SCAFFOLD GENERALIZINGBefore students write their own generalizations, have them choose from several the one most valid for a paragraph. You may also ask them to complete stems, such as: The climate in the Arctic is generally _________ .
PRACTICE GENERALIZINGHave students record a generalization and examples in a web.
DEFINE GENERALIZATIONExplain that a generalization is a broad statement or rule that applies to many examples. A valid generalization is well supported by facts and logic. A faulty one is not well supported.
DISCUSS CLUE WORDSStudents should look for clue words that signal generalizations as they read. List words on the board:
| all |
none |
| most |
few |
| always |
never |
| generally |
in general |
MODEL GENERALIZINGExplain that when readers generalize, they think about a number of examples and decide what they have in common. After reading a passage containing several facts, model how to generalize.
Generalize
Recognizing generalizations helps students judge the validity of an argument. Making their own generalizations helps students understand and summarize texts. Use this routine to teach generalizing.
National Reading Panel. Teaching Children to Read: Reports of the Subgroups.
National Institute of Child Health & Human Development, National Institutes of Health, 2000, p. 4–92.
National Reading Panel,
Teaching Children to Read
"To be able to create a summary of what one has just read, one must discern the most central and important ideas in the text. One also must be able to generalize from examples or from things that are repeated. In addition, one has to ignore irrelevant details."
Research on Generalizing
