Senior High School

Reading and Writing Skills

Quarter 4 - Module 3
Text and Context Connections

Department of Education • Republic of the Philippines

Table of Content
Lesson 6 Text and Context Connections: Assertion and Counterclaims
Lesson 6.1: Text and Context Connections: Formulating Assertions
Lesson 6.2: Text and Context Connections: Formulating Counterclaims
Lesson 7 Text and Context Connections: Textual Evidence
Lesson 7.1: Text and Context Connections: Determining Textual Evidence

Learning Competency 6: Formulate evaluative statements about a text read. S2 Q4

EN11/12RWS-IVac-9
a. Assertions about the content and properties of a text read. S2 Q4 EN11/12RWS-
IVac-9.1
b. Meaningful counterclaims in response to claims made in a text read. S2 Q4
EN11/12RWS-IVac-9.2

Learning Competency 7: Determine textual evidence to validate assertions and counterclaims

made about a text read. S2 Q4 EN11/12RWS-IVac-10
Semester: 2nd Semester Quarter: 4th Quarter
LESSON 6 - Text and Context Connections:
Assertion and Counterclaims
What’s New
Reading as a critical element of literacy is very essential for individuals’ success. It is one
of the ways that we use language in our daily life to gather information, communicate with others
and for enjoyment. Hence, reading always occurs in context. Thus, when you read and evaluate
the text you are reading, it is important to validate your assertions and counterclaims with valid
evidences to produce meaningful evaluative statements.
This module is all about formulating evaluative statements about a text read which will
be broken down into two lessons.
Lesson 1: Assertions about the content and properties of text
Lesson 2: Counterclaims in response to claims made in a text

What I Need To Know

By the end of this module, you will have been able to:
1. Formulate assertions about the content and properties of a text read; and
Reading and Writing Skills Module 3 Q2 - Page 1 of 17
 2. Formulate counterclaims in response to claims made in a text read;
To achieve the objectives of this module, do the following:
✓ Take your time reading the lessons carefully.
✓ Follow the directions and/or instructions in the activities and exercises diligently.
✓ Answer all the questions that you encounter. As you go through the module, you will
find help to answer these questions.
✓ Do the suggested tasks with patience and industry tasks.
✓ Take your time to study and learn.
What I Know
Direction: Identify the following assertions as statements of convention, fact, opinion, or
reference.
___________1. Social media is defined as the Internet and mobile-based tools and devices
that facilitate the integration of technology, telecommunications, and social interaction.
___________2. Facebook is a cooler social media platform than Twitter.
___________3. In 2012, there were 1.4 billion users of social media worldwide.
___________4. Teachers should use social media in their lessons to get more students
interested.
___________5. Another name for social media is ―Web 2.0‖ because both terms emphasize
the social aspects of the Internet as avenues for communication, collaboration, and creative
expression.
___________6. Many teenagers’ present obsession with taking selfies shows they are the most
narcissistic generation.
___________7. Social networks are the most distracting websites on the internet.
___________8. In the first quarter of 2014, nearly 300 million smartphone units were sold all
over the world.
___________9. Parents ought to enforce stricter guidelines in social media to safeguard their
children’s privacy.
___________10. Children are learning how to operate mobile devices at increasingly younger
ages; many of them have an idea of how to use a touchscreen tablet before they are two.

LESSON 6.1 - Text and Context Connections:

Formulating Assertions
What’s New
What is an Assertion?
Becoming a good critical reader means that you are able to logically evaluate the claims
of the writer. Assertions become the primary channel for a reader to assent to a claim.
Assertion is a 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.
It is a confident and forceful statement of fact or belief. Its purpose is to express ideas or
feelings directly, for instance, ―I have put my every effort to complete this task today. “Standing
up for your rights and not being taken advantage of is one definition of being assertive. It also
means communicating what you really want in a clear fashion, respecting your own rights and
feelings and the rights and feelings of others.
Assertion is an honest and appropriate expression of one’s feelings, opinions, and
needs.
A way to convince a critical reader to accept the writer’s claim is to formulate assertions.
Assertions, as defined by Tiongson (2016), are “declarative sentences that claim something is
true about something else.” These sentences may either be statements of truths or opinions.
There are four common types of assertion
enumerated by Tiongson.

What Is It?
Activity 9: Instructions: Guess the word based on the pictures /clues presented.

