Guidelines for Inductive Generalization Portfolio

In this assignment, you will come up with 3 original examples of cogent Inductive Generalizations, to show that you know how to use them correctly.

1. One of these should have a conclusion that is universal (explanation premise), and the other two should have particular conclusions (correlation and explanation premises). It is easiest to start by generating a conclusion and then search for premises for it. (The conclusion doesn’t have to be controversial.)

2. Make sure that that the content of the arguments is as different from one another as possible, and that each of the premises is uncontroversially true. The only exception to the second stipulation is if you are unable to find an appropriate sample for the Inductive Generalizations with a particular conclusion: In that case, you can use a make believe sample, though everything else in the premises must be uncontroversially true

Example 1 (universal conclusion):

1. In the countless observations made in human history, the sun has risen in the East and set in the West.

2. This is consistent with the fact that the earth revolves around the sun and rotates in a particular direction, and the fact that the North and South poles keep the earth stable. (Explanation)

3. Therefore, the sun always rises in the East and sets in the West.

Example 2 (particular conclusion):

1. 73% of 1000 U.S. residents polled support increased spending on education.

2. The sample represents the population well in terms of the demographic groups that are highly correlated with views about issues of public spending, such as political affiliation, age, and income. (Correlation)

3. This correlation isn’t surprising because the majority of the members of these demographic groups and their family members would directly benefit from increased spending on education. (Explanation)

4. Therefore, 73% of all U.S. residents support increased spending on education.

Grammar and Spelling: Make sure that your papers are clearly written – i.e., that the meaning is clear enough that any other student would be able to understand it. Papers will be downgraded for spelling, grammatical, and stylistic errors if there are more than 2 per page.

Citations: Cite all sources that influenced your work, using any standard citation method that includes all of the relevant information (including exact page numbers if it is a printed source). Otherwise you are engaging in plagiarism.

Format: Typed, 12 point type, 1-1.5 inch margins, number and staple pages if more than one page.