Formulating Evaluative

Statements, Assertions,
and Counterclaims

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An evaluative essay is one that presents
a writer's point of view about the subject.
Its purpose is to evaluate upsides and
downsides of some object, process or
action. It is often confused with the
persuasive essay but the difference is to
display more balanced arguments.
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What is an Evaluative Statement?
• A way of giving a better explanation to show the strength
and the weaknesses of something through writing and
presents a value judgment based on a set of criteria.
• Used in giving a sound judgement – one that can be
backed up or supported by valid reasons or proofs.
• The writer’s way of explaining, through the evidences
gathered, why a strength is a strength and a weakness a
weakness.

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How to Formulate an Evaluative Statement?
• Read the text carefully and critically;
• Grasp the essence of the text; and
• Check the argument for possible fallacies.

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 Steps to compose an evaluative statement:
1. Formulate assertions about the content and
properties of a text read.
2. Formulate a meaningful counterclaim in
response to a claim made in the text read
3. Counterclaim is the opposition you make
about the claim of a writer.

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 Assertion
When someone makes a statement investing his strong belief
in it, as if it is true, though it may not be, he is making an
assertion. Assertion is a stylistic approach or technique
involving a strong declaration, a forceful or confident and
positive statement regarding a belief or a fact. Often, it is
without proof or any support. Its purpose is to express ideas
or feelings directly.

Example: “I have put my every effort to complete this task

today.”
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Function of Assertion
• Let readers feel that they should not disagree or
dispute what they read or hear.
• Accept the idea or notion as an indisputable fact.

The Purpose of Writing an Assertion

• It 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.
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 Types of Assertion
1. 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 pre-
colonial period.
This first sentence is considered as the basic assertion. The
second sentence contains evidence that support the assertion.
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 Types of Assertion
2. Emphatic Assertion is a statement used to express empathy or on
how a person understands the feelings and emotions of the literary
author. This can be used on writing a formal or informal paper. 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
2.) the second statement where the writer states his stand about the
situation.

Example: I know that the Philippines, before pre-Spaniard colonization,

has their system of writing called the ‘baybayin’. This alone proves that
the Filipinos are literate as opposed to the Spaniards claim.
The first part recognizes the situation based on the text being read. The
second part contains the writer’s stand on the situation presented.
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 Types of Assertion
3. Language Assertion is a statement used to express the feeling and
preference of the writer. It is called I-Language because it focuses on
the writer and is using the pronoun ‘I’. This type of assertion is
recommended if the author wants to express negative feelings and
opinion. This is best used in writing a review or reflection paper.

It is composed of Three parts:

• The first part contains the accurate information from literary work,
especially the topic the writer disagrees with (When you. ..)
• The second part includes the effect or feeling of the writer towards the
topic (It affects/I feel...).
• The last part includes the preference or recommendation of the writer
(Therefore, I prefer/I want...).
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 Types of Assertion

Example:
Upon reading that the ancient Filipino civilization is divided into three
social classes namely the ‘maharlika’, ‘timawa’ and ‘alipin’, I feel proud
because of the civilization social advancement and at the same time
sad because of the promulgation of social differentiation. With this
finding, I want to do further research on the existence of these social
classes’ stigma.

The example given is divided into three parts that includes the feelings
and preference of the writer.

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 Counterclaims
Counterclaims, as defined by Tiongson (2016), are
“claims made to rebut a previous claim.” This point of
view is in contrast to previous claims made by the
author. The counterclaims in the text are usually
presented in a straightforward way.

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Questions that can help one formulate a counterclaim:
• What are the major points on which you and the
author can disagree?
• What is their strongest argument? What did they say
to defend their position?
• What are the merits of their view?
• What are the weaknesses or shortcomings in their
argument?
• Are there any hidden assumptions?
• Which lines form the text best support the
counterclaim you have formulated?
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 ACTIVITY 1
Write F if you think the statement is a fact, B if it is not.
1. COVID-19 is an infectious disease discovered in Wuhan, China in 2018
2. An asymptomatic COVID-19 patient is one who has aches and pains, nasal congestion,
runny nose, sore throat or diarrhea.
3. COVID-19 disease can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or
mouth which are spread when a person with the disease coughs or exhales.
4. The virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through air.
5. Regular and thorough cleaning of your hands will not really eliminate the virus.
6. Maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone you get to talk with.
7. If you are too close to a person infected with the COVID-19 virus you can breathe in the
droplets, once he coughs, even if you have a mask.
8. The “incubation period” means the time between catching the virus and beginning to have
symptoms of the disease.
9. The virus that causes COVID-19 is mainly transmitted through droplets generated when an
infected person coughs, sneezes, or speaks.
10. Enhanced Community Quarantine is intended only for those infected with the COVID-19
disease.
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 ACTIVITY 2
Write if you Agree or Disagree with following statements and
formulate a counterclaim to support your answer.

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