Reading and Writing Skills Module 3 Q2 - Page 2 of 17

 Tiongson’s Types of Assertion
1. Statement of Fact
This is a statement that can be proven objectively by direct experience, testimonies of
witnesses, verified observations, or the results of research.
Example: The sampaguita’s roots are used for medicinal purposes, such as an
anesthetic and a sedative.
This statement is a fact because it can be directly verified by experience or reliable
research reports.
2. Statement of Opinion
Opinions are based on facts, but are difficult to objectively verify because of the
uncertainty of producing satisfactory proofs of soundness.
Example: The popularity of sampaguita flowers is most evident in places of
worship.
The above statement is an opinion because it is based on an observation that needs to
be proven by studies and repeated observation; there are too many factors involved that makes
explicit judgment difficult.
3. Statement of Convention
A convention is a way in which something is done, similar to traditions and norms.
Conventions depend on historical precedent, laws, rules, usage, and customs.
Example: The sampaguita belongs to the genus Jasminum of the family Oleaceae.
This statement is a convention because it is based on a classification system made up
by scientists and is acceptable to the scientific community.
4. Statement of Preference
Preferences are based on personal choice; therefore, they are subjective and cannot be
objectively proven or logically attacked.
Example: Sampaguitas are the most beautiful and most fragrant of all flowers.
This statement is a preference because it says a lot about the type of flowers that the
writer likes, instead of objectively comparing the qualities of sampaguitas to that of other
flowers.

Activity 10: Identify the following assertions as statements of convention, fact, opinion, or
preference.
_________________ 1. Import liberalization means allowing foreign goods to enter Philippine
markets and directly compete with domestic products.
_________________ 2. According to the Minister of Defense, NPA armed insurgents now total
sum 16,000 men and women.
_________________ 3. Roses grow best in soil made of ¾ clay and ¼ sand and loam.
_________________ 4. The rose belongs to the genus Rosa of the family Rosaceae.
_________________ 5. The export of cut rose can easily become one of the most lucrative
businesses in the Philippines.
Reading and Writing Skills Module 3 Q2 - Page 3 of 17
_________________ 6. Many more will die because of political considerations and unwise aid-
spending.
_________________ 7. Roses are more beautiful, smell sweeter and are easier to grow than
any other flower.
_________________ 8. The previous government should have toughened its stand against the
burgeoning insurgency.
_________________ 9. Eyewitness testimony is generally unreliable.
_________________ 10. Camel’s hair brushes are made of Siberian squirrel fir.

What Is It?
Activity 11: Formulate assertions based on the given pictures.
Example:
Statement of Convention: GMA, being the vice president, advance to the
presidential position when Estrada stepped down from his office.
Statement of Fact: GMA is the second woman president of the Philippine
Republic
Statement of Opinion: I think our country's situation will continue to
become worse under Gloria's administration.
Statement of Preference: Estrada was more concerned with the masses
compared to GMA.

Statement of Convention: ______________________________________

__________________________________________________________
Statement of Fact: ___________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Statement of Opinion: ________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Statement of Preference: ______________________________________
__________________________________________________________

Statement of Convention: ______________________________________

__________________________________________________________
Statement of Fact: ___________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Statement of Opinion: ________________________________________
__________________________________________________________
Statement of Preference: ______________________________________
FRONTLINERS __________________________________________________________

What Is It?
Activity 12: Formulate assertions based on the words given in each number. Follow the
type of assertion specified in each word.
1. Martial Law (statement of opinion)
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
2. Senior High School (statement of preference)
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
3. extrajudicial killing (statement of opinion)
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
4. dog (statement of convention)
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
5. lagundi ( statement of fact)
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

Reading and Writing Skills Module 3 Q2 - Page 4 of 17

What’s More
Instructions: Read the given text and formulate assertions about the content and properties
of a text.
“Educational Challenges and Opportunities of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic”
(Excerpt)
We are living amidst what is potentially one of the greatest threats in our lifetime to
global education, a gigantic educational crisis. As of March 28, 2020, the COVID-19
pandemic is causing more than 1.6 billion children and youth to be out of school in 161
countries. This is close to 80% of the world’s enrolled students. We were already
experiencing a global learning crisis, as many students were in school, but were not learning
the fundamental skills needed for life. The World Bank’s “Learning Poverty” indicator – the %
of children who cannot read and understand at age 10 – stood at 53% of children in low- and
middle-income countries – before the outbreak started. This pandemic has the potential to
worsen these outcomes even more if we do not act fast.
What should we be worried about in this phase of the crisis that might have an
immediate impact on children and youth? (1) Losses in learning; (2) Increased dropout rates;
(3) Children missing their most important meal of the day. Moreover, most countries have
very unequal education systems, and these negative impacts will be felt disproportionately
by poor children. When it rains, it pours for them.
Source: https://blogs.worldbank.org/education/educational-challenges-and-opportunities-covid-19-pandemic

Statement of Convention: _____________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________
Statement of Fact: ___________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Statement of Opinion: ________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Statement of Preference: ______________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

What I Have Learned

An assertion is a statement used to make a declaration or to express strong belief on a
particular topic, often without evidence. According to Tiongson, it has 4 types:
Statement of Fact
This is a statement that can be proven objectively by direct experience, testimonies of
witnesses, verified observations, or the results of research.
Statement of Opinion
Opinions are based on facts, but are difficult to objectively verify because of the
uncertainty of producing satisfactory proofs of soundness.
Statement of Convention
A convention is a way in which something is done, similar to traditions and norms.
Conventions depend on historical precedent, laws, rules, usage, and customs.
Statement of Preference
Preferences are based on personal choice; therefore, they are subjective and cannot be
objectively proven or logically attacked.

