Drawing Conclusions and Generalizations

Drawing Conclusions & Making Generalizations

How good are you at these skills?

Let's find out!

The Man with the Coconuts

(a Filipino parable)

   One day a man took his horse to gather some coconuts to sell at a nearby town. After he loaded the horse with the coconuts, he saw a boy walking along the road.

     He flagged the boy down and asked, “How long will it take us to walk to town?”

     The boy studied the horse laden with the fruit and answered, “If you walk slowly, you will arrive there very soon, but if you walk fast, it will take you all day.”

The Man with the Coconuts

(a Filipino parable)

     The man snorted in annoyance and hurried his horse along the road towards the town. However, the coconuts soon fell to the ground. The man put the coconuts back on the horse and hurried the horse even faster to make up for the lost time. Again, the coconuts all fell to the ground. Many times the man hurried the horse, only to have the coconuts fall off. So, indeed, it was nighttime when he finally reached the town.

Multiple Choice

In this story, a reader can tell that the man with the coconuts does not _________.

• trust his horse

• like children

• wish to move quickly

• believe the boy's advice

Poll

Did we just draw a conclusion or make a generalization?

• We just drew a conclusion!

• We just made a generalization!

We just drew a conclusion!

Remember, a conclusion is when we take what we've read, combine it with what we know about a topic, and come up with a statement about that ONE SITUATION.

Multiple Choice

Which generalization BEST applies to this story?

• Coconuts should never be transported by horse.

• It is best to do business at night time.

• Traveling slowly can speed up the journey.

• Moving quickly is always best.

How Indian Summer Came to Be

(adapted from the traditional Abenaki Native American tale)

     Long, long ago, there was a man named Notkikad who worked extremely hard to provide for his family. He cultivated his gardens every year to be sure that there would be plenty of food, and he always gave thanks each harvest to Tabaldak, the Master of Life.

     Then one year, there was a late frost, and his crops died from the cold. Undeterred, he planted again as he previously had, but the land suffered a drought and his crops died of thirst. He planted a third time, but it was so late in the season that the autumn cold destroyed his plants.

How Indian Summer Came to Be

(adapted from the traditional Abenaki Native American tale)

      Notkikad was very troubled and disturbed. Although his wife and children had gathered some foods from the forest, it would not be enough to see them through the winter. One autumn night, he made a small fire and prayed to Tabaldak for help. Then he went to sleep, and he dreamed. In his dream, Tabaldak came to him, telling him, “I give you these special seeds, and a time in which to plant them, Notkikad.”

How Indian Summer Came to Be

(adapted from the traditional Abenaki Native American tale)

     When he awoke, Notkikad found the seeds beside him, and although the autumn leaves were still falling from the trees, the weather was no longer cold. It seemed as if summer had returned. Notkikad and his family planted the seeds and within only a few days, the seeds grew rapidly. Notkikad harvested the crop and dried the corn, beans, and squash for the winter, and he stored the food in the wigwam. The next day, the cold winds returned and the special season was gone.

How Indian Summer Came to Be

(adapted from the traditional Abenaki Native American tale)

         Although, we do not have Notkikad’s magical seeds, we are still granted the special season each year, when the cold winds of autumn temporarily give way to the warmth of what we now call Indian Summer. It is not only a time of respite from the cold, but also a time to remember to be thankful.

Multiple Choice

What kind of person is Notkikad?

• honorable

• sly

• hopeless

• lonely

Multiple Choice

At first, Notkikad plants his crops three times and they fail. Why does Notkikad eventually go to Tabaldak instead of trying to plant his crops on his own again?

• He does not want to anger Tabaldak.

• Another drought is expected.

• The weather is too cool.

• He believes he is cursed.

Multiple Choice

Tabaldak probably helps Notkikad because ___________.

• Notkikad has a wife and children

• Notkikad always gave thanks to Tabaldak

• Tabaldak helps everyone that prays to him

• Tabaldak likes to see crops grow

Multiple Choice

Read this sentence from the story:

In his dream, Tabaldak came to him, telling him, “I give you these special seeds, and a time in which to plant them, Notkikad.”

How does Tabaldak give Notkikad a time to plant the seeds?

• He turns back time until it is summer again.

• He makes the sun grow more powerful.

• He creates a warm spell in the middle of autumn.

• He stops winter from happening.

Multiple Choice

Based on this story, a reader might believe that __________.

• farmers' lives are easy

• hard workers are always rewarded

• Indian Summers are imaginary

• people never get what they deserve

Poll

Did we just draw a conclusion or make a generalization?

• We just drew a conclusion!

• We just made a generalization!

Open Ended

Why was that a generalization?