FORMULATIN

G ASSERTIONS
ASSERTION
An assertion is a statement used to make a declaration or to
express strong belief on a particular topic, often without
evidence. An assertion can be formulated after reading a story
or a poem, and even after watching a play. The purpose of
writing an assertion 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.
BEFORE WRITING
Before writing an assertion in literature, the author
must comprehensively read or watch the literary
work. He must take down the part he is for, or he is
opposed to, followed by his explanation of it. It is also
best to collect evidence from the same or other literary
authors that have the same assertion as with the writer.
FORMING ASSERTIONS
Different types of assertion can be
used in formal or informal writing.
This includes Basic Assertion,
Emphatic Assertion and I-Language
Assertion.
BASIC ASSERTION
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 precolonial period.
EXPLANATION
This first sentence is considered as the
basic assertion. The second sentence
contains evidence that support the
assertion.
EMPHATIC ASSERTION
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 followed by
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.
EXPLANATION
The first part recognizes the
situation based on the text being
read. The second part contains the
writer’s stand on the situation
presented.
I- LANGUAGE ASSERTION
I - 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...).
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.
EXPLANATIO
N
The example given is divided into
three parts that includes the
feelings and preference of the
writer.
Let’s Practice
The regular fare in public utility
jeepney has been fixed to P8.00
since the cost of gasoline in the
world market has also increase.
The distribution of condoms to Senior
High School students has been cancelled
by the Department of Health because
people believe that doing so may give
rise to high rate of pre-marital sex.
Extra-judicial killings in the Philippines is
to be blamed to the members of the
Philippine National Police because they
became abusive of their power and
authority. Some victims were actually
innocent of the crime they are accused of.
Before the arrival of the Spaniards, the culture and values of the Filipinos are still
in tacked. Precolonial Philippines has their own form of government and social
structure. Every local community is composed of small kingdom or tribe headed by a
chieftain called the ‘rajah’ or ‘datu’. Social structure also exists and is composed of
three classes namely – the ‘maharlika’ or freeman, ‘timawa’ or the middle class and
the ‘alipin’ or the slaves. Judicial, legislative and executive systems, also known as
the branches of the government, are also present during precolonialism. The ‘datu’
formulates the law, ‘village elders’ help the datu in deciding and promulgating laws
and the ‘umalohokan’ or town crier is the one who disseminates new law or
ordinances.
Philippines is also known as sea travellers with the use of their ‘balangay’ or
Butuan boat. They also had smooth foreign relation because of the trading of
minerals and goods. Literacy rate is also high because of the existence of the
‘baybayin’ or the ancient writing method. All of these advances were abolished as
the Spaniards fully colonized the country.
TIPS
There are two (2) factors that must be considered before
formulating assertion. First is to determine the type of
paper you are going to write – and can either be formal or
informal paper. Second is to determine the type of literary
work you are going to examine including novel, poem,
journal article or theatre play.
It is best to include facts and
evidence after every assertion.
This is done to make a strong
stand on every claimed
assertion.
Identify the assertion made in each
statement.
1. I wish I could have expressed
this idea earlier because now
someone else has taken the
credit.
2. I understand you are busy, and I
am too, but it is difficult for me to
finish this project on my own. So,
I want you to help me completing
this project.
3. When I cannot take proper
sleep, it affects my nerves and I
feel irritated. Therefore, I try to
go to bed earlier everyday.
4. I want to finish my
work then I shall go
with you.
5. When you speak harshly, I
cannot work well because I feel
annoyed. Therefore, could you
please speak gently to me?