{"id":38126,"date":"2021-12-13T07:23:20","date_gmt":"2021-12-13T07:23:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/?post_type=section&#038;p=38126"},"modified":"2024-09-11T12:23:37","modified_gmt":"2024-09-11T11:23:37","slug":"overgeneralization","status":"publish","type":"section","link":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/genre\/argument-argumentation\/overgeneralization\/","title":{"rendered":"Overgeneralization"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"tts_content_wrapper_2\" >\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_69_1 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/genre\/argument-argumentation\/overgeneralization\/#What_is_Overgeneralization\" title=\"What is Overgeneralization?\">What is Overgeneralization?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/genre\/argument-argumentation\/overgeneralization\/#Synonyms\" title=\"Synonyms\">Synonyms<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/genre\/argument-argumentation\/overgeneralization\/#Why_Does_Overgeneralization_Matter\" title=\"Why Does Overgeneralization Matter?\">Why Does Overgeneralization Matter?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/genre\/argument-argumentation\/overgeneralization\/#How_to_Avoid_Generalization\" title=\"How to Avoid Generalization\">How to Avoid Generalization<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-overgeneralization\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_Overgeneralization\"><\/span>What is Overgeneralization?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Overgeneralization<\/em> refers to sweeping generalizations based on an <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/information-literacy\/evidence\/opinion\/\">opinions<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/information-literacy\/evidence\/anecdote\/\">anecdotes<\/a>, assumptions, or prejudices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some examples of <em>overgeneralization<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Pit bulls are aggressive.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rich people are greedy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Beautiful people are conceited.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Politicians are corrupt.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>People who commit crimes come from troubled backgrounds.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>College students love partying.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Marijuana users are lazy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>People always demand too much of my time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Why do I always catch every red light?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>She always forgets to buy milk.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Each of these sentences presents <em>propositions<\/em> as <em>facts<\/em>. These sort of murky, underdeveloped thoughts are not grounded in <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/information-literacy\/authority\/\">authoritative<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/information-literacy\/evidence\/\">evidence<\/a>. Thus, this is a formal logic error, a logical fallacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Synonyms\"><\/span>Synonyms<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Overgeneralization<\/em> may also be known as<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>a sweeping statement<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a distorted statement<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>a lack of reasoning<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a logical fallacy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>a cognitive error<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a logical error<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a methodological error<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Related Concepts: <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/information-literacy\/authority\/\">Authority (in Speech and Writing)<\/a>;  <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/information-literacy\/information-evaluation\/opinion\/\">News or Opinion?<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>I often wonder why the whole world is so prone to generalise. Generalisations are seldom if ever true and are usually utterly inaccurate.<\/p><cite><strong>Agatha Christie,\u00a0<\/strong>Murder at the Vicarage<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-why-does-overgeneralization-matter\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Does_Overgeneralization_Matter\"><\/span>Why Does Overgeneralization Matter?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>When <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/rhetoric\/rhetorical-situation\/writer-speaker-author-rhetor-sender\/\">writers or speakers<\/a> <em>overgeneralize<\/em> in public writing and <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/writing-studies-definition\/workplace-writing\/\">workplace contexts<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/rhetoric\/rhetorical-situation\/audience\/\">audiences<\/a> are likely to dismiss whatever they say. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Overgeneralization<\/em> undermines a writer or speaker&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/article\/ethos\/\">ethos.<\/a> Educated audiences engage in <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/literacy\/critical-literacy\/\">critical literacy practices<\/a>. They question the <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/information-literacy\/authority\/\">authority<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/information-literacy\/the-craap-test\/\">accuracy<\/a> of <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/information-literacy\/information\/\">information<\/a>. So, when writers and speakers use <em>overgeneralization<\/em> in their <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/discourse\/\">discourse<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/rhetoric\/rhetorical-situation\/audience\/\">audiences<\/a> are likely to dismiss their work as <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/writing-styles\/professional-writing-style-guide\/\">unprofessional<\/a>&#8211;as <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/styles-of-writing\/writer-based-prose-style\/\">writer-based<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To educated audiences, <em>overgeneralization<\/em> may signal<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>underdeveloped thinking (reflecting laziness)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>a lack of understanding of <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style-in-writing\/styles-of-writing\/academic-writing\/\">academic writing conventions<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/style\/writing-styles\/professional-writing-style-guide\/\">professional writing conventions<\/a>. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-avoid-generalization\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Avoid_Generalization\"><\/span><strong>How to Avoid Generalization<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Engage in <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/literacy\/critical-literacy\/\">critical literacy practices<\/a> when reviewing your work (or the <a href=\"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/section\/rhetoric\/rhetorical-situation\/text-composition\/\">compositions<\/a> of others).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Does the statement make an assumption about a group of people, things, or a topic?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Can the statement be backed up in my evidence?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Is the statement true in all cases? If not, have I sufficiently explained exceptions to the statement?<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have I considered situations in which this statement may not apply?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":49905,"parent":40836,"menu_order":0,"template":"","tags":[],"chapters":[2512,1810],"class_list":["post-38126","section","type-section","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","chapters-argument","chapters-genre"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/section\/38126","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/section"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/section"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"version-history":[{"count":35,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/section\/38126\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67796,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/section\/38126\/revisions\/67796"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/section\/40836"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49905"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38126"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38126"},{"taxonomy":"chapters","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/writingcommons.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/chapters?post=38126"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}