Assertions,

Claims, and
their Evidence
READING AND WRITING SKILLS
2020-2021
Assertions
o An opinion or a claim
o Contains more intensity and
forcefulness
o Needs to be substantiated with proof
to be considered valid
o Unverified controversial claims can
damage people’s reputation, make
Controversy
o a situation in which people express
disagreement, dissent, dislike, disgust,
or even rage.
o arises from readers’ reaction towards
a writer’s ideas/claims when they
offend others’ beliefs or sensitivities,
or when they are made without
necessary proof/evidences.
Claims become controversial when
they:
oGo against popular beliefs
oAttack or criticize others
oIntroduce something that is not
accepted in culture
oDo not include proof or evidence of
their claims
Proof/Evidence for Claims
Made

C- Claim
S- Support
Textual Evidence
o proof/evidence cited within the text.
o must be near the claim and logically
related to the claim.
o must also be from credible sources
and must be based on facts.
Controversy in
Claims and
Counterclaims
Counterclaim
o given by a reader who has views that are
different from what the original author
believed in.
o also needs proof
o enriches a discussion about a certain topic
because they help present the different sides
of an issue
Drafting a Counterclaim
o stick to the argument
o be respectful
o be tactful
o do not use fallacious statements
The following introductory
phrases may be used:
1.“ I wish to believe that Author
A’s argument is flawed
because…”
2.“I don’t agree with Author A’s
opinion because…”
3.“The fact that… disproves
Author A’s argument.