READING AND WRITING SKILLS

Quarter 3 Week 5 and 6: Explicit and Implicit Claims in Written Texts

As a critical reader, you may encounter texts that exhibit specific claims. Some can be directly
stated while others can be mentioned indirectly. It is important to know how you can identify them
and how you can distinguish the type of claims a written text has.

Activity: Read the text and write down DS if the piece of information is directly stated in the text or IS
if it is indirectly stated or hidden in the text.

“Congratulations, Rosie! Your parents must be proud of you.” The teacher greeted her with delight. It
was graduation day and Rosie managed to stand on stage and delivered her speech in front of her fellow
graduates and guests. She ended her speech thanking her Alma mater and her parents and said, “Let us
trust God’s plan.”
Rosie left the stage with tears in her eyes as the clicking of the medals could be heard from afar.
As she approached her parents, they kissed her and gave her a big hug and uttered, “We love you,
dear! Your success is our success. We will surely celebrate at home.

_____ 1. The teacher congratulated Rosie.

_____ 2. Rosie stood on stage and delivered her speech.
_____ 3. Rosie was full of happiness.
_____ 4. Rosie was a hard-working and intelligent student.
_____ 5. The parents of Rosie promised to celebrate her success.

The above statements are claims. Claims are synonymous to belief, argument, assertion, or
stand. According to (Tiongson 2016, 20-21), a good claim should be argumentative and debatable,
specific and focused, interesting and engaging, and logical.

These information can be explicit or implicit. An explicit claim is directly and clearly stated in
the text. It is when you can easily point out the information in the passage. Meanwhile, an implicit
claim is indirectly expressed in the text and you need to look for clues or make inferences to
understand its meaning.

There are three types of claims in written texts. One of which

is the claim of fact. Simply, this claim is a statement that reports,
describes predicts, make causal claims, or whether something is a
settled fact.

Examples:
1. The Department of Education shows its readiness on the
‘new normal’ in the teaching and learning process.
2. Vaping can have same side effects as smoking.
3. The closing of Philippine borders to tourists is one way to slow
down the spread of COVID-19.

The claims above make an assertion about something that can be proved or disproved with
factual evidence. They debate whether the statement of the Claim is correct or incorrect, valid or
invalid, true or false.

Claim of policy, on the other hand, is the argument where

actions should be carried out. Basically, it is perceived as a
relatively direct statement. This claim can also be called claim
of solution because it suggests and supports policies and
solutions, and the action to be taken is based on the results.
You will know if a statement is a claim of policy if there is an
action to be done or a solution to be taken.

Examples:
1. Gender equality should be supported by every Filipino.
2. The pandemic which the world is experiencing takes away
lives; thus, Filipinos are ought to stay at home.
3. The Bayanihan to Heal as One Act is implemented to fight
COVID 19 crisis and therefore should be obeyed.
 The key word in a claim of policy is the conditional verb “should” which implies that some action
ought to be taken, but not that it must or will be taken. A claim of policy argues that certain
conditions should exist, or that something should or should not be done, in order to solve a problem.

Lastly, claim of value is an argument based on morality, belief,

ethics, or philosophy. It is influentially stated by combining limited facts
and proving them as either good or bad by targeting the reader’s
emotion.

Examples:
1. Bullying will never be right.
2. Security is more important than privacy.
3. In the midst of pandemic, restriction is much better than
individual freedom.

A claim of value is also called claim of judgment because the reader has to decide whether
the argument or proposition is right or wrong or has to be accepted or rejected. In other words, this
type of claim is more appealing to the reader’s subjectivity. If the argument challenges the decision
making or judgment leading to acceptance or rejection of the reader, then it is considered to be a
claim of value.

Written Work: To strengthen your understanding of types of claims, take this self-test. See if you can
identify which type of claim the statement is making. (2 points each)

1. Studies have shown that exposure to violent media is a risk factor for violent behaviors.
2. The Career Support Network is an excellent resource for people who are considering a mid-life
career change.
3. Although the International Astronomical Union announced that Pluto is not actually a planet,
experts disagree on what characteristics define a planet.
4. Increased investments in solar power will benefit national security by reducing dependence
on fossil fuels.
5. It’s better to apply good nutritional choices at home than teach them at school, because
good nutrition then becomes ingrained in the child’s experience.

Performance Task: Explain using a short paragraph why the following claims are claim of fact, policy,
and value.

1. Vaping can lead to increased blood pressure, lung disease, and insulin resistance. (Claim of Fact)
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2. To ensure that graduates are competitive for top jobs in their fields, the college should put
additional resources into its career services office and internship programs. (Claim of Policy)
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3. The basic keys to success are perseverance and discipline. (Claim of Value)
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