generalization &

inference
 Overview
G E N E RA L I Z AT I O N & I N F ER E N CE

• DE FI N I T I O N S

• MA K IN G

• DI FF E RE N C E
What comes first in your mind when you hear
these words?

G E NE RA LI ZAT IO N I NF EREN C E
 Generalization

A BROAD STATEMENT ABOUT A SUBJECT BASED

ON PROVIDED INFORMATION, OBSERVATIONS
AND EXPERIENCES.
making
generalization
H O W TO M A KE IT?
 GENERALIZATION
a conclusion that is true most of the time, but not always.

A GENERAL
WHAT YOU
WHAT YOU’VE
+ ALREADY = STATEMENT
READ ABOUT
KNOW
SOMETHING
 Examples:
INFORMATION GENERALIZATION

1. Post office, court and city halls Most government buildings are closed on
are closed on the Fourth of July. national holidays.

2. My mom sneezes every time my cat

My mom is allergic to cats.
whiskers comes into the room.
 A VALID GENERALIZATION
IS BUILT ON

supporting past make logical

facts experiences sense
 INVALID GENERALIZATION
IS BUILT
ON

don’t have not can’t be

facts reasonable proven
 Example:

VALID INVALID

l All of his powers made him into the Steve Roger was always strong.
superhero he is today.
Inference
A conclusion reached on
the basis of evidence and reasoning.
The term “inference" refers to the process of using observation and
background knowledge to determine a conclusion
that makes sense. 

THE TEXT SAYS: I CAN INFER...

AN INFERENCE IS NOT That the main

The main character
SOLELY BASED ON character has a mean
hates old people.
YOUR OPINION. IT IS and childish
BASED ON EVIDENCE personality.
MAKING AN INFERENCE CAN BE THOUGHT OF AS “READING
BETWEEN THE LINES” OF WHAT YOU READ OR OBSERVE.

=
CLUES IN THE MY OWN INFERENC
BOOK THINKING E
HOW TO MAKE INFERENCE:
•make inference based on sound reasoning
•ask internal questions while reading
•make predictions and confirm or discard them as
we continue reading
•try to recognize author’s purpose and message
•making inferences between our ears
 Examples:
T H E M A I N C H A R A C T E R I S G E T T I N G R E A D Y F O R H E R F I R S T D AY O F
HIGHSCHOOL.
Y O U C A N I N F E R T H AT T H E M A I N C H A R A C T E R I S A T E E N A G E G I R L
B E C A U S E O F T H E W O R D H E R A N D T H E FA C T T H AT S H E ’ S I N
H I G H S C H O O L W H E R E K I D S A R E U S U A L LY 1 4 T O 1 8 Y E A R S O L D .

THE BIRDS WERE CHIRPING, FLOWERS WERE BLOOMING, AND THE

R A I N WA S A D A I LY O C C U R R E N C E . T H E G R E E N F I E L D S G O O N
FOREVER, THIS IS HOME.
 Difference between

GENERALIZATION INFERENCE
 their difference is:

INFERENCE GENERALIZATION

When we make an inference, we A general rule drawn from looking

draw a conclusion based on the at specific facts and figuring out
evidence that we have available. what they have in common.
 Reference
•words we use to identify things are
in some direct relationship to those
things
•it is an act in which a speaker, or a
write, uses linguistic forms to enable
a listener, or reader, to identify
things.
 Difference between

REFERENCE INFERENCE
 Inference
coming to conclusion after observing
something based on our knowledge,
whereas, reference

connecting prior knowledge to text

based information to create meaning
beyond what is directly stated.