MODULE

UNIVERSITY OF LA SALETTE, INCORPORATED

TWO
CRITICAL READING AS REASONING: CLAIMS,
ASSERTIONS, COUNTERCLAIMS AND
TEXTUAL EVIDENCE
 BUCKLE UP!  FUEL UP!
In this lesson you
will WHAT IS A CLAIM?
 identify  the writer’s point, main line of reasoning or position
claims  stands as the central argument or thesis statement
explicitly or  what the writer tries to prove in the text
implicitly  defines the paper’s direction and scope
made in a  strengthened and complemented by an evidence
written text; CHARACTERISTICS OF A CLAIM:
 formulate 1. argumentative and debatable;
2. specific and focused;
assertions 3. interesting and engaging; and
about the 4. logical
content and
properties of TYPES OF CLAIMS
FACT POLICY VALUE
a text read;
 Assert that something  defend actionable plans  consist of arguments
 formulate has existed, is  claiming in the argument about moral,
meaningful existing or will exist that something should philosophical or
counterclaims based on data be implemented aesthetic value
in response to  claiming that a  provides solutions/  claiming in the argument
claims made particular statement is course of action (rules, that something is
in a text read; true regulations and important
and  found in hasty processes)  biased because people
 determine generalization  answers the question, vary in terms of things
textual  answers the question, “how/ what must be they value or cherish
“is it true or false?” done?”  answers the question,
evidence to “is it good or bad?”
validate
assertions EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE:
and Globally, about 1 in 3 Global warming is a Honesty and integrity,
counterclaims women will be beaten or serious phenomenon that hard work and resilience
made about a raped in her lifetime. affects every facet of are expected to be
text read. human life. This could be developed and cultivated
addressed by garbage both in the family and in
 CHECKPOINT segregation, water and school.
marine life conservation.
My essential
understanding
about the text

_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________ WHAT SHOULD BE DONE WHEN THE READER IS AGAINST THE CLAIM OF THE
_____________________ AUTHOR?
_____________________  When one is against the claims of the author, he/she is already manifesting the
_____________________ basic quality of a critical reader. Since he already grasped the essence of the
_____________________ text, he needs to express his judgment of the text’s content and properties by
_____________________ means of formulating evaluative statements. Evaluative statements can be
_____________________ done when he: 1) creates assertions about the content and properties of a text
_____________________ read and 2) makes meaningful counterclaims in response to claims made in a
_____________________ text read
_____________________ WHAT ARE ASSERTIONS?
_____________________  Declarative sentences that claim something is true about something else
_____________________  A sentence that is either true or false
_____________________  Contains more intensity and forcefulness on the part of the speaker
_____________________  Classified according to the degree of certainty; they can be judged as true or
_____________________ false: fact, convention, opinion and preference.
_____________________ TYPES OF ASSERTION
_____________________ FACT CONVENTION OPINION PREFERENCE
_____________________  statement that  socially accepted  based on facts  Based on
_____________________ can be proven way of doing but are difficult to personal
objectively by things derived objectively verify choice,
NOTES direct from traditions, because of the therefore
experience, customs and uncertainty of they are
testimonies of norms producing subjective
_____________________ witnesses, satisfactory and cannot
_____________________ verified proofs of be
_____________________ observations or soundness. objectively
_____________________ the results of proven or
_____________________ research. logically
_____________________ attacked.
_____________________
EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE: EXAMPLE:
_____________________
_____________________ According to our It is a sign of The current I love the rain more
_____________________ subject teachers, disrespect when administration than anything else
_____________________ we are the best you don’t talk to promotes violence, in the world.
_____________________ class among all the elders with “po and violates human
_____________________ academic strands opo”. rights and removes
_____________________ in this university. human dignity.
_____________________
_____________________  The difference between CLAIM and ASSERTION is that a CLAIM is debatable
_____________________ while assertion is not.
_____________________
WHAT ARE COUNTERCLAIMS?
_____________________
 Claims made to rebut a previous claim providing contrasting perspective to the
_____________________
main argument.
_____________________ QUESTIONS THAT WILL HELP YOU FORMULATE A COUNTERCLAIM:
_____________________ 1. What are the major points on which you and the author can disagree?
_____________________ 2. What is his strongest argument? What did he say to defend his position?
_____________________ 3. What are the merits of his view?
_____________________ 4. What are the weaknesses or shortcomings in his argument?
_____________________ 5. Are there any hidden assumptions?
_____________________ 6. While lines from the text best support the counterclaim you have formulated?
_____________________ WHAT IS TEXTUAL EVIDENCE?
_____________________  Details given by the author to support his/her claim
_____________________  Substantiates the text
_____________________  Reveals and builds on the position of the writer and makes the reading more
_____________________ interesting
_____________________  Crucial in swaying the reader to your side
_____________________ The following can serve as pieces of evidence:
1. facts and statistics;
_____________________
2. opinion from experts; and
_____________________ 3. personal anecdotes
_____________________
_____________________ WHAT DOES A CRITICAL READER HAVE TO DO WITH CLAIM, ASSERTION,
_____________________ COUNTERCLAIM AND TEXTUAL EVIDENCE?
_____________________
_____________________  A critical reader has the ability to identify
implicit and explicit information from the
_____________________
claims made in a text. However, the duty of a
_____________________ critical reader does not only end there;
_____________________ someone who reads critically should know, as
well, how to bring his own experiences and
perspectives to question all aspects of the text
and have diverse perspective towards it. Once
he already has the sufficient interpretation of
the text, he begins to question the validity of
its claims to double-check accuracy. He, then,
formulates evaluative statements in the form
of assertions for the content and properties of
the text read and counterclaims in response to
claims made in a text. To strengthen his
assertions and counterclaims, he has to
support them with textual evidence. The skill
of reading critically will only be proven once
the reader creates and writes his own judgment and in-depth examination of the
text read.
 
