English 10 Quarter 2 – Module 3:

Formulating a Statement of Opinion or Assertion

Task 1: PUT ME IN PLACE.

Directions: Identify the statements below whether they are facts or opinions. Write them inside the box
labeled facts and opinions.

1. Sunday is the best day of the week.

2. April is a month with 30 days.
3. There are 12 months in the year.
4. Everyone should make Valentine's Day cards.
5. This has been an amazing week.

When we say opinion, it pertains to the personal view or judgment about a subject, that may or may
not be substantiated by the facts or positive knowledge.
In other words, an opinion is an inconclusive statement, used in subjective matters, which cannot be
proven true or false. It is what a person thinks or feels about something or someone.
Moreover, opinion is highly influenced by a person’s feelings, thoughts, perspective, desires, attitude,
experiences, understanding, beliefs, values, etc., which cannot be tested by concrete evidence.
Therefore, due to individual differences, every person’s opinion on a particular matter [may] also [be]
different.

How to formulate a statement of opinion?

In formulating statement of opinion, you may use introductory words and phrases and transition
words such as the following listed below:

Example sentences expressing opinion:

My favorite subject in school is English.
I strongly believe that we can combat COVID-19 if all people will observe the safety protocols.
This is the best day of my life!

Now, let us talk about assertion.

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 an
assertion, 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.
Assertion has three types and they can be used in formal or informal writing. Types of assertion are:
1.Basic Assertion- Basic assertion is a simple expression of your personal rights, beliefs, feelings, or
opinions. Let’s look at a reasonably frequent example in peoples lives – being interrupted. If you are
interrupted, you might say to the person “Excuse me, I’d like to finish what I’m saying.” Often, the other
person will be unaware that they have interrupted or spoken over you, and this simple technique allows you
to express your need simply and firmly.
2.Emphatic Assertion- This is the acknowledgement of another person’s situation or feelings
followed by a statement standing up for your rights. 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. You might say something like –
“I know you are feeling angry and frustrated while you wait for a response [this is the acknowledgement], I
completely get why you would fel like that [this is the validation]. But, the best I can do is give you a ballpark
estimate of how long it will take.”
3.I- language Assertion- It involves the first person pronoun “I,” and is useful for expressing negative
feelings. Nevertheless, it constructively lays emphasis on a person’s feelings of anger such as: “When you
raise your voice (the effect is) I start to shut down because I feel scared. Therefore, I would like for you to
use a softer tone of voice to tell me what you want.”
It is made up of a number of very specific statements:
Description of behaviour: “When you … ,”
How it affects you life: “It affects … ,”
Describe your feelings: “and I feel …;”
Describe your desire: “Therefore, I would like …”

How to formulate a statement of assertion?

Two (2) factors must be considered before formulating an assertion
1. Determine the type of paper you are going to write – it can either be a formal or informal paper.
2. Determine the type of literary work you are going to examine including the 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.

Everyday conversation and writing is characterized not only by factual statements, but also
by expressions of one’s personal views, judgment, beliefs, and convictions. In other words, we often make
statements or assertions of fact, opinion, belief, and even prejudice. This is because we often process and
interpret factual evidence based on our own values, feelings, tastes, and experiences.
Fowler H. Ramsay (1986), as outlined in the Colorado State University website, described assertion
as a term generally used to refer to statements of fact, opinion, belief, and prejudice. These types or
categories of assertion are quite different from one another.
A fact is a verifiable statement. It can be proven objectively by verified observations or the results of
research among others. Because statements of fact can be double-checked for accuracy, there is general
agreement about the truth they posit. On the other hand, an opinion is a personal judgment based on facts;
hence, it is debatable and potentially changeable.
The third category is called belief, which is a conviction based on cultural or personal faith, morality,
or values. A statement of belief may look similar to an opinion, but they are not based on evidence; that is
why it cannot be contested or argued in a rational or logical manner. Lastly, there is the rather vague category
called a commonplace assertion. This is a stereotype, an oversimplification, or prejudice, which is a half-
baked opinion based on insufficient or unexamined evidence, but it is presented as if it were a fact. It is often
accepted by others (families, friends, media etc.), making it too common to be questioned about its
truthfulness.
These categories of assertion are so prevalent in social media today, and the distinction between one
another is slowly becoming unclear because of how netizens present everything as facts. This is why every
social media needs to be a critical and informed reader to be able to verify the truthfulness of the information
he/she comes across.
In one of the previous modules, you learned about the language of research, advocacies, and
campaigns. Opinions and assertions are very important in advocacies and campaigns; hence, it would be
advantageous for a writer, or even a speaker, to clearly express their views on important matters.
An opinion is a type of assertion that expresses a judgment, viewpoint, or statement about matters
commonly considered to be subjective. It is a personal view; however, it is still based on facts. In other words,
it is an honest attempt to draw a conclusion from factual evidence, and not a mere statement of one’s belief,
preference, or prejudice
(e.g. The president is the worst leader the country has ever had.)

There are three categories of opinion statements, namely:

Statement of Truth: It is an opinion that something is or is not the case
Example: With the minimal number of Covid-19 cases in the city, Baguio City clearly has more effective
contact tracing methods than most cities in the country.
Statement of Value: It is an opinion statement which claims that something does or does not have worth.
Example: Hard lockdowns of barangays has not been effective in controlling the spread of the
coronavirus.
Statement of Policy: It claims that something should or should not be done.
Example: Amidst the ongoing pandemic, what teachers and students need is not an academic freeze
but material, moral and instructional support from the leaders in the education department.