LESSON 6.2 - Text and Context Connections:

Formulating Counterclaims
What’s New
To be an effective critical thinker, it is not enough just to be able to identify claims and
assertions. It is also important to have the ability to analyze an argument and counterclaims.
Counterclaims are claims made to rebut a previous claim. They provide a contrasting
perspective to the main argument.
Counterclaims – answer the question ―What are other credible possibilities?
The following questions will help you formulate a counterclaim:
• What are the major points on which you and the author can disagree?
• What is the strongest argument? What did they say to defend their position?
• What are the merits of their view?
Reading and Writing Skills Module 3 Q2 - Page 5 of 17
 • What are the weaknesses or shortcomings in their argument?
• Are there any hidden assumptions?
• Which lines from the text best support the counterclaim you have formulated?

Steps in Writing a Counterclaim

Step One – Ways to begin counterclaim paragraphs
• Many people believe that . . .
• It is often thought that . . .
• It might seem as if . . .
• While it is common . . .
Step Two – Ways to transition from the opposite side back to your opinion
• What this argument fails to consider is . . .
• This view sounds convincing at first but . . .
• Although the core claim is valid, it suffers from the flaw in its . . .
Step Three – Write a counterclaim. Use one of the sentence starters in step one.
Remember to transition back to your opinion. Use one of the sentences starters in step
two.
Counterclaim example:
It is often thought that social studies is the favorite academic class for junior high school
students. However, what this argument fails to consider is that science allows for more
hands-on activities. For example, when studying amphibians, you get to dissect a frog rather
than just read about an event from the past.

What is it?
Activity 13-A: Solve the puzzle using the definition provided.

Activity 13-B: Read each sentence carefully. Then write T if the statement is true and F if
False.
__________ 1. Being able to make an assertion is enough to formulate counterclaims.
__________ 2. Analyzing an argument is important in formulating counterclaims.
__________ 3. Claim is a statement that addresses opposing viewpoints.
__________ 4. Critical thinking concerns in determining the quality of our beliefs.
__________ 5. Counterclaim is a contrasting perspective to the argument.

What is it?
Activity 14: Read the given claim. Write your counterclaim based on the given claim.
Example:
Claim: Hybrid cars are an effective strategy to fight pollution.
Counterclaim:
Many people believe that hybrid cars are an effective strategy to fight pollution.
This view sounds convincing at first but instead of focusing on cars, which still
encourages a culture of driving even if it cuts down on pollution, the nation should focus
on building and encouraging the use of mass transit systems.
Reading and Writing Skills Module 3 Q2 - Page 6 of 17
 1. Claim: Tracking devices on phones is a good idea because if you go
somewhere your parents will now your whereabouts.

Counterclaim:
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

2. Claim: Being grounded is a good idea depending on what they did.

Counterclaim:
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

What is it?
Activity 15: Read passages below. Apply the questions above in identifying the claim and
counterclaim.
Example:
Watching television entertains, educates, and informs. These three factual
advantages developed, giving more and more advantages. The value of family life could
increase when they spent time together, and the ability of television to entertain supports this
condition to happen. There are shows which fit all generations and could make people happy
watching it. When members of the family watch the shows, they laugh, and a comforting
atmosphere is created.
Source: http://academicwriting0708f.blogspot.com/2008/05/task-4-positive-and-negative-effects-of.html

Claim: Watching television strengthens the family relationship.

Counterclaim: It might seem as if watching television strengthens family relationship. This view
sounds convincing at first but watching television prevents the talking, the games and the family
festivities and arguments through which the child’s learning takes place.

1.
They are certainly right. Sunscreen protects your ski n from ultraviolet light rays. Too
much ultraviolet is bad for your skin. If you spend a long time outside without any sunscreen
on, you might get a sunburn because of the ultraviolet rays.
Source: https://www.grammarbank.com/paragraph-completion.html

Claim: ____________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Counterclaim: ______________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

2.
You need a total of about 60 minutes of physical activity a day. Here is the good news.
----. Five or ten minute sessions of physical activities throughout the day are just as good for
you. These may include walking, jogging, running, and riding a bike.
Source: https://www.grammarbank.com/paragraph-completion.html

Claim: ____________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Counterclaim: ______________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
3.
The House of Representatives approved House Bill 6517, or the Philippine
Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act, on its final reading on January 29, 2019. The bill aims
to “legalize and regulate the medical use of cannabis” with the overall goal of making it more
accessible for Filipinos.
Reading and Writing Skills Module 3 Q2 - Page 7 of 17
 Once the bill gets enacted, the government will establish Medical Cannabis
Compassionate Centers (MCCC), as well as a Medical Cannabis Research and Safety
Compliance Facility (MCRSCF) for research and testing. These new institutions will
safeguard the distribution and research of medical cannabis in the country.
Source: https://www.flipscience.ph/health/philippines-legalize-marijuana/

Claim: ____________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Counterclaim: ______________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