Name:_______________________________ Date Answered:______________
 SPEED UP!

CRITICAL READING AS REASONING: CLAIMS, ASSERTIONS, COUNTERCLAIMS AND TEXTUAL EVIDENCE

CHECKPOINT 1

INSTRUCTION Create your own counterclaim and support it with a proof/ evidence.

Claim Counterclaim Proof/ Evidence

1. Staying up late to
review for an exam is
the best way to
prepare.

2. Having incomplete
school materials- like
books and uniform- is
a certain way to fail in
learning.
3. A person who does
not have a diploma is
not learned.

4. People who use

social media do not
have true friends.

5. Those who play

computer games are
going to fail in
academics.

CHECKPOINT 2

INSTRUCTION Identify assertions in the paragraph and classify them according to types (Write the
sentence in the type of claim they belong to.)

Donald Trump should be thrown out of office. Many people want to say he should be impeached but to
impeach someone means to begin a legal process called “impeachment proceedings” by which the house of
representatives hears evidence and arguments. The reason Trump should be impeached is because he took
money from Vladimir Putin through Russian back channels in order to lift sanctions on Russia and to help
Putin’s agenda according to a reliable source. Because of these, we say that Barrack Obama is still the best
and productive president of America.
FACT:

OPINION:

PREFERENCE:

CONVENTION:
CHECKPOINT 3

INSTRUCTION Make a claim of each type (fact, policy and value) out of this editorial cartoon.

Claim of Fact:

Claim of Policy:

Claim of Value:

CHECKPOINT 4
INSTRUCTION Critique this text below by having to:
1. identify claims made by the author;
2. formulate own counterclaims supported by proofs/ evidences; and
3. make assertions about its content and properties. (this will be done by
evaluating the quality of the writing based from the properties it possesses)
First, Complete the table below to serve as your guide in constructing your critique.
 Note that your critique must be done in an essay form having a minimum of five
paragraphs. It shall contain the CLAIMS of the author from the text read, your
COUNTERCLAIMS supported by TEXTUAL EVIDENCES and your ASSERTIONS about the
content and properties of the text.

THE 21st CENTURY

(from Keiro Fudolig’s facebook post)

Welcome to the 21st Century where sex is free and love is a pocket full of notes, where losing your phone
is worse than losing your values. Where it is fashionable to smoke and drink, and if you don’t you’re obsolete.
Where men cheat on their women with smiles, and if women do not do the same or worse, it is because they are
afraid of believing that they will be caught. Where the bathroom was made for photos.
21st Century, where women fear pregnancy more than HIV. Where the pizza delivery service arrives
faster than the ambulance. Where people die of fear of terrorism and criminals more than their conscience. When
clothes decide the value of a person, and having money is more important than having friends or even family.
21st Century, where children are able to give up their parents for their virtual love. Where men and women
only want relationships without obligations. Where love is a thing.
A great 21st Century, where social media tells you how to live your life and gives you a fake perspective
of life.
 21st Century where society is fake believing it’s perfect!
21st Century, here you only survive if you play with reason, and you are destroyed if you act with your
heart.
21st Century where technology advances have changed our humanity.
21st Century where others drag you down rather than to inspire you.
21st Century where tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort are more important
than spiritual values.
21st Century where a lot of fake personality hiding on their true identity.
21st Century where others taking photo of their food first rather than praying. Where scandal videos are
just like an anime spreading in social media.
21st Century where Tattooed people easily compared to a bad person.
21st century where your grammar is bad and people point it out instead of understanding.

Claims Counterclaims Proofs/ Evidences

Article Evaluation Matrix

Properties Excellent Poor Reasons/ Comments

Organization

Coherence and
Cohesion

Language Use

Mechanics