Domalanta, Ashley Jade V.

11 – Charity

F. Identifying Assertions
Identify the following assertions as statements of convention, fact, opinion, or
preference.
Fact 1. Social media is defined as the internet and mobile-based tools and devices that facilitate
the integration of technology, telecommunications, and social interaction.
Preference 2. Facebook is a cooler social media platform than twitter.
Fact 3. In 2012, there were 1.4 billion users of social media worldwide.
Opinion 4. Teachers should use social media in their lessons to get more students interested.
Convention 5. Another name for social media is “Web 2.0” because both terms emphasize the
social aspects of the internet as avenues for communication, collaboration, and creative
expression.
Opinion 6. Many teenagers’ present obsession with taking selfies shows they are the most
narcissistic generation.
Fact 7. Social networks are the most distracting websites on the internet.
Fact 8. In the first quarter of 2014, nearly 300 million smartphone units were sold all over the
world.
Preference 9. Parents ought to enforce stricter guidelines in social media to safeguard their
children’s privacy.
Fact 10. Children are learning how to operate mobile devices at increasingly younger ages;
many of them have an idea of how to use a touchscreen tablet before they are two.
G. Evaluating Assertions from the Text
Go back to the previous speech of President Manuel L. Quezon, and try to provide an
example of each type of assertion. Write a short sentence explaining why your chosen statement
is a particular type of assertion.
Statement of fact: A nation is nothing more nor less than its citizenry” It is a fact because it is
proven by direct experience.
Statement of convention: “We are engaged in the epic task of building our nation, to live and
flourish, not for a day but for all time.” It is a convention because it depends on historical laws
and rules.
Statement of opinion: “The Filipino of today is soft, easy-going” It is an opinion because it is
based on fact but it is not really proven or doesn’t have that much proof.
Statement of preference: “National strength can only be built on character” It is a preference
because this is based on him.

H. Formulating Counterclaims
Go back to the speech by President Quezon. Apply the guide questions in the previous
lesson in identifying the claim and the counterclaim. Write these below, followed by a brief
explanation.
The claim in the text: We must find the flaws, if there be any, in our concept of individual and
community life, as well as in our character, and proceed at once to remedy them.
Reason: The reason is to find the flaws of the people to improve and remedy the flaws of each of
us.
My counterclaim: I have an abiding faith in our people.
Reason: Because I believe that the people can do something about their flaws.

I. Evaluating Evidence from a Given Text

1. Below are some claims taken from President Quezon’s speech. Go back to the text and search
for two examples from the text which support the claim. Evaluate the evidence provided using
the criteria previously mentioned. Afterwards, give your own piece of evidence to better support
the claim. Provide a one-sentence explanation of why you chose to give that example, or how it
would make the claim stronger.
Claim: If we compare our individual and civic traits with those that adorned our forefathers, we
will find, I fear, that we, the Filipinos of today, have lost much of the moral’s strength and power
for growth of our ancestors.
Evidence from the text:
a. They were strong – willed, earnest, adventurous people.
b. They had traditions potent in influence in their lives, individually and collectively.
My evaluation: People believe in traditions and belief that probably influence their lives.
My sample evidence: Filipino today have lost moral strength
Reason: Because Filipino today is wasting time and moral strength just for the growth of our
ancestors.

Claim: The Filipino of today is soft, easy-going.

Evidence from the text:
a. His tendency is towards parasitism.
b. Face-saving is the dominant note in the confused symphony of his existence.
My evaluation: His sense of righteousness is often dulled by the desire of personal gain.
My sample evidence: He shows failing rather than by principle.
Reason: Because Filipino today don’t consider what might happen to them and to the
government, they are just easy going.

Claim: National strength can only be built on character.

Evidence from the text:
a. A nation is nothing more nor less than its citizenry.
b. It is the people that make up the nation and, therefore, it cannot be stronger than its
component parts.
My evaluation: People in our country is the only one who can make up the nation.
My sample evidence: Their weakness is its failings, their strength its power.
Reason: Because we are engaged in the epic task of building our nation.
2. Imagine that you are writing an essay in response to President Quezon’s speech,
developing the following claim below. Which of the given statements support the claim?
Place (/) on the blank beside the number if the statement is acceptable evidence.
Otherwise, decide how it can be improved by labeling it as irrelevant (IR), inaccurate
(IA), or too general (TG). Then rewrite the evidence to improve it.
/ 1. Countries like Singapore gave successful economies primarily due to the discipline
ingrained in their people by the government.
/ 2. Too little value is attached to honesty.
/ 3. We can increase our military defense by upgrading our weapons and investing in
technology.
IR 4. We already have an effective values education program in place in school.
We need to improve the values education program in place in school to make it
much more effective because the previous one is not effective enough.

/ 5. The government does need to institute a values education program for its citizens
because it should not interfere with their private lives.