Generalizing

Another way to help you interpret what you read and to get deeper meanings from it is to develop skills in generalizing. When you generalize, you extend meanings beyond the specific ideas you read about. Generalizing allows you to apply information you've learned in a broader, less specific sense. You add up facts and details and draw from that particular information general ideas or principles. Let's look at the following example:

Many problems of interest to scientists involve converting data to useful information by solving mathematical equations. The first computer were used in solving scientific problems because of their capacity to do arithmetic at great speeds. For example, one of the first problems computer solved, in the late 1940's, was where a shell shot from a cannon would land if it were fixed with a certain force and in a certain directions, given a certain wind velocity, and so on. What were the data? The data here might include the design and weight of each shell, the amount of powder used to propel it, and the design of the bore of the cannon. We could use a manual or a mechanical system to solve the equations that needed solving - but the work would take so long that the shell would long since have reached its target.

In general, mathematical equations help us turn data into

a. facts

b. computer resources

c. practical knowledge

d. scientific problems

2. Complex mathematical equations like those that can tell where a shell shot from a cannon might land

a. can be solved by humans

b. require computers to provide solutions

c. are no longer of any use in current warfare

d. none of the above

3. In general, according to this passage you would turn to a computer to help solve a complex problem because the computer is

a. smarter than human beings

b. quick

c. relatively inexpensive

d. important in determining the data needed to solve problems

In question 1 we can generalize that mathematical equations can turn data into practical knowledge (c) since the passage tells is that it was used to determine where a cannon shot would land when it is shot. The 2nd questions we can generalize that human can solve complex mathematical equations (a) . In question 3 you can generalize that you can turn to a computer is quick (b).

One danger in generalizing is making hasty generalizations i.e. we generalize to quickly before evaluating the facts that we have. As humans we often do this when we sometimes meet new people.

We can sometimes make generalizations from looking at pictures, drawing or cartoons. Here I'm again using Lat's cartoon. What generalization(s) can you make about Malaysian

his from this sketch?

Post a few pictures of people from a country on your blog and make safe generalizations perhaps about their lifestyles, dispositions, habits, etc. Here is a link to pictures of China. Also get a few articles about a person e.g. prominent leaders, intellectuals, celebrities or even a certain place, things etc. Link those articles to your blog with some generalizations that you can make about those people or things.