College Composition / Unit 30 CMP 0736 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Hasty Generalization
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The idea
A hasty generalization is a conclusion based on inadequate or biased evidence, a body of evidence too small to support it.
In practice
"Two students in this class were nervous before the test, so all students in the class must have test anxiety" generalizes from two cases.
Where people slip
Hasty generalizations can produce stereotypes, which are both wrong and harmful.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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