Reading and Writing

Second Semester, Midterms

What is a Claim?
 The word claim comes from the Latin word clamare, which means “to cry out, shout.”
 In literature, a claim is a statement that asserts something to be true and can either
be a fact or a judgment.

Characteristics of a good claim:

 argumentative and debatable
 specific and focused
 interesting and engaging
 logical

CLAIM OF FACT
What is claim of fact?
 It is a claim that asserts some empirical truth.
 Claims of facts are those we think about rightly as being true or false.
 It is used to support through the use of factual evidence that is sufficient, reliable
and appropriate.
 It must be proven absolutely true and the statement gives room for discussion.

Here are examples of claim of fact:

1. Human activity is responsible for the Earth rapidly warming.
2. The death penalty does not deter crime.
3. Studies have shown that exposure to violent media is a risk factor for violent behaviors.

Writing Claims of Fact

Be guided by the following questions in crafting a claim of fact:
a. Did it happen?
b. Is it true?
c. How do we know this?

EXAMPLE: Social media bullying

Issue: Here are the claims of fact that we can make about social media bullying:
1. People use Facebook and other internet platforms to bully someone.
2. Children are common victims of bullying in social media.
3. Social media bullying often causes psychological harm especially among women.

CLAIM OF VALUE
What is a claim of value?
 It is a claim that asserts a judgment to some sort
 It is a claim based on preference such as likes and dislikes. Thus, it deals with goals with
things we find attractive.
 Claim of value is disagreement over values that are “wrong” in the sense that they are
inaccurate.
 Argument usually turns on whether the underlying value of the claim is accepted as a
public good.
 Look for key words that are matter of judgment rather than fact: good, well, kind,
useful, desirable, etc.
 Value claims are arguable statements concerning the relative merits of something which
is measured subjectively
 What makes a value claim arguable is that different people may disagree on the criteria
used to evaluate something.
 Often, claim of value is comparative.

Here are examples of claim of value:

1. Drug abuse is not an option if you have problems.
2. Animal rights are as important as human rights.
 3. Public schools are better than private schools.
4. Mercy killing is immoral.
5. Safety is more important than freedom.

Writing Claims of Value

Be guided by the following questions in crafting claim of value:
a. Is the act or topic good or bad?
b. Is it moral or immoral?
c. Is it justifiable or unjustifiable?
In certain topics, it is useful to identify that standards you would use to judge
something moral or justified, or fair or good.

EXAMPLE
Issue: racial discrimination.

Here are examples of claims of value that we can make about racial discrimination.
1. Discriminating someone on the basis of his/her race is very wrong.
2. It is cruel to hurt someone because they don’t look like you.
3. Curtailing other’s rights because of his color is unjustifiable.

Claim of Policy
 usually attempts to persuade you or to change your mind in order for you to take some
action or change behavior to resolve an issue or a problem.
 Basically, it is an argument of what should or should not be done.

Policies can be guidelines, rules, regulations, laws, principles, or directions. The world is full
of policies—for example, families make policies like “No TV until homework is done”. Agencies
and organizations make policies that guide the way they operate.

 The key word in a claim of policy is the conditional verb “should” which implies that
some action ought to be taken, but not that it must or will be taken.

Examples of claims of policy

1. An individual must be at least 18 years old in order for him or her to apply for a driver's
license.
2. Reckless drivers should have a mandatory jail term of not shorter than two months.
3. Abusive partners should be charged five to eight years of imprisonment.
4. Marijuana should be legalized for medical purposes.
5. Strict dress code policy should be observed in all schools nationwide.
6. Children in poor families should receive medical and educational support.

Name/s: ____________________________
1. Make your own claim of fact.

Issue: Teenage Pregnancy

Claims of Fact:
____________________________________________________________________________________________
_

____________________________________________________________________________________________
_

2. Craft your claims of value based from the pictures shown below.

____________________________________________
_______________________________________

____________________________________________
_______________________________________

3. Read the each passage and identify the claim of

policy embedded in the text.

“We cannot prevent natural disasters from happening and with our increasing
misuse and abuse of our natural resources, these disasters would just increase in
intensity. What is necessary is for the government, environmental sectors, and
sustainable businesses to come together.” - Franz Sorilla IV

Claim of Policy:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

The internet and eventually any new communication technology will be part of children’s
lives, this is what we have to accept. Blocking all pornographic sites and controlling with
whom our children communicate online are not very feasible options, as most teenagers
can easily bypass basic filtering software, and keeping an eye on them all the time would
further alienate children. The best strategy is to build up their online protective behaviors in
order for them to recognize when and where there are risks online, and how to manage
these risks. Institutions should also think about online child protection, whether they be
government or non-government.
-Online Risks Filipino Children Face Today

Claim of Policy:
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Multiple Choice: Write the letter of the best answer on your answer sheet.
1. Each school in the country should be provided with free internet
connection.
a. Claim of fact b. Claim of Value c. Claim of Policy
2. Cellphones pull students out from learning.
a. Claim of fact b. Claim of Value c. Claim of Policy

3. People should follow procedures before being allowed to enter institutions.

a. Claim of fact b. Claim of Value c. Claim of Policy

4. Compassion is the best attitude for those who are greatly affected by the typhoon.
a. Claim of fact b. Claim of Value c. Claim of Policy

5. Federalism is the proposed form of government in the Philippines.

a. Claim of fact b. Claim of Value c. Claim of Policy

6. The right thing to do is to support our farmers.

a. Claim of fact b. Claim of Value c. Claim of Policy

7. Excessive playing of mobile games can lead to many illnesses.

a. Claim of fact b. Claim of Value c. Claim of Policy

8. Solar power is safe and reliable source of energy.

a. Claim of fact b. Claim of Value c. Claim of Policy

9.Keeping wild animals in the cage is harmful and unethical.

a. Claim of fact b. Claim of Value c. Claim of Policy

10. Death penalty should be reinstated to deter crimes.

a. Claim of fact b. Claim of Value c. Claim of Policy

11. Our government should pass a law that protects public health.
a. Claim of fact b. Claim of Value c. Claim of Policy

12. Let us encourage people to live in a way that doesn't hurt the environment.
a. Claim of fact b. Claim of Value c. Claim of Policy

13. Dengue contributed a high number of mortality rate in the country.

a. Claim of fact b. Claim of Value c. Claim of Policy

14. It is best for students to educate themselves to prevent cyberbullying.

a. Claim of fact b. Claim of Value c. Claim of Policy

15. The government should create more jobs to alleviate the life of the poor.
a. Claim of fact b. Claim of Value c. Claim of Policy