At the end of the lesson, you will be able to

familiarize yourself with different types of

assertions and formulate your assertions on a
particular topic.
1.What is an assertion?
2.What should you do before formulating an
assertion?
3. How can you formulate an assertion?
Assertion
An assertion is a statement used to make a
declaration or to express strong belief on a
particular topic, often without evidence. An
assertion can be formulated after reading a story
or a poem, and even after watching a play. The
purpose of writing an assertion is for the writer
to convey directly an idea or feeling and to
convince the reader to accept the writer’s
interpretation of a particular literary work.
Before Writing

Before writing an assertion in literature, the

author must comprehensively read or watch the
literary work. He must take down the part he is
for, or he is opposed to, followed by his
explanation of it. It is also best to collect
evidence from the same or other literary authors
that have the same assertion as with the writer.
Forming Assertions

Different types of assertion can be used

in formal or informal writing. This
includes Basic Assertion, Emphatic
Assertion and I-Language Assertion.
Read and examine the text below before forming
assertions.
Before the arrival of the Spaniards, the culture and values of the
Filipinos are still in tacked.Precolonial Philippines has their own form
of government and social structure. Every local community is
composed of small kingdom or tribe headed by a chieftain called the
‘rajah’ or ‘datu’. Social structure also exists and is composed of three
classes namely – the ‘maharlika’ or freeman, ‘timawa’ or the middle
class and the ‘alipin’ or the slaves. Judicial, legislative and executive
systems, also known as the branches of the government, are also
present during precolonialism. The ‘datu’ formulates the law, ‘village
elders’ help the datu in deciding and promulgating laws and the
‘umalohokan’ or town crier is the one who disseminates new law or
ordinances.
Philippines is also known as sea travellers with the
use of their ‘balangay’ or Butuan boat. They also
had smooth foreign relation because of the trading
of minerals and goods. Literacy rate is also high
because of the existence of the ‘baybayin’ or the
ancient writing method. All of these advances were
abolished as the Spaniards fully colonized the
country.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF ASSERTION
Basic Assertion is a
statement used to express
the writer's feelings,
beliefs, and opinions
directly. This type of
assertion is usually used in
writing formal papers like
thesis and dissertation.
Example:
The Philippines has an advanced
civilization before the colonization
of Spain. Form and branches of
government, social structure and
the existence of ancient writing
are some of the evidence that
proves the advancement of the
precolonial period.
Emphatic Assertion
Example
Emphatic Assertion is a statement I know that the Philippines, before
used to express empathy or on how pre-Spaniard colonization, has their
a person understands the feelings system of writing called the
and emotions of the literary author. ‘baybayin’. This alone proves that
This can be used on writing a formal
or informal paper. the Filipinos are literate as opposed
to the Spaniards claim.
It is usually composed of two parts:
1) the first part is the statement that
recognizes the situation or even the
feelings of the characters on the
text being read followed by 2.) the
second statement where the writer
states his stand about the situation.
 I - Language Assertion
Example:
• I - Language Assertion is a statement Upon reading that the ancient
used to express the feeling and
preference of the writer. It is called I- Filipino civilization is divided into
Language because it focuses on the
writer and is using the pronoun ‘I’. This three social classes namely the
type of assertion is recommended if the ‘maharlika’, ‘timawa’ and ‘alipin’, I
author wants to express negative feelings
and opinion. This is best used in writing a feel proud because of the civilization
review or reflection paper.
social advancement and at the same
• It is composed of three parts. The first
part contains the accurate information time sad because of the
from literary work, especially the topic promulgation of social
the writer disagrees with (When you. . .).
The second part includes the effect or differentiation. With this finding, I
feeling of the writer towards the topic (It
affects/I feel...). The last part includes the want to do further research on the
preference or recommendation of the existence of these social classes’
writer (Therefore, I prefer/I want...).
stigma.
Key Points
There are two (2) factors that must be considered before
formulating assertion. First is to determine the type of
paper you are going to write – and can either be formal
or informal paper. Second is to determine the type of
literary work you are going to examine including novel,
poem, journal article or theatre play.
It is best to include facts and evidence after every
assertion. This is done to make a strong stand on every
claimed assertion.
Answer the following questions.
____________________1.A statement used to make a declaration or to
express strong belief on a certain topic is called .
____________________2.When is the best time to formulate literary
assertion?
____________________3.The following are types of assertion except .
a. Basic b. symphatic c. I
Language
____________________4. The following are parts of I-Language Assertion
except .
a. effect or feeling of the writer towards the topic
b. solution on the problem
c. accurate information from literary work
5. Why do we need to formulate assertions?
6. What makes a strong literary assertion?