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Formulating Assertion

The document discusses different types of assertions including basic, emphatic, escalating, and language assertions. It provides examples of each type and how they are used to express opinions, beliefs, feelings, and perspectives. It also gives two examples of assertions in literature - from Animal Farm and Pride and Prejudice - to demonstrate how characters assertively declare their positions without proof to express ideas or feelings directly.

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Miasco Joy Ann
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2K views2 pages

Formulating Assertion

The document discusses different types of assertions including basic, emphatic, escalating, and language assertions. It provides examples of each type and how they are used to express opinions, beliefs, feelings, and perspectives. It also gives two examples of assertions in literature - from Animal Farm and Pride and Prejudice - to demonstrate how characters assertively declare their positions without proof to express ideas or feelings directly.

Uploaded by

Miasco Joy Ann
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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FORMULATING ASSERTIONS

Objectives: Formulates assertions about the content and properties of a text read

Assertion - stylistic approach or technique involving a strong declaration, a forceful or confident and
positive statement regarding a belief or a fact. Often, it is without proof or any support. Its purpose is to
express ideas or feelings directly, for instance, “I have put my every effort to complete this task today.”

Types of Assertion
Basic Assertion

It is a simple and straightforward statement for expressing feelings, opinions, and beliefs such as:

 “I wish I could have expressed this idea earlier, because now someone else has taken the
credit.”

 “Excuse me, first I want to finish my work, then I shall go with you.

Emphatic Assertion

It conveys sympathy to someone, and usually has two parts:

the first encompasses recognition of the feelings or situations of the other person, and the

second is a statement that shows support for the other person’s viewpoint, feelings, or rights such as:

 “I understand you are busy, and me too, but it is difficult for me to finish this project on my own.
So, I want you to help me complete this project.”
 “I know this is making you angry and frustrated because you have not gotten a response yet. But
I can help you by giving you an estimate of how long it might take.”

Escalating Assertion

It occurs when someone is not able to give a response to a person’s basic assertions, and therefore that
person becomes firm about him or her such as:

“If you do not finish this work by 6:00 tonight, I will engage the services of another worker.”

“I really want to finish this point before you start yours.”

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 speak harshly, I cannot work with you because I feel annoyed. Therefore, I want you to
speak nicely and then assign me a task.”

“When I don’t get enough sleep, it affects my nerves and I feel irritated. Therefore, I try to go to bed
earlier.”

Examples of Assertion in Literature

Example #1: Animal Farm  (By George Orwell)

In Animal Farm, pigs make use of assertion as a tool for making propaganda in the entire novel. This is to
weaken the position of other animals, preventing contradiction with their rules and leadership. In
chapter seven, Squealer informs other animals that they need not sing the original anthem of the Old
Major, Beasts of England — a song they used to inspire the revolution in the chapter one. Squealer
asserts, saying:

“It’s no longer needed, comrade … In Beasts of England we expressed our longing for a better society
in days to come. However, that society has now been established. Clearly this song has no longer any
purpose.”

Look at his language where he gives them information that is obvious, which they have realized already,
and no one can make arguments against it. Thus, no one argued against his assertion.

Example #2: Pride and Prejudice (By Jane Austen)

Elizabeth conceals her surprise at the news of Darcy’s plan to marry her. When Lady Catherine objects to
this marriage, as Bennets have low connections and their marriage would ruin Darcy’s position before
his friends and society, Elizabeth attempts to defend her family background by asserting:

“I am a gentleman’s daughter.”

In fact, she sets herself free from the exasperating control of snobs like Miss Bingley, Mr. Collins, and
Lady Catherine, and declares:

“I am … resolved.”

Then further says with assertion:

“… to act in that manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness, without reference
to you, or to any person so wholly unconnected with me.”

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