Handout 4

• Generalization


  A broad statement or an idea that applies to a group of people or things
• Generalizations are not entirely true because there may be examples of individuals or situations wherein the generalization does not apply
• Generalization


  A broad statement about what a group of people or things have in common
• Clue words to help find generalizations

  • all
  • none
  • most
  • many
  • always
  • everyone
  • never
  • sometimes
  • some
  • usually
  • seldom
  • few
  • generally
  • in general
  • overall
• Using these clue words generally shows bad generalizations and it is usually a faulty generalization
• Good generalization


  • Most people in the United States greet each other with a handshake
• Bad generalization


  • All people in the United States greet each other with a handshake
• Valid generalization


  A statement that is true, supported by facts, uses logic and reasoning and proven with several examples
• Faulty generalization


  A statement poorly supported by facts, usually contain the keywords: all, no, none, everyone, nobody, always, never, and proven false if there is just a single exception
• Generalizations


  • It is never a good idea to drink coffee after noontime
  • Cooking isn't difficult; all you need are the right ingredients
  • The customer is always right
  • Many children eat cereal for breakfast
• Checklist in analyzing the validity of a generalization

  • Is it supported by several facts and examples from experiences?
  • How did the facts and examples from experiences support the generalization?
  • Is it applicable to all the people/object involved in the statement?
  • Does it use logic and reasoning? How did use logic and reasoning in making generalizations?
• Inference


  The act or process of reaching a conclusion about something from known facts or evidence
• Inference


  A conclusion or opinion formed because of known facts or evidence
• When do we infer?

  • We engage in inference every day. We interpret actions to be examples of behavior characteristics, intents, or expressions of particular feelings.
  • We infer it is raining when we see someone with an open umbrella.
  • We infer people are thirsty if they ask for a glass of water.
  • We infer that evidence in a text is authoritative when it is attributed to a scholar in the field.
  • We want to find significance. We listen to remarks and want to make sense of them. What might the speaker mean? Why is he or she saying that? We go beyond specific remarks to the underlying significance or broader meaning. We seek purposes and reasons.
• Clause


  Groups of words with a subject and a verb
• Two main types of clauses

  • Independent
  • Dependent
• Independent clause


  Can stand alone because they express complete thoughts
• Independent clauses


  • The sun rises in the east.
  • Warm brownies taste delicious!
  • I drink coffee.
• Dependent clause


  Also known as subordinate clause, can't stand alone because they don't express complete thoughts
• Dependent clauses


  • since I drink coffee
  • whenever the sun rises
  • because I love stories
• Three types of subordinate clause

  • Adjective clause
  • Adverb clause
  • Noun clause
• Adjective clause


  Dependent clause that functions as an adjective, often introduced by relative pronouns or relative adverbs
• Adverb clause


  Dependent clause that functions as an adverb, introduced by subordinating conjunctions
• Noun clause


  Dependent clause that functions as a noun
• Kinds of sentences according to function

  • Declarative
  • Imperative
  • Interrogative
  • Exclamatory
• Declarative sentence


  Makes a statement and ends with a period
• Declarative sentences


  • I like sleeping.
  • Yesterday, I slept through my alarm.
• Imperative sentence


  Gives a command, usually ends with a period or exclamation point
• Imperative sentences


  • Please pass the salt.
  • Get out of my way!
• Interrogative sentence


  Asks a question, always ends with a question mark
• Interrogative sentences


  • Where are the brownies?
  • Did you buy eggs today?
• Exclamatory sentence


  Indicates a strong emotion and ends with an exclamation mark
• Exclamatory sentences


  • Jeepers! You scared the life out of me!
  • How beautiful the budding trees are this spring!
• Kinds of sentences according to structure

  • Simple
  • Compound
  • Complex
  • Compound-Complex
• Simple sentence


  Contains only one independent clause and expresses one main idea
• Simple sentences


  • Maria loves limes.
  • A day without sunshine is like night.
  • I love the Philippines.
• Compound sentence


  Made up of at least two independent clauses, connected by a comma and coordinating conjunction or a semicolon
• Compound sentences


  • The ducks quacked, and the chicks peeped.
  • He didn't want to go to the dentist, yet he went anyway.
  • I really want to go to work, but I am too sick to drive.
• Coordinating conjunctions


  Words that glue together similar words, phrases, or clauses, giving equal emphasis to two main clauses
• Coordinating conjunctions


  • for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so