assertion
What is Assertion? Definition, Usage, and Literary Examples
Assertion Definition
An assertion (uh-SUR-shun) is an emphatic declaration by a speaker or writer. It’s not necessarily factually correct, but the person making the assertion forcefully states their belief as if it were true.
The word assertion first appeared in English in the early 15th century as assercioun and meant “a declaration or confirmation.” The word derived from either the Old French assercion or Late Latin assertionem, which translates as “to claim to or to appropriate.”
Types of Assertion
There are five types of assertion: basic, emphatic, escalating, I-language, and positive.
- A basic assertion is a straightforward statement that expresses a belief, feeling, opinion, or preference. For example: “I would like to finish this email before we have our conversation.” or “I would like you to wait until I have finished speaking.”
- An emphatic assertion occurs when the speaker or writer conveys sympathy or recognition of the other person’s position or feelings. This acknowledgement is then followed by a statement that conveys the speaker’s own beliefs. For example: “I recognize you are busy with multiple projects, but I still need a response to my email by Thursday.”
- An escalating assertion begins with an assertion that doesn’t receive a response. The speaker or writer then escalates by making a second assertion that states their position more forcefully. For example, “If I do not hear back from you by Thursday, I will have to hire someone else to work on this project.”
- I-language assertions are frequently used during interpersonal conflict to defuse the situation. As the term’s name indicates, these statements rely on the first person pronoun I. An I-language assertion requires a description of the other person’s behavior followed by how it affects the speaker, a description of their feelings, and a statement indicating what the speaker wants. For example: “When you are late to a meeting, I become irritable because I feel as if you do not value our work enough to be on time. Therefore, I would like you to arrive on time for our meetings.”
- Positive assertions occur when speakers asserts positive feelings about themselves or others. For example, “My presentation went very well today.” or “You used a wonderful analogy in your essay.”
Why Writers Use Assertion
Assertions are emphatic direct statements. Because assertions are to the point, they leave little room for confusion; therefore, writers use them to clearly convey information to their readers. Assertions appear in many different genres as a way of expressing passionate statements of belief, communicating information clearly, or building a persuasive argument.
Assertion vs. Claim
The words assertion and claim tend to be used interchangeably, but they are not the same.
There are two significant differences between these two terms. Firstly, claims need to be arguable; assertions can be statements of fact that don’t need to be argued. Secondly, assertions are stated in a forceful and direct manner, while claims can be presented with greater nuance and support.
Although claims and assertions are both declarations, assertions are more emphatic.
Assertion Outside of Literature
We encounter assertions in our personal and professional lives. Assertions can be communicative declarations in the workplace or in personal relationships. People who comfortably make assertions about their preferences, beliefs, feelings, boundaries, and opinions are referred to as assertive.
Examples of Assertion in Literature
1. Nikki Giovanni, “BLK History Month”
Giovanni ends her free verse poem with a concluding couplet:
You’re As Good As Anybody Else
You’ve Got A Place Here, Too
These assertions convey plainly and strongly the value of Black history and Black people, as well as how much they belong.
2. Maggie Nelson, The Argonauts
In Nelson’s book of autotheory, she combines memoir with thoughts about the writing process, psychoanalysis, developmental psychology, and queer and feminist theory. Early in her book, she recounts the beginning of her relationship with her partner:
I feel I can give you everything without giving myself away, I whispered in your basement bed. If one does one’s solitude right, this is the prize.
Nelson’s unambiguous assertion about her feelings, and the combination of intimacy and personal boundaries that she wants the relationship to contain, allows the romance to progress.
3. William Shakespeare, Henry VI, Part 3
In Scene II of this early Shakespeare play, King Edward IV and Lady Grey have the following exchange:
KING EDWARD IV: To tell the plain, I aim to lie with thee.
LADY GREY: To tell you plain, I had rather lie in prison.
In this dialogue, Edward asserts his desire to be physically intimate with Lady Gray, and she asserts her strong preference for going to prison rather than becoming close with him. These assertions in such quick succession set up the relationship that will ultimately develop between these two characters and show them both to be plainspoken and direct rather than deceitful.