Critical Reading as Reasoning: Formulating Evaluative Statements

To formulate an evaluative statement, one needs to read the entire text carefully and critically to understand and to check for possible fallacies in the argument presented by the writer. Just like any other writing, the formulation of the evaluative statements is done in the same way except that the statement is about your own judgment of the text's content and properties. You may formulate your evaluative statements in two ways such as formulating assertions and counterclaims.

How to Formulate an Evaluative Statement:

1. Show competence and familiarity with the writer's topic. 2. Examine different perspectives and not just passively accept the writer's claim. 3. Consider the topic, and make sure you are willing to engage different viewpoints from your own. 4. Clarify your personal position on the topic.

To be able to locate counterclaims to an argument, remember the following:

It is a statement that states one's sound judgement about something through writingwhich is supported by reasons and evidences. It also presents the strengths and weaknesses of something based on a set of criteria that needs to be factual,substantial, and unbiased.

What is an Evaluative Statement?

FACT

a statement that can be proven objectively by direct experience, testimonies of witnesses, verified observations, or the results of research.

ASSERTION

a statement used to make a declaration or to express strong belief on a particular topic

CONVENTION

a way in which something is done similar to traditions and norms. Its truthfulness can be verified only by reference to historical precedents, laws, rules, usage, and customs. Something to note about conventions is that they may sound factual due to their being derived from customs, but because they are socially accepted ways of doing things, they cannot be verified objectively by measurements.

ASSERTION

are declarative sentences that give one's belief about something else as if it is true though it may not be.

FACT CONVENTION OPINION PREFERENCE

four types of assertions

OPINION

is a statement based on facts but is difficult to objectively verify because of the uncertainty of producing satisfactory proofs of soundness. Opinions result from ambiguities; the more ambiguous a statement, the more difficult it is to verify. Thus, they are open to disputes.

PREFERENCE

states a personal choice in which the writer is under no obligation to support or prove the truthfulness of the statement. They aresubjective and cannot be objectively proven or logically attacked.