MFO Topic C6.1: Recognizing Examples

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Topic C6.1: Recognizing Examples

How to develop criteria questions to identify an example of a term?
An example of a term can be identified by turning the classification and identifying characteristic(s) of the term into criteria questions.

A criteria questions are questions made from a term's classification and identifying characteristic(s).

The definition of the term "fact" will be used to demonstrate how to develop criteria questions.

A fact is information that can be proven true by objective verification.

The classification and identifying characteristics of the term fact are as follows:

Definition of Fact

Definition Outline of Fact

A fact is information that can be proven true by objective evaluation.

Term Being Defined: Fact

Classification: Information

Identifying Characteristics:

1. Proven
2. True
3. Objective Evaluation

By turning the definition of the classification and identifying characteristics given for the term "fact" into criterion questions, the criteria that must be met before something can be called a fact is as follows:

Definition of Terms Used	Criterion Questions
Information - knowledge acquired in any manner	Is the information knowledge that was acquired?
Proven - established method for obtaining the information	Was an established method used for obtaining the information?
True - existence is real	Is the existence of the information real?
Objective - not influenced by emotion, personal prejudice, or guessing	Was the information obtained not influenced by personal prejudice, guessing, or emotions?
Evaluation - observe or analyze carefully	Was the information carefully observed or analyzed?

In order to identify something as a fact, all of the five criteria questions must have "yes" as an answer.

Now you can see the importance of learning the identifying characteristic(s) of a term and the condition of the term's identifying characteristic(s).

What are the three steps to use to recognize an example of a term?
Three steps are used to identify something as an example of a term. The items pictured at the right will be used as examples to demonstrate the steps involved in identifying an example.

Identify an Example

Examples

Step 1: Determine the classification of the example by using context clues.

Ask: What is the classification of the information being described or shown?

Answer: Food

Step 2: Determine the identifying characteristics of the example by using context clues.

Ask: What are the identifying characteristic(s) found in the information being described or shown?

Answer:
1. High in calories
2. Low in nutritional content

Step 3: Use criteria question(s) to match the identifying characteristic(s) of the example to the identifying characteristic(s) of a term.

Ask: Do the identifying characteristic(s) found in the example answer all the term's criteria questions?

Definition of Junk Food

Definition Outline of Junk Food

Junk food is food that is high in calories but low in nutritional content.

notice emphasized identifying characteristic

Term Being Defined: Junk Food

Classification: Food

Identifying Characteristics:

1. High in calories
2. Low in nutritional content

Criteria Questions For The Term Junk Food

1. Is it food?

2. Is it high in calories

3. Is it low in nutritional content*

* emphasized or most important criteria question

The items pictured at right would answer "yes" to the three criteria questions developed from the classification and identifying characteristics of junk food. Therefore, the four items on the right column are examples of junk food.

Teaching Suggestions

When introducing a new term, point out the three parts of the definition and emphasize knowing the condition of the identifying characteristic(s) is required to recognize an example of the term.

Ask the students to give the classification, identifying characteristic(s) and condition of the identifying characteristic(s) of a new term.

To prepare the students to recognize an example of a term have them practice making criterion questions for a term.

Ask the students what are the criterion questions required to identify a term.

If a term has a relationship identifying characteristic, always make sure the students know the classification and identifying characteristic(s) of the term used as the identifying characteristic. If this is not done the students may not be able to recognize an example of the term.

Ask the students to give the classification and identifying characteristic of the term used as a relationship identifying characteristic.

For reviewing the new terms introduced in class, encourage students to make definition outlines of the new terms on index cards that include examples.

When introducing a new term, introduce it in a definition outline.

Make sure students understand what is required to identify something as example.

Ask the students to give the criteria required to identify something as an example of a term.

Demonstrate why it is necessary to recognize an example before you can apply a rule.

Have the students explain why it is impossible to apply a rule if it is impossible to recognize examples of any term used in the rule.

To help the students prepare for a test, practice developing test question that require recognizing an example of a term.

Ask the students to predict Level One and Level Two example test questions for the terms introduced in class.

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