[11] R&W - Formulating Evaluative Statements

• Evaluative Statement - statement reflecting your judgment and generalization about a text that you have read; could be done by using the evidence from the text in order to formulate assertions and counterclaims
• How to form Evaluative Statements

  • Begin with the positives before you point out the negatives
  • Suggest a solution/s or suggestion/s on how to improve the written material being evaluated and provide justification
  • Keep your feedback concise and precise
  • Be careful in giving your feedback
• Assertion - declarative sentence that gives one's belief about something else as if it is true though it may not be; expressed as an argument; usually contains languages that expresses evaluation such as useful, significant, important, etc.
• 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
• 4 Types of Assertion

  1. Fact
  2. Convention
  3. Opinion
  4. Preference
• Fact - statement that is known or proven to be true as supported by experiences and evidences
• Convention - statement that is based on one's belief, traditions and norms; depend on the way something is usually done in a particular area and over a period of time
• Opinion - statement of judgement or belief which may not necessarily be based on facts
• Preference - statement based on a person's liking or taste for one alternative over the other; subjective, and is usually influenced by emotions and opinions
• How to Write an Assertion?

  • Read or watch the literary work comprehensively
  • Note the part you agree with, the part you oppose, and your explanation of it
  • Collect evidence from the same or other literary authors with the same assertion as with the writer
• Counterclaim - statement given by a reader who has views that are different from what the original author believed in; an opposing viewpoint of a claim; claims made to rebut a previous claim; provides contrasting perspective to the main argument
• To rebut means to contradict someone's statement through a formal argument
• What makes a Counterclaim Valuable?

  • Counterclaims enrich a discussion or discourse about a certain topic because they help the different sides of an issue
  • One's opinion represents only one side of the matter; hence, you need other people's idea to get a full picture
• How to Draft a Counterclaim?

  • Stick to the argument
  • Be respectful
  • Be tactful
  • Do not use fallacious statements
• 4 Elements of Argument

  • Claim
  • Counterclaim
  • Reason
  • Evidence
• Claim - a statement that asserts facts based on one's understanding about a particular topic or issue
• Counterclaim - opposite of claim; a statement that contradicts one's claim and is usually proven and supported by both reasons and evidence
• Reason - part of an argument where a statement offers an explanation behind a party's claim
• Evidence - statement that proves the truth of a claim and generally leads to the conclusion of an argument