. School is the most important part of education.

2. A claim of value. A claim asserts judgment. It is an assertion of:

• Look for keywords that are a matter of judgment rather than fact, such as: good, well,
kind, useful, desirable, etc.
• Authors offer reasons for their judgment, with the ultimate goal of getting the reader’s
agreement with the reasons rather than comparing to the fact that establishes assent to
the claim.
• A claim is based on things we like or dislike. Hence, it deals with the goal of what value
us most.
• The authors’ argument is based on judgment or value and does not necessarily carry out
facts. Disagreements overvalue importance for us to determine how one presented his or
her point over certain belief.
• An argument usually gets the other person’s approval because the claim’s underlying
value proves to be acceptable as a public good.

Examples:
1. Living in a city is more productive than living in the countryside.
2. Saying “OPO” is the highest form of respect.
3. Staying with a family with limited resources is more valuable than working abroad.

3. A claim of Policy. A claim asserts that an action should be taken.

• Be careful to call that some actions be taken.

• Take note of the keywords “should,” “ought,” or “must. These words may not be present
all the time, but the author’s purpose is usually to call for an action to be taken if they are.
• The most difficult thing in an argument is to decide whether we should take action or not
in any of the claims.
• An argument usually turns on whether the reasons for taking action compensates for the
possible costs of taking action.

Examples:

1. Deforestation should be eradicated in the Philippines.

2. The government should pursue scholarship programs, especially to those identified marginalized
sectors affected by COVID-19.
3. Child Protection Policy should be implemented in the school system.

Directions: Identity which type of claim the statement is making. (FACT, VALUE, POLICY)

____1. Excessive consumption of alcohol can lead to many illnesses.

____2. Honesty is the best policy.
____3. Television newscasting influences the way Americans think about social and political issues.
____4. The Bates GRE Study Guide is an excellent tutorial for students preparing to take the GRE
____5. To attract more nontraditional students, this college must review and revise its course offerings.
____6. The existence of nuclear weapons has prevented the outbreak of World War
____7. An improved sewer system would solve these flood drainage problems.

____8. America should protect its domestic industries with tariffs and quotas.
____9. Obesity can cause heart disease.
____10. 20% of Americans believe that the U.S. has never landed on the moon.

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USING CONTEXT IN TEXT DEVELOPMENT

In the previous lesson you have learned that in exploring a text, it is important that you understand what
you are reading to get the message of the text, for you to develop the skill in verifying issues, affirming
one’s values or even make a decision if necessary.

Critical reading also means that you are able to distinguish the information that is clearly stated (explicit)
in the text from ideas that are suggested (implicit). This will help you make inferences about what you
read and challenges you to give reactions. Knowing how to identify explicit and implicit information will
help you in developing one of the most important skills needed in critical reading: evaluating the claims
made by an author. This involves going back to the text to recognize the writer’s arguments and evidence
so that you can begin judging the writer’s work. Intertext is putting a text in relation to another text, usually
through direct quotes or references. A book that quotes another book to compare, contrast, or expand on
a point is using intertext. Hypertext by it’s nature is purely a computer construct. It’s a way of providing
clickable links to other sections of a document, or other documents on the internet. It’s the basis of what
we know of as the world wide web, but it started it’s life as more basic links within a document – for
example clicking on a line in the table of contents would take you to that chapter. It even pre-dates
WYSIWIG and mouse driven interfaces.

HYPERTEXT

What is Hypertext? It is simply a non-linear way of presenting information, rather than the traditional linear
process of reading from beginning to end. Readers of hypertext may follow their own path , create their
own order- their own meaning out of the materials that connect topics on a screen to related information,
graphics, videos, and music- the information is not simply related to text. How can you identify hypertext?
This information appears as links and is usually accessed by clicking and shifting to different web pages
in a matter of seconds and minutes. The reader can navigate around the internet and jump to more
information about a topic, which in turn may have more links,that open up the reader to a wider horizon of
information or to a new directions.

INTERTEXT

What is Intertextuality? It is the interconnection between similar or related works of literature in terms of
language, images, characters, themes, or subjects depending on their similarities in language, genre, or
discourse, that reflects and influences an audience’s interpretation of the text. Intertextuality is the relation
between texts that are inflicted by means of quotations and allusion.

Example:

1. Tailor Swift’s song “ Love Story” makes intertextuality references to Romeo and Juliet and the “
Scarlet Letter”: “ Cause you were Romeo, I was a scarlet letter and my daddy said stay away
from Juliet.
2. Another example of Intertextuality is also seen in the local legend of folk hero Bernardo Carpio.
Many versions of his tale exist, but local folklore says he is a giant who is the cause of
earthquakes. In Greek mythology, there is also Poseidon, who is the god of the sea and
earthquakes. Many cultures also attribute natural disasters to legendary figures.

Directions: Read the following statements. Determine whether the statement is TRUE or FALSE. Write
your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

_______ 1. The author’s personal background, as well as the environment where he/she lived in,
influence his/her writing.
________2. There is always an inspiration behind the writing of a text that often leaves clues about the
situation or the reality that served as the backdrop of the text.

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________ 3. Context of a text refers to the backdrop, the situation, or the reality in a written text.
________4. Critical reading is purely reading for information.
________5. Hypertext is reading a text from a book or any printed materials.
________6. Intertextuality is the text with an embedded link.
________7. A reader can skim through sections of a text, freely jumping from one part to another
depending on what aspect of the text interests him/her.
________8. A text contains many layers of accumulated cultural, historical, and social knowledge.
________9. The advent of the Internet and technology has created new ways of reading and processing
a text.
________10. Some web pages have text that have hyperlinks that are normally underlined and in blue
color.

Activity : Intertextuality: “ Cinderella” vs “The Necklace”

Directions: Read the familiar fairy tale of Cinderella and compare and contrast it to Guy de Maupassant’s
“ The Necklace.” In what ways are the two stories alike? And how does “ The Necklace” invert the story of
Cinderella? Fill the table with details to show intertextuality. Write your answer on your English notebook.

Comparison Cinderella The Necklace

1. Godmother

2. Stairs

3. Carriage

4. Glass slipper

5. Social class