Formulating Evaluative Statement

What is Formulating
evaluative Statements?
-Giving a better explanation to show the
strength and weaknesses of something
through writing.
-Presenting a value judgment based on a
set of criteria.
Suppose your parents give you an option of
the gift you want to receive on your
graduation day. This is for you to be
motivated to maintain your academic
standing in your class. Your choices are
illustrated below.

Answer the following questions and write

them on a sheet of paper.
1. From the choices above, what will you
choose and why?
2. If you were your parents, what do you
think would they tell you after knowing
your choice? Can you list down the possible
statements you may hear from
them?
What is an Evaluative Statement?
-It is a statement that states one's sound judgement about something through writing which
is supported by reasons and evidences. It also presents the strengths and weaknesses of
something based on a set of criteria which needs to be factual, substantial, and unbiased.

How to Formulate an Evaluative Statement

-To formulate an evaluative statement, one needs to read the entire text carefully and
critically to understand and to check for possible fallacies in the argument presented by the
writer.
-You may formulate your evaluative statements in two ways such as formulating assertions
and counterclaims.
 How to Formulate Evaluative statement

Formulating
Formulating
Counterclaims
Assertions
-in response to a
-about the content
claim made in the
and the properties of
text read.
text read
Formulation Assertions
Assertions
-It is a statement used to make a declaration or to express strong belief on a particular topic, often
without evidence.

-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.
Four Types of Assertions
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.)
Formulating Counterclaim
• To be an effective critical thinker, it is not enough just to
be able to identify claims and assertions. The ability to
analyze an argument is essential to understanding the
text more deeply, but understanding the claim is not the
only facet of the argument.
• Learn how to analyze the counterclaims and evidence
provided by the text. Being able to recognize and
formulate counterclaims in reaction to an argument is
a characteristic of a good critical reader.
What is a Counterclaim?
-Counterclaims are claims made to rebut a previous claim. They provide a
contrasting perspective to the main argument.
-To rebut means to contradict someone’s statement through a formal
argument. They provide a contrasting perspective to the main argument.

To be able to locate counterclaims to an argument, remember the following:

1. Show competence and familiarity with the writer’s topic.
2. Examine different perspectives and not just passively accepting the writer’s
claim.
3. Consider the topic, and make sure you are willing to engage different
viewpoints from your own.
4. Clarify your personal position on the topic.
Questions that will help you to formulate
counterclaim
1. What are the major points on which you and the author can disagree?
2. What is the strongest argument?
3. What did they say to defend their position?
4. What are the merits of their view?
5. What are the weaknesses or shortcoming in their argument?
6. Are there any hidden assumptions?
7. Which lines from the text best support the counterclaim you formulated?
Steps in writing Counterclaims
Step one. Ways to begin counterclaim paragraphs.
• Many people believe that……..
• It is often thought that…………
• It might seem as if………..
• While it is common………..

Step two. Ways to transition from the opposite side back to your opinion
• What this argument fails to consider is……………..
• This view sounds convincing at first but…….
• Although the core claim is valid, it suffers from the flaw in its……………….

Step three. Write a counterclaim.

• Use one of the sentence starters in step one.
• Remember the transition back to your opinion.
• Use one of the sentences starters in step two.
Four Elements of Argument
1. CLAIM- is a statement that asserts facts based on one’s understanding about a particular
topic or issue.
In the given example, Martha asking his father to buy her a smartphone is an example of a claim.

2. COUNTERCLAIM- is just the opposite of claim. It is a statement that contradicts one’s

claim and is usually proven and supported by both reasons and evidences.
Mang Tonyo’s negative response to Martha’s claim is an example of counterclaim.

3. REASON- is the part of an argument where a statement offers an explanation behind a

party’s claim.
Martha’s offering of valid reasons to convince Mang Tonyo that she needs the smartphone is an example of
reason.

4. EVIDENCE - is the statement that proves the truth of a claim and generally leads to the
conclusion of an argument.
Martha provides evidence of the necessity of using smartphone as part of the new normal life in the time of
CoronaVirus is an example of evidence.
Identify the type of assertion in each statement. (FACT, CONVENTION, OPINION,
PREFERENCE)

1. I would rather watch shows than play computer games.

2. Roses grow best in soil made of ¾ clay and ¼ sand and loam.
3. In America, the bride's family pays the majority of the wedding costs.
4. Chocolates taste better than ice cream.
5. Lions belong to the genus Panthera which contains well-known animals such
as the tiger, leopard, and jaguar.
6. I think that green is the best color.
7. I prefer to go to the Maldives than to St. Gallen.
8. Corazon Aquino was the 11th president (and first female president) of the
Philippines. She restored democracy after the long dictatorship of Ferdinand
Marcos.
9. The export of cut roses can easily become one of the most lucrative
businesses in the country.
10.President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act on
March.
1. Preference
2. Convention
3. Fact
4. Opinion
5. Fact
6. Opinion
7. Preference
8. Fact
9. Opinion
10.Fact
Identify whether the following statements are CLAIM, COUNTERCLAIM,
REASON or EVIDENCE. Then pick out the word, clause, or phrase that proves
your answer.

____________ 1. If you want to keep people around you, continue to open the door
of friendship and always accentuate the positive.
____________ 2. I am a child of a loving God who created me after His own image.
I am happy for who I am, and I don’t have to be someone I am not.
____________ 3. I don’t think so. Charles Darwin’s Theory of Evolution explains that
humans evolved to from monkeys.
____________ 4. I did not come from the apes because I don’t look like one of them!
____________ 5. Since we are blessed with the freedom to act for ourselves, it is up
to us to choose good from evil.
1. CLAIM- The phrase "continue to open the door of friendship and always accentuate the positive"
provides advice on how to keep people around.
2. CLAIM - The clause "I am a child of a loving God who created me after His own image" makes a
claim about the speaker's identity and relationship with God.
3. COUNTERCLAIM - The phrase "I don't think so" introduces a counterclaim to the statement that
humans evolved from monkeys.
4. COUNTERCLAIM - The phrase "I did not come from the apes" introduces a counterclaim to the
theory of evolution.
5. REASON - The clause "Since we are blessed with the freedom to act for ourselves, it is up to us to
choose good from evil" provides a reason for why we have the responsibility to make moral choices.