General and Specific Statements

GENERAL AND SPECIFIC STATEMENTS

In this lesson, we will learn how to tell
the difference between general and
specific ideas. We will also explore the
relationships between these ideas and
practice identifying the ideas and their
relationships.

General vs. Specific Ideas
We'll begin this lesson with a
pop quiz. You will be given two
statements, and your job is to
identify which one is general
and which one is specific.

Cats are creatures of habit.
Sadie, a little black cat, waits for her
master at the top of the basement
steps every morning and runs right to
the refrigerator for her snack.

General ideas and the statements that
express them are kind of like umbrellas.
They cover broad categories or groups
of people or things and usually express
the overall aspects, characteristics, or
elements of these categories or groups.
General ideas tend to communicate
broad topics that need to be explained
further if readers are to understand them
in depth.

For example, the general idea above that cats are
creatures of habit refers to a broad group, cats,
and to an overall characteristic of cats, that they
are creatures of habit. If readers are to
understand exactly how and why cats are
creatures of habit, the writer will have to give
more information to support the general idea.

Specific ideas and statements offer that
support. They usually clarify, explain,
and illustrate general ideas and
statements by referring to particular
individuals, ideas, or things. They also
tend to express distinct characteristics
that define those individuals, ideas, and
things.

For example, statement 2 presents an
individual, the little black cat Sadie,
who exhibits particular behaviors that
illustrate exactly how cats are creatures
of habit.

Relationships Between General &
Specific Ideas

General ideas usually express the main point or
main idea of a piece of writing. They present
the topic of a paragraph, essay, or book and
make a statement about it, usually a claim that
needs to be proven. The general statement
we've been examining does exactly that. It
makes a claim that requires proof: 'Cats are
creatures of habit.'

Specific ideas provide evidence to further
define the general or main idea and prove
that it is valid. This evidence can take many
forms: examples, anecdotes, logical reasons,
facts, statistics, and expert testimony. For
instance, the specific statement about Sadie
the cat offers an example that proves the
point that cats are creatures of habit.

To further convince readers of the truth of that
general idea, however, we need to provide a
few more specific ideas. We might offer some
statistical information like this:

In a recent survey of hundreds of
cat owners, more than 90%
indicated that their cats
demanded to be fed at the same
time every day, and more than
95% said that their cats sleep in
the same spots day after day.

We might also provide expert testimony and
logical reasons why cats are creatures of
habit like this:
Veterinarians say that cats feel safe and
secure when they are able to maintain the
same routine every day and that, just like
people, cats enjoy stability in life.

Now let's put together the general idea
and the three specific ideas to create a
full paragraph that makes and supports
a claim:

Cats are creatures of habit. In a recent survey
of hundreds of cat owners, more than 90%
indicated that their cats demanded to be fed at
the same times every day, and more than 95%
said that their cats sleep in the same spots day
after day. For instance, Sadie, a little black
cat, waits for her master at the top of the
basement steps every morning and runs right to
the refrigerator for her snack. She also prefers
to sleep either on her master’s bed or in her
favorite recliner in the family room.
Veterinarians say that cats feel safe and secure

When they are able to maintain the same
routine every day and that, just like people,
cats enjoys stability in life.

* Happiest place I’ve ever
been
* The Coolest Section in Chong
Hua
* Love requires a lot of
patience

General and Specific Statements

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