What’s More
Instructions: Read the speech of Sen. Manny Pacquiao. Apply the questions above in
identifying the claim and counterclaim. Write these below, followed by a brief explanation.
A FIGHT FOR LIFE
Sen. Manny Pacquiao's speech at Cambridge Union
President Charles Connor and other esteemed officials of the Cambridge University;
distinguished members of the Cambridge Union, other dignitaries in attendance, ladies and
gentlemen, my fellow guests, good afternoon.
A famous pastor once said, and I quote, "The world is a university and everyone in it is a
teacher. Make sure when you wake up in the morning you go to school." End of quote.
Today, I am not just in any obscure part of the global university. I am deeply honored to
be invited by the Cambridge Union, the oldest debating and free speech society in the world
and the largest student society in the University of Cambridge.
I am not a scientist, a mathematician, or a philosopher. But you have given me this
privilege of addressing you. I am humbled to be in the midst of brilliant students in this
prestigious university that has educated remarkable alumni, including British Prime Ministers,
foreign Heads of states, monarchs, and royals. It is my distinct honor to stand before all of you.
I am delighted to learn that one of Cambridge University's historic colleges is Emmanuel
College and that Harvard University, the first college in the United States, was organized after
the model of Emmanuel.
I have not experienced how it is to pursue a degree like a regular university student. My
circumstances were very different from yours.
But I did not allow these circumstances to limit me. I worked on and finally received my
degree through the Alternative Learning System. More importantly, I continue to learn from the
University called life.
So, here is Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao standing in front of you. I am not here to show
off my left hook or my fluid footwork. I am here because I want to personally share my narrative
in the hope that it will touch even just a few of you and persuade you to think differently about
life.
I was born into poverty. There is a Filipino metaphor that goes "mas mahirap pa sa daga,"
which translates to "more destitute than a rat." From a very young age, I had to struggle daily
to survive. I fought hard, I faltered, I failed many times. But I learned to rise again each time I
fell. Each setback became a platform for a comeback.
That is what life was like to me as a child. But my hardships are not uncommon. There
are so many others around the world who have faced even worse. But my hardships taught me
one valuable lesson. Never quit.
If the world knocks you down, get up. If all things conspire against you, fight back. Quitting
is not an option.
I was only 7 years old when I had to take responsibility for my three siblings who were
left under my care because our mother had to earn a living. I took it upon myself to help her,
"Mommy Dionisia", as she is fondly called by the Filipinos, to earn extra money so that we can
eat even just one decent meal a day.
I was still in elementary school back then. I managed to attend classes even without
sleep and without food. There were days when it was only water that kept me going. We were
so poor that we could not even afford school supplies; I would use my pencil even if there was
only about an inch long of it left that I could no longer hold it to write.
I remember when I was in the sixth grade, and my classmates would flock around me for
our mathematics homework because they knew I was reliable when it came to numbers. I did
Reading and Writing Skills Module 3 Q2 - Page 8 of 17
their math homework for them, and in exchange they would share their food with me because
they knew I rarely had any.
Boxing turned my life around. I was only 14 years old when I left my hometown in
Mindanao so that I can train for it in Manila. My narrative took a turn because of that crucial
decision to take a big step away from my comfort zone.
With the benefit of hindsight, I have realized that it is the grace of God that transformed
me from nothing into something.
My circle became bigger and bigger because of the countless opportunities that boxing
brought about. My victories in the ring pushed me right into center stage and ushered in fame
and fortune. Opportunities came knocking at my door, one after the other.
I apply the same principles in public service. As a lifelong learner, I must keep improving
myself and I must not stop learning. That way, I remain relevant to my people and the world
that deserve the best of Manny Pacquiao, inside and outside the ring.
For as long as I exist, I will keep showing up for life. I will continue to be a learner and
always strive to be a teacher by imparting my hard-earned lessons to others.
Each one of you in this room can change the world. Have faith, persevere. Find your
passion and heed your calling. I urge you, as the Roman poet Horace did: Carpe Diem -- seize
the day.
And above all, FIGHT. Thank you and a pleasant afternoon.

The claim in the text:

__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Reason:
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
My counterclaim:
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
Reason:
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

What I Have Learned

To be an effective critical thinker, it is not enough just to be able to identify claims and
assertions. It is also important to have the ability to analyze an argument and counterclaims.
Counterclaims are claims made to rebut a previous claim. They provide a contrasting
perspective to the main argument.
Counterclaims – answer the question; “What are other credible possibilities?

