Reading to infer, evaluate claims, and form opinions, judgments, and points of view in a clear, concise manner
Evaluative statements
Statements found as you reason out your own beliefs according to your own set of criteria through critical reading
The process of formulating counterclaims
1. Formulate assertions
2. Formulate counterclaims
Types of assertions
Assertions of fact
Assertions of convention
Assertions of opinion
Assertions of preference
Assertions of fact
Claims that can easily be verified by various sources such as direct experience, testimonies or witnesses, verified observation, or research
Assertions of fact
There are about 175 languages spoken in the Philippines
Japan has the third largest economy in the world
The largest country in Western Europe is France
Assertions of convention
Claims that are socially accepted at a certain place during a certain period, depending on existing laws, usage, rules, customs, traditions, and norms
Assertions of convention
To show respect to the elderly, the Filipinos do "Mano"
In Japan, bowing is used to expressed respect, gratitude, or apology
Maintaining eye contact is considered a sign of respect in France
Assertions of opinion
Claims that must have facts as its foundation, open to arguments since it is harder to verify as compared to facts
Assertions of opinion
It is not fun in the Philippines anymore due to the recent increase in the crime rate
Some people are scared to go to Japan because of yakuza
France has weird laws such as posthumous marriage which allows a person to legally marry a dead person
Assertions of preference
Claims that are very subjective in nature, entirely based on a choice of certain person or a group of people, does not require evidence or proof as it varies from person to person
Assertions of preference
There is no better place to spend your vacation at than Philippines
Japan has the richest and most interesting culture in Asia
French cuisine is the best in the world
Hedges
Words or phrases that minimize the negative impact of criticism stated in a counterclaim, including modal verbs, qualifying adjectives/adverbs, and tentative verbs
Hedges
Could, can, may, might
Possibly, likely, possible, somewhat
Seems, indicates, suggests
How to formulate counterclaims
This text may be inappropriate for graduate students who are new to the field
Some readers will probably find the theoretical model difficult to understand
This omission seems to suggest that the authors are not aware of the current literature