Generalizations
Examining Question:
How do you find details
from the text to develop a
generalization?
Clowns
List everything you know about clowns.
Highlight those things that are true about all clowns.
All clowns ...
What picture comes to mind
when you see the word apple?
Specific details
Banana?
Orange?
What picture comes to mind
when you see the word fruit?
General idea made up of specific details
Generalizations
A general rule drawn from looking at
specific facts and figuring out what
they have in common
Fruit
Generalizations
A general rule drawn from looking at
specific facts and figuring out what
they have in common
•
•
•
•
SPECIFIC DETAILS
We usually go on vacation to
the beach in the summer.
My cousins come with us to
the beach during the summer.
My best friend went to the
beach last summer.
Our neighbors are going to
the beach this summer.
GENERALIZATION
People always go to
the beach in the
summertime.
Generalizations
A general rule drawn from looking at
specific facts and figuring out what
they have in common
SPECIFIC DETAILS
The pumpkin pie my mom
made last week was too
sweet.
The cherry pie I ate last
Christmas was very sweet.
GENERALIZATION
All pie is too sweet.
A Generalizations is two parts
Specific Details
+ What they have in Common
(their similarities)
= An Opinion Rule which is
called a Generalization
Generalizations must …
Generalizations must be
based on facts.
But – they do not have to be
true!
Generalizations
Generalizations can be valid or
invalid. (true or false)
If a generalization is valid, it is well
supported by facts, experience and
logic.
If a generalization is invalid, it is not
supported by all the facts.
Experience and logic tell us it cannot
be true.
How to check for
Valid Generalizations
Supporting facts
Several Examples
Past Experience
Logic and Reasoning
Everyone loves winter.
Most government buildings are closed
on Holidays.
Other examples…
Everyone loves pizza.
No one likes school.
People are very gullible.
(easily convinced)
All birds fly.
Valid Or Invalid?
Words Commonly Used in
Generalizations
Always
Generally
Never
Everyone
No one
All
Generalizations
Explicit generalizations:
Generalization is Stated
__________________
Implicit generalization:
Implied ideas/not stated
in the text (you infer the
generalization)
Practice
Specific details
Court houses, courts and
city hall are closed on July
4th and Christmas.
My mother sneezes every
time my cat comes into
the room.
The last 10 bird I saw had
wings
I have 10 cousins in North
Carolina that go to the
beach in the summer
Generalizations
Most government
buildings are closed on
holidays.
My mother is ________
to my cat.
All birds have _________.
Valid?
Practice, Practice, Practice…
Cassie winced in pain as the boy behind
her pushed her aside to run after his
friend. She scowled after him and rubbed
the part of her arm that his book-bag had
slammed into. “Sixth graders are so
immature,” she thought to herself.
What is the generalization in this
passage?
Is it explicit or implicit?
http://www.instablogsimages.com/images/2007/10/09/fruit_6697.jpg
www.organicpassion.info/images/banana.jpg
www.epicurean.com
www.frankmarkow.com
www.organicpassion.info/images/banana.jpg
http://www.yesicankids.gov/bedtime/newclothes.html
http://www.yesicankids.gov/bedtime/newclothes.html
http://janeheller.mlblogs.com/clowns.jpg
http://www.eteamz.com/Tri-City_FALCONS/images/thumbs-up.jpg