ASSESSMENT
Direction: Identify the following assertions as statements of convention, fact, opinion, or
preference.
___________1. Social media is defined as the Internet and mobile-based tools and devices
that facilitate the integration of technology, telecommunications, and social
interaction.
___________2. Facebook is a cooler social media platform than Twitter.
___________3. In 2012, there were 1.4 billion users of social media worldwide.
___________4. Teachers should use social media in their lessons to get more students
interested.
___________5. Another name for social media is ―Web 2.0‖ because both terms emphasize
the social aspects of the Internet as avenues for communication,
collaboration, and creative expression.
___________6. Many teenagers’ present obsession with taking selfie’s shows they are the
Reading and Writing Skills Module 3 Q2 - Page 9 of 17
 most narcissistic generation.
___________7. Social networks are the most distracting websites on the internet.
___________8. In the first quarter of 2014, nearly 300 million smartphone units were sold all
over the world.
___________9. Parents ought to enforce stricter guidelines in social media to safeguard their
children’s privacy.
___________10. Children are learning how to operate mobile devices at increasingly younger
ages; many of them have an idea of how to use a touchscreen tablet before
they are two.
LESSON 7 - Text and Context Connections: Textual
Evidence
Reading as a critical element of literacy is very essential for individuals’ success. It is one
of the ways that we use language in our daily life to gather information, communicate with others
and for enjoyment. Hence, reading always occurs in context. Thus, when you read and evaluate
the text you are reading, it is important to validate your assertions and counterclaims with valid
evidences to produce meaningful evaluative statements.
This module is all about determining textual evidence to validate assertions and
counterclaims made about a text read

What I Need To Know

By the end of this module, you will have been able to determine textual evidence to validate
assertions and counterclaims made about a text read.
To achieve the objectives of this module, do the following:
✓ Take your time reading the lessons carefully;
✓ Follow the directions and/or instructions in the activities and exercises diligently;
✓ Answer all the questions that you encounter. As you go through the module, you will
find help to answer these questions;
✓ Do the suggested tasks with patience and industry tasks; and
✓ Take your time to study and learn.

What I Know
Direction: Read each item carefully. Choose the correct answer by writing the letter on the
space before each number.
_______ 1. It is information gathered from the text that supports your evaluative statements.
A. Assertion C. Textual Evidence
B. Evaluative Statement D. Counterclaim
_______ 2. It is a statement used to make a declaration or to express strong belief on a
particular topic, often without evidence.
A. Assertion C. Textual Evidence
B. Evaluative Statement D. Counterclaim
_______ 3. It is a statement that you can make to reflect your judgment and generalization
about a text that you have read.
A. Assertion C. Textual Evidence
B. Evaluative Statement D. Counterclaim
_______ 4. These are statements that oppose the claims of the writer in the text.
A. Assertion C. Textual Evidence
B. Evaluative Statement D. Counterclaim
_______ 5. In formulating assertions and counterclaims about a text, it is important to support
one’s statement with __________.
A. Assertion C. Textual Evidence
B. Evaluative Statement D. Counterclaim
_______ 6. It is the act of mentioning a specific section of the text like an event or action.
A. Referencing C. Summarizing
B. Paraphrasing D. Quoting
_______ 7. It is stating a part of a text in the exact way it was written.
A. Referencing C. Summarizing
B. Paraphrasing D. Quoting
_______ 8. It is restating the text in your own words.
Reading and Writing Skills Module 3 Q2 - Page 10 of 17
 A. Referencing C. Summarizing
B. Paraphrasing D. Quoting
_______ 9. It is restating the text in a shorter way using your own words.
A. Referencing C. Summarizing
B. Paraphrasing D. Quoting
_______ 10. Textual evidence weakens the assertion or counterclaims about a text.
A. True C. Maybe
B. False D. It depends

LESSON 7 - Text and Context Connections:

Determining Textual Evidence
What’s New
In formulating assertions and counterclaims about a text, it is important that you support
your statements with textual evidence.
What is textual evidence?
Textual evidence is information gathered from the text that supports your assertion or
counterclaim about the text. It refers to any proof of an argument, a claim, a counterclaim, an
assertion cited in the text leading to a conclusion.
In expressing your judgment about the text,
1. First, state your idea about the text.
2. To determine evidence from the text, look for clues and keywords that support your idea
about the text.
3. Quote or paraphrase the part of the text that helped you come up with your idea.
4. Use quotation marks to quote a part of the text. If it is from a book, indicate the page
number at the end of your sentence.
5. Lastly, express how the quote supports your idea.

In citing textual evidence, you need to quote, paraphrase or refer to the very specific part of
the text where you can use to support your own thoughts and ideas.

Below are types of textual evidence:

Referencing
This is the act of mentioning a specific section of the text like an event or action.
Examples:
▪ According to Fussell, ‘The Oxford Book of English Verse presides over the Great War in
a way that has never been fully appreciated’ (159).
▪ Strickland tells the story of Minty Nelson, a 27-year-old Seattle University employee and
student, whose encounter with a census worker epitomizes the identity battle faced
constantly by multiracial people.

