Lesson 3

Opinion and
Assertion
Lesson 3

Opinion and
Assertion
OBJECTIVES

Differentiate opinions and assertion

React on issues given
Formulate statements of opinion and/or assertion
An apple a day makes the doctor away.

Assertion
Chewing gums while peeling on onion
keeps you from crying.
Fact
The brain of an ostrich is smaller than its
eyeball.
Fact
Christmas is the best season of the year.

Opinion
If you eat and then immediately go
swimming, you will have stomach cramps.
Assertion
Fact is a statement that can be proven.
It can be proven by:
personal observation
reliable source
expert
Example:
People use their legs to walk.
Opinion is the personal judgement or view of a person
about an issue or a topic.

Most statements of opinion begin with:

For me, I believe

Example:
I think Miracle is the best movie of all time.
Opinion
A statement that cannot be proven

It is just a personal judgement or point of view o f

a person
Assertion is a statement used to make a declaration or to
make a firm belief on a particular topic.

Example:
Beowulf is the best movie and
everyone has to watch it.
In writing an assertion, the writer aims to

•convey an idea or feeling directly

•convinces the reader to accept his or
her claim about a particular topic.
Assertion
A statement that believed to be true but cannot be
proven
TYPES OF
ASSERTION
Basic Assertion is a type of assertion that directly
expresses the writer’s feelings and beliefs through
simple statements. This type is usually used in standing
up for personal beliefs.

Example: “I wish I could have expressed this idea earlier,

because now someone else has taken the credit.”
Empathic Assertion involves expressing empathy and
expounding on how the writer understands the
feelings and emotions of the literary author. This type
may be used in both formal and informal writing.
Example: “I know this is making you angry and
frustrated because you have not gotten a response yet.
But I can help you by giving you an estimate of how
long it might take.”
I-Language Assertion expresses the feelings and
preferences of the writer. This type is called I-
Language because the writer usually uses the
pronoun ‘I’ in asserting disagreement. This type is
often used in writing reviews, reaction or
reflection papers.
Example: “When you speak harshly, I cannot work with
you because I feel annoyed. Therefore, I want you to
speak nicely and then assign me a task.”
Task
Identify each sentence if it is a fact, an opinion, or
an assertion.
Number 1
I really believe that William Shakespeare is the best
writer ever.

Opinion
Number 2
Cold weather is better.

Opinion

Opinion of somebody and does not require proofs

Number 3
An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

Assertion

Most people think so, but there is no supporting

evidence.
Number 4
Your heart pumps blood through your body.

Facts
Number 5
One liter of water weighs one kilogram.

Facts

It can be proven true.