Take note that the given examples are claims or statements that are based on existing facts or on the
writer’s interpretation of these facts; hence, they can be debated or opposed. In other words, they are
personal views. They may be true for the speaker or writer, but they can’t be true for everybody else. It is
therefore important to make the readers aware of the evidence and how it led you to arrive at your opinion.
Another statement or expression that is somewhat similar to an opinion is called a commonplace
assertion. Readers or listeners sometimes confuse the two with each other; however, a commonplace
assertion does not appear to be as subjective as an opinion. Instead, it claims universality and is presented
as absolute truth. Further, a commonplace assertion is a statement used to make a declaration or to express
a strong belief on a particular topic, often without evidence. They are so common (because they are passed
on by friends, family members, and the media) that they are believed to be true even without proof, and some
statements of commonplace assertion have become stereotypes.
For example:
1. Men are stronger than women.
2. An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

Written as declarative sentences, these statements appear to be facts. But let us analyze each of them.
The first example is a typical stereotype, a statement that many people have accepted to be true. However,
there is no evidence to support this, and there are many layers of the statement that are ambiguous. For
instance, it is not clear if it is referring only to physical strength. This is why the statement is something that
many women have been trying to disprove.
As for the second example, many people have also accepted this as a fact. However, it is not clear how
an apple can keep someone so healthy that she wouldn’t need to visit a physician anymore. Moreover, it is
still possible that someone who eats apples every day could get sick and will need to visit a doctor.
It is clear from these examples of a commonplace assertion that readers need to be critical about the
information they read, so as not to assume that these unfounded statements are absolute truths. Similarly,
writers need restraint in presenting their prejudices and opinions as factual statements. In other words,
personal views should be presented as opinions, and not as stereotypes or even facts.

Activities:
Task 1. LOCATING JUDGMENT WORDS
Directions: Identify the clues, bias or qualifying words found in the statements below.
1. Purchasing a brand new car is a terrible waste of money.
2. Many wonderful vegetarian cookbooks are available in bookstores.
3. Of all the film version of Victor Hugo’s novel Les Miserables, the 1935 version starring Charles Laughton
is the best.
4. The introductory biology textbook comes with an amazing CD-ROM.
5. Volunteers for Habitat for Humanity are engaged in a worthwhile activity.

Task 2. OPINION OR ASSERTION

Directions: Tell whether the statement below is an OPINION or ASSERTION.
____________1. I have put my every effort to complete this task today.
____________2. Excuse me, first I want to finish my work, then I shall go with you.
____________3. Covid-19 has created ugly effects to the lives of the people.
____________4. I really want to finish this point before you start yours.
____________5. I am convinced that we will survive this pandemic if we help one another.

Task 3. FACT OR OPINION?

Read the facts given, and then identify which of the succeeding statements are debatable opinions
drawn from the said facts. Put a check before the number if it is an opinion.

_____ 1. The number of children falling victim to abuse is constantly increasing over the years.
_____ 2. The quarantine is detrimental to the children’s physical, social and mental well-being.
_____ 3. There are negligent parents and guardians in many households in the country.
_____ 4. Cyberspace is not a safe place for children.
_____ 5. Several agencies are working hand-in-hand in monitoring and addressing issues involving
children.

Task 4. SIMILAR YET DIFFERENT

Differentiate an opinion from a commonplace assertion through a Venn Diagram.

Task 5. Assessment: Encircle the letter of the correct answer.

1. It is a statement that is commonly believed to be true even without proof or evidence.
A. Fact B. Opinion
C. Commonplace Assertion D. Bias or Prejudice
2. It is a statement that is verifiable, or can be proven true or false based on evidence or proof.
A. Fact B. Opinion
C. Commonplace Assertion D. Bias or Prejudice
3. Which of the following best defines an opinion?
A. It is a declarative statement that is generally accepted as true.
B. It is a personal view, judgment or appraisal about a particular matter.
C. It can be proven true or false based on whatever evidence is available.
D. It is a statement that is true not only to the speaker but to everyone else
4. What is the similarity between an opinion and a commonplace assertion?
A. They can be opposed. B. They are subjective and personal.
C. They are based on evidence or proof. D. They are generally accepted to be true.
5. Which is not a category of an opinion statement?
A. Statement of Truth B. Statement of Value
 C. Statement of Policy D. Statement of Preference
6. Under what category of opinion statement does the following statement belong to? Online selling has
become a very viable source of income nowadays.
A. Statement of Truth B. Statement of Value
C. Statement of Policy D. Statement of Preference
7. Which of the following is a well-constructed opinion statement?
A. Baguio is the safest city to live in during this pandemic.
B. I think the local government of Baguio deserves recognition for its efforts.
C. LGU leaders in the city always make sound and calculated decisions.
D. Mayor Benjamin Magalong exemplary handled the pandemic in his jurisdiction.
8. Which of these statements is neither an opinion nor a commonplace assertion?
A. Women are careful drivers.
B. All industrial nations are first-world countries.
C. There are more men than women who became president of the country.
D. The number of males in the Senate and Congress suggests that males are better lawmakers.
9. A commonplace assertion is commonly referred to as a stereotype. Which of these statements is an
example of a stereotype?
A. All boys are more open-minded than girls.
B. Most religions allow only males to be leaders.
C. Schools across the country advocate gender equality.
D. Women deserve the same opportunities that are given to men.
10. What makes the following statement an example of commonplace assertion?
Milk is good for your body.
A. It asserts that milk is the best source of calcium which makes bones and teeth stronger.
B. It makes people believe that milk contains all the vitamins and minerals that the body needs.
C. It disregards the fact that some people are lactose intolerant, and milk may cause stomach upset.
D. All of the above

Task 6. For numbers 11-15, read the given excerpt of an opinion article and then identify statements of
fact, opinion and assertion from the passage

.
11. Fact:________________________________________________________________________
12. Assertion:___________________________________________________________________
13 - 15. Opinions:
a.____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
b.____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
c.____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________