Paraphrasing
This is restating an author’s or someone else’s work using your own words without losing
the original idea of the text.
Example:
The original passage: The paraphrase:
Students frequently overuse direct In research papers students often
quotation in taking notes; as a result they quote excessively, failing to keep quoted
overuse quotations in the final (research) material down to a desirable level. Since the
paper. Probably only about 10% of your final problem usually originates during note taking.
manuscript should appear as directly quoted It is essential to minimize the material
matter. Therefore, you should strive to limit recorded verbatim (Lester, 1976 p. 46 – 47)
the amount of exact transcribing of source
materials while taking notes (Lester, 1976 p.
46 – 47)
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fbb4Ch7nDJc Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fbb4Ch7nDJc
Summarizing
This is stating the essential ideas together of the text in a shorter way.
Example:
Reading and Writing Skills Module 3 Q2 - Page 11 of 17
The original passage: The summary:
Students frequently overuse direct Students should take just a few
quotation in taking notes; as a result they notes in direct quotation from sources to help
overuse quotations in the final (research) minimize the amount of quoted material in a
paper. Probably only about 10% of your final research paper (Lester, 1976 p. 46 – 47)
manuscript should appear as directly quoted
matter. Therefore, you should strive to limit
the amount of exact transcribing of source
materials while taking notes (Lester, 1976 p.
46 – 47)
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fbb4Ch7nDJc
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fbb4Ch7nDJc
Quoting
This is stating a part of a text in the exact way it was written.
Example:
▪ Samantha King, a forensic specialist, stated that ―DNA evidence is usually indisputable.
▪ According to Confucius, ―You can’t open a book without learning something.
Support your statements with textual evidence to come up with strong or solid arguments,
and make your ideas more credible. You can come up with good textual evidence by selecting
the most relevant section of the text that strongly supports your statement about the text.

Why do you need to determine textual evidence?

The need to answer questions after reading a text and or to share our ideas enables us
to go back to what we have read and give evidence from it to prove that you are not just
manufacturing your thoughts. Oftentimes, when we you are asked about how nice a movie was,
you need to cite part or parts of the movie which could support your thoughts that it was indeed
a very nice movie worthy to be watched. What you are doing is using textual evidence.
Example:
Eric often gets wet on Saturdays. He wakes up at 6 o‟clock in the morning and goes
straight to the faucet. He prepares a basin, soap, shampoo and a stool. One by one, he calls
out his fur friends for the Saturday mornings “ritual”.
Question: Based on the text, what is Eric’s work on Saturday mornings?
a. Washes clothes
b. Cooks for breakfast
c. Baths his pets
d. Preparing for work
Textual Evidence: One by one, he calls out his fur friends for the Saturday mornings “ritual”

What Is It?
Activity 16: Read the passages carefully. Write the letter of your choice on the space before
the number.
A lot of people waste time driving around when they are lost. This can be avoided by asking
other people for direction. The trick is to find a person who would point the right direction.
_____ 1. Which of the following is an assertion regarding this text?
A. People should ask directions from strangers when they are lost so that they do not waste
time driving.
B. I agree with the claim of the writer that people should ask directions from strangers to
save time by asking someone reliable such as gas station attendant.
C. I disagree with the claim of the writer that people should ask directions because they
might end up getting lost longer if a stranger gives them wrong directions.
D. All of these are correct.
_____ 2. Which of the following is a counterclaim about the text above?
A. People should ask directions from strangers when they are lost so that they do not waste
time driving.
B. I agree with the claim of the writer that people should ask directions from strangers to
save time by asking someone reliable such as gas station attendant.
C. I disagree with the claim of the writer that people should ask directions because they
might end up getting lost longer if a stranger gives them wrong directions.
D. All of these are correct.
_____ 3.
Reading and Writing Skills Module 3 Q2 - Page 12 of 17
 “A handshake does not mean the same thing around the world.” Which of the following
is the best paraphrase?
A. A handshake does not mean the same thing around the world.
B. Internationally, a greeting by shaking hands is not the same.
C. A handshake means something different around the world.
D. All of these are correct.
_____ 4.
“Climbing mountain is dangerous activity.” Which of the following is the best paraphrase?
A. A perilous sport is climbing mountain
B. Climbing mountains is dangerous activity.
C. Climbing mountains can be an unsafe activity.
D. None of these are correct.

The Leboyer method of childbirth seeks to protect a newborn’s delicate senses from the shock
of bright lights, harsh sounds, and rough handling. After the baby’s head has begun to
emerge, lights are dimmed and the delivery room is quieted. The baby is not held by the
ankles and slapped to encourage the first breath; Leboyer states that since the fetus’’ spinal
column has never been in a straight position; this kind of handling is a severe shock to the
infant. Instead, the baby, with the umbilical cord still attached, is gently placed on the mother’s
abdomen until breathing begins naturally. At this point, the baby is rinsed in a tepid bath,
rather than weighed on a cold scale. Babies born this way are usually relaxed and smiling,
not tensed and screaming. Some studies of Leboyer babies and standard-delivery have
shown that Leboyer children are slightly more physically advanced and quicker to learn.
Parents of Leboyer children, in general, saw the birth as a positive and exhilarating
experience.

_____ 5. Which sentence best summarizes the selection?

A. The usual method of childbirth subjects newborns to bright lights, harsh sounds, and
rough handling.
B. In the Leboyer method of childbirth, a newborn’s first breath is never encouraged by the
common process of holding the infant by the ankles and slapping it.
C. The Leboyer method of childbirth, designed to protect a newborn’s delicate sense from
the shock of standard deliveries, has positive effects.
D. All of these are correct.

