INFERENCES

WHAT ARE INFERENCES ?

InferenceInference

BackgroundKnowledge(schema)

BackgroundKnowledge(schema)

Making Connections

Making Connections

QuestioningQuestioning

PredictionsPredictions

Imagination/VisualizationImagination/Visualization

Analysis of Text: Interpretation/

Judgment

Analysis of Text: Interpretation/

Judgment

Drawing Conclusions

Drawing Conclusions

Picturing InferencesPicturing Inferences

InferencesInferences

DefinitionDefinition

An inference can be defined as an An inference can be defined as an act or process of deriving a act or process of deriving a

conclusion based solely on what conclusion based solely on what one already knowsone already knows..

A general conclusion drawn from A general conclusion drawn from information that is given. information that is given.

InferencesInferences Inferences are logical Inferences are logical

conclusions. You use your conclusions. You use your brain to figure out things the brain to figure out things the author doesn’t come right out author doesn’t come right out and tell you.and tell you.

Successful Readers draw Successful Readers draw inferencesinferences* from the text.* from the text.

InferencesInferencesSuccessful readersSuccessful readers………..………..

1)Recognize the antecedents for pronouns1)Recognize the antecedents for pronouns2)Figure out the meaning of unknown words 2)Figure out the meaning of unknown words

form context cluesform context clues3)Figure out the grammatical function of an 3)Figure out the grammatical function of an

unknown word.unknown word.4)Understand the intonation of characters’ 4)Understand the intonation of characters’

wordswords5)Identify characters’ beliefs, personalities, 5)Identify characters’ beliefs, personalities,

and motivations.and motivations.6)Understand characters’ relationship to one 6)Understand characters’ relationship to one

another.another.

InferencesInferencesSuccessful readers contSuccessful readers cont……..……..7)Provide details about the setting.7)Provide details about the setting.8)Provide explanations for event or ideas that 8)Provide explanations for event or ideas that

are presented in the text.are presented in the text.9)Offer details for events or their own 9)Offer details for events or their own

explanations of the events presented in the explanations of the events presented in the text.text.

10)Understand the author’s view of the world.10)Understand the author’s view of the world.11)Recognize the author’s biases.11)Recognize the author’s biases.12)Relate what is happening in the text to 12)Relate what is happening in the text to

their own knowledge of the world.their own knowledge of the world.13)Offer conclusions from facts presented in 13)Offer conclusions from facts presented in

the text.the text.

InferencesInferencesHow to make good inferences…How to make good inferences… ““Look for pronouns and figure out what to Look for pronouns and figure out what to

connect them to.”connect them to.” ““Think about the setting and see what Think about the setting and see what

details you can add.”details you can add.” ““Think about something that you know Think about something that you know

about this (insert topic) and see how that about this (insert topic) and see how that fits with what’s in the text.”fits with what’s in the text.”

““Why would a character act a certain way?”Why would a character act a certain way?” ““Look at how a character said something. Look at how a character said something.

How would you have interpreted what that How would you have interpreted what that character said.” Look at tone, mood, etc. character said.” Look at tone, mood, etc.

InferencesInferences ““Look for words you don’t know Look for words you don’t know

and see if any other words in the and see if any other words in the sentence or surrounding sentence or surrounding sentences can give you an idea sentences can give you an idea of what those unknown words of what those unknown words mean.”mean.”

““Look for any clues about how Look for any clues about how the author might feel.”the author might feel.”

InferencesInferences

What is happening here?What is happening here?He put down $10.00 at the He put down $10.00 at the window. The woman behind the window. The woman behind the window gave $4.00. The person window gave $4.00. The person next to him gave him $3.00, but next to him gave him $3.00, but he gave it back to her. So, when he gave it back to her. So, when they went inside, she bought him they went inside, she bought him a large bag of popcorn…………..a large bag of popcorn…………..

Make an inference about this passageMake an inference about this passage

ReciprocateReciprocate

When we invite the Paulsons for When we invite the Paulsons for dinner, they never invite us to dinner, they never invite us to their home for a meal; however, their home for a meal; however, when we have the Browns to when we have the Browns to dinner, they always dinner, they always reciprocatereciprocate..

GregariousGregarious Those who enjoy belonging to Those who enjoy belonging to

clubs, going to parties, and clubs, going to parties, and inviting friends often to their inviting friends often to their homes for dinner are homes for dinner are gregarious.gregarious.

IncarcerateIncarcerate

Murderers are usually Murderers are usually incarceratedincarcerated for longer periods for longer periods of time than robbers.of time than robbers.

InferencesInferences

Questions…………Questions…………

Inference Record FormInference Record FormName_________Name_________

When I read, (words from text) When I read, (words from text) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________,____________________________________,

I think (inference) ____________________________I think (inference) ____________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ because ____________________________________because ____________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________________ (My background knowledge/schema)(My background knowledge/schema)