What Is It?
Activity 17: Practice choosing the strongest piece of textual evidence to support the claim. Write
the letter of the correct answer on the space provided before the number.
_____ Claim #1: Simple changes can cut your carbon emissions greatly!
A. I think that we need to do something quickly to help save the environment.
B. If you hang your clothes outside on the clothesline instead of using the electric dryer, you
can cut your carbon emissions by 351 lbs./year.
C. Kids can help parents by doing some household chores.
_____ Claim # 2: Exercise is important for the growth and development of children.
A. Children watch too much television.
B. All children love to ride their bikes outside and on trails through the forest.
C. Children who are active will have stronger muscles and bones.
_____ Claim # 3: A diet rich in fruits and vegetables has many benefits.
A. Fruits and vegetables taste good.
B. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables lowers your risk of heart disease.
C. There are many colorful fruits and vegetables for you to try.
_____ Claim # 4: Smoking cigarettes is harmful to your health.
A. The mixture of nicotine and carbon monoxide in cigarettes temporarily increases your
heart rate and blood pressure, causing strain on your heart and blood vessels.
B. Cigarette smoke smells really bad and that smell sticks to your hair and clothes.
A. Secondhand smoke is bad for the people around you
_____ Claim # 5: Bullying is a common problem in schools across the province.
B. Children who are bullied experience suffering that can interfere with their emotional and
social development.
Reading and Writing Skills Module 3 Q2 - Page 13 of 17
 C. Surveys indicate that as many as half of all children are bullied at some time during their
school years.
A. Action needs to be taken to stop bullying now!

What Is It?
Activity 18: Practice more. Read the passage and answer the questions below. Cite the
strongest piece of textual evidence to support your answer.
Passage # 1
Welcome! The tour is about to begin. First stop is the cornfield. It must be time to pick
the corn crop. The cow pasture is near the cornfield. The cows eat grass and drink water.
This helps them produce milk. A flock of sheep grazes in their pasture. The sheep have coats
of soft wool. At the barn, the pigs are squealing at a dog that’s bothering them. The henhouse
is the last stop on the tour. The farmer is collecting the eggs. It’s time to say goodbye.
A. Define Words
Match the words with their definitions. Use a dictionary if you need help.
_____ 1. pasture a. textile fiber obtained from sheep and other
animals
_____ 2. graze b. high-pitched cry or noise
_____ 3. wool c. land covered with grass and other low
plants suitable for grazing animals
_____ 4. barn d. a large farm building for storing crops, or
for keeping animals in
_____ 5. squealing e. to feed on land covered by grass

B. Analysis
✦ Where is this tour taking place?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
✦ Cite the strongest piece of textual evidence to support your answer.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

Passage # 2
Smoking cigarettes is a bad habit. People begin to smoke for the fun of it. They
think that it’s easy to stop all of a sudden. The truth is that it is very difficult to quit smoking.
My uncle began smoking one cigarette a day. He now smokes more than thirty cigarettes a
day. Some people get addicted to smoking and needs to smoke cigarettes continuously. It is
called chain smoking. When we sit beside a smoker, we unknowingly breathe in smoke. This
is called passive smoking which is equally bad for our health. If a pregnant woman smokes it
is harmful for her child. Smoking is bad for our skin and cause cancer. Smokers have dark
lips and bad breath. Constant smoking destroys our lungs. It causes mouth and lung cancer
and slowly leads to loss of appetite. When we smoke the tobacco in the cigarette burns and
we inhale the smoke. Smoking gradually destroys our body part and so it is a silent killer.
Source: https://exploreabc.com/2014/07/29/smoking-is-injurious-to-health/
A. Context Clues
Circle the meaning of the underlined word used in the sentence.
1. Having lost nearly all of his savings, he finally realized he was addicted to gambling.
a. apathetic b. clearheaded c. dependent d. sober
2. She returned to her room to clean herself up, cursing peanut butter for ruining her
appetite as she went.
a. craving b. satisfaction c. fullness d. satiety
3. When we sit beside a smoker, we unknowingly breathe in smoke. This is called passive
smoking.
a. protesting b. involuntary c. resistant d. willful
B. Analysis
Assertion: Smoking cigarette is a bad habit.
✦ Cite the strongest piece of textual evidence to support the assertion.
Reading and Writing Skills Module 3 Q2 - Page 14 of 17
Use paraphrasing.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

Passage # 3
The slave owners justified their inhuman cruelty by blaming the Africans themselves for their
enslavement. For example, Captain Snelgrave argued that slaves “had forfeited their
Freedom before I bought them, either by Crimes or by being taken in War, according to the
Custom of their Country; and they being now my Property, I was resolved to let them feel my
Resentment, if they abused my kindness.” By saying they were rightfully slaves because of
their “Crimes” in Africa, Snelgrave blamed the slaves rather than himself for the loss of their
freedom. His promise that disobedient slaves would “feel” his anger shows that physical
punishment would result from this supposed legality of slavery. It’s true that the Captain
emphasizes his acts of “kindness” in comparison with other slavers. But Snelgrave’s
professions of humanity should be taken with a grain of salt. For example, when says the
mutineer slaves begged him to “forgive them, and promising for the future to be obedient... if
I would not punish them this time,” it’s clear that he has punished them before. Their child-
like request for ―forgiveness‖ comes from their complete and violent deprivation of liberty—
not from the slave captain’s humane treatment.
Source: http://explorehistory.ou.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Assert-Cite-Explain.pdf
A. Writing Sentences
Use the given words in a sentence based on the given definition. Observe proper capitalization
and correct punctuation.
1. justified – (adj.) done for, or marked by a good or legitimate reason
__________________________________________________________________________
2. enslavement – (n.) the action of making someone a slave; subjugation.
__________________________________________________________________________
3. mutineer – (n.) a person, especially a soldier or sailor, who rebels or refuses to obey the
orders of a person in authority
__________________________________________________________________________
4. deprivation – (n.) the state of being kept from enjoying or using something; the state of being
deprived
__________________________________________________________________________
5. liberty – (n.) the state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions imposed by
authority
__________________________________________________________________________

B. Analysis
Assertion: The slave owners believed their inhuman cruelty was completely
justified.
✦ Cite the strongest piece of textual evidence to support the assertion.
Use quoting.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

What Is It?
Activity 19: Cite the strongest piece of textual evidence to support your assertion and
Reading and Writing Skills Module 3 Q2 - Page 15 of 17
counterclaim.
An excerpt of Meat Culture
By Steve Pavlina
When I see a piece of flesh on someone’s plate, I also see the processes that brought
it to their plate. Some people argue that plants may be harmed by being eaten. I happen to
agree. If we care about minimizing harm to plants, then we’ll do much less harm by eating
them directly as opposed to grinding them up, feeding them to animals, and then grinding up
and eating the animals. If we stopped growing crops to feed to animals and fed those crops
to people directly, it’s estimated that we’d have enough food to feed the whole planet five
times over. So if you do actually care about plants, then you can greatly reduce your plant
harm by eating plants directly. Another way to reduce harm to plants is to favor fruits that can
be eaten without killing the plants. You can eat a wide variety of fruits, both sweet and non-
sweet, without seriously hurting the plant that spawned it. And that same plant will often
continue to bear even more fruit. I think a more sensible and realistic approach is to keep
leaning towards a more conscious, compassionate, and ecologically sound way of eating.
If you want to argue that we should model predators’ diets to justify meat culture, I
encourage you to go ahead and try being a truly predatory person for a while. Do it
consciously. Prey on the weak. See where that takes you.
Source: (Pavlina, 2014) http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2014/06/meat-culture/

✦ Write your assertion with textual evidence.

__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

✦ Write your counterclaim with textual evidence.

__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

What I Have Learned

Textual evidence is information gathered from the text that supports your assertion or
counterclaim about the text. It refers to any proof of an argument, a claim, a counterclaim, an
assertion cited in the text leading to a conclusion.
Types of textual evidence:
Paraphrasing is restating the text in your own words.
Summarizing is restating the text in a shorter way using your own words.
Referencing is mentioning a specific section of the text.
Quoting is stating a part of a text in the exact way it was written.
In locating textual evidence, decide which type of textual evidence will best support your
statement before locating textual evidence. Always look for clues and keywords that support
your evaluative statement/s about the text.

ASSESSMENT
Direction: Read each item carefully. Choose the correct answer by writing the letter on the space before
each number.
_______ 1. It is information gathered from the text that supports your evaluative statements.
A. Assertion C. Textual Evidence
B. Evaluative Statement D. Counterclaim
_______ 2. It is a statement used to make a declaration or to express strong belief on a particular topic,
Reading and Writing Skills Module 3 Q2 - Page 16 of 17
often without evidence.
A. Assertion C. Textual Evidence
B. Evaluative Statement D. Counterclaim
_______ 3. It is a statement that you can make to reflect your judgment and generalization about a text that
you have read.
A. Assertion C. Textual Evidence
B. Evaluative Statement D. Counterclaim
_______ 4. These are statements that oppose the claims of the writer in the text.
A. Assertion C. Textual Evidence
B. Evaluative Statement D. Counterclaim
_______ 5. In formulating assertions and counterclaims about a text, it is important to support
one’s statement with __________.
A. Assertion C. Textual Evidence
B. Evaluative Statement D. Counterclaim
_______ 6. It is the act of mentioning a specific section of the text like an event or action.
A. Referencing C. Summarizing
B. Paraphrasing D. Quoting
_______ 7. It is stating a part of a text in the exact way it was written.
A. Referencing C. Summarizing
B. Paraphrasing D. Quoting
_______ 8. It is restating the text in your own words.
A. Referencing C. Summarizing
B. Paraphrasing D. Quoting
_______ 9. It is restating the text in a shorter way using your own words.
A. Referencing C. Summarizing
B. Paraphrasing D. Quoting
_______ 10. Textual evidence weakens the assertion or counterclaims about a text.
A. True C. Maybe
B. False D. It depends

Reading and Writing Skills Module 3 Q2 - Page 17 of 17