Reading Between the Lines

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Reading Betweenthe Lines

• Thinking through what
• texts suggest

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What is to inference?

• It means to guess what is meant.
• It indicates to take into account factors other
  than the words that make up the sentences in a
  statement, or the images in a picture.
• Inference is a high-level thinking
  skill--reading between the lines.

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Six levels of thinking skills

• There are six levels of thinking skills, from
  basic to advanced
• Knowledge
• Comprehension
• Application
• Analysis
• Synthesis
• Evaluation

The skill of inference is not at the basic
level. Inferencing requires advanced thinking!
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Knowledge vs. Comprehension

• You can know something, but not understand its
  real significance.
• Knowledge just to recall information
• Comprehension understanding data, but not
  relating it to other material
• Smarty My number is 272-2564.
• Dumbo So its 272-2564. Whats that got to do
  with anything?

Dumbo knows that 272-2564 exists, but he doesnt
connect it to other telephone numbers.
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Comprehension isnt application!

• In application, we use the known to figure out
  problems in new situations.
• Smarty My number is 272-2564.
• Dumbo I get that 272-2564 is your phone number.
  Now the problem is I dont know how to dial the
  telephone!

At least Dumbo understands now that he really
needs to learn how to use a phone!
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After application is analysis!

• In analysis, we break the whole into its parts
  to learn more about it.
• Smarty My number is 272-2564.
• Dumbo I dialed it, but the phone said that
  number needs an area code?

Dumbo has learned how to dial a phone, but he
hasnt analyzed enough to know what an area code
is.
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From analysis comes synthesis!

• In synthesis, we put the parts back together to
  recreate the whole.
• Smarty My numbers [phone].
• Dumbo How am I supposed to figure out a
  three-part phone number?

Dumbo has analyzed the whole phone number, but he
doesnt feel good about putting it all together
yet.
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The ultimate skill is evaluation!

• In evaluation, we state opinions, give reasons,
  explain why, and even INFER.
• Smarty My numbers [phone].
• Dumbo Why are you giving me a three-part phone
  number?

Dumbo has analyzed the whole phone number,
but still cant get its value!
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Who needs to improve inferencing skills?

• Persons with reading limitations.
• Those learning English as another language.
• Typical learners who want to improve their
  ability to understand inferences in spoken and
  written language.

How many reasons do we have for learning the
advanced reading skill of inferencing?.
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To make the appropriate inferential connections

• 1. Fill in background information.
• Check out prior experiences that pertain to the
  information.
• At first, Dumbo didnt even know what a telephone
  number was.
• 2. Examine vocabulary for terms that may be
  abstract or subtle shades of meaning.
• Review figurative language (idioms or proverbs)
  that are unknown.

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Check out inferential types.

• Location decide place from clues
• Agent decide occupation or role
• Time decide when things occurred
• Action decide on the activity
• Instrument decide tool or device
• Category decide category or group

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More types of inferences

• Object decide the item talked about
• Cause-effect decide the reason something
  happened or the outcome
• Problem-solution decide how to solve the problem
• Feelings-attitudes decide how or why characters
  are reacting or acting in certain ways

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Inferences from Visual Evidence

• Suggestive visual evidence includes
• Body language, facial expressions, gestures, and
  overall appearance
• Physical phenomenon such as a cloudy sky or a
  military invasion
• Cartoons and comic strips that illustrate the
  suggested information

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What are context clues?

• Key words that help decipher the meaning that is
  implicit in a statement.
• Burt and Ernie were flopping around on the floor
  in a pool of water. Broken glass was all around
  them.
• Who are Burt and Ernie?
• What happened to them?
• Which phrases are clues?

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What are context clues?

• Burt and Ernie were flopping around on the floor
  in a pool of water. Broken glass was all around
  them.
• Burt and Ernie are cartoon characters that always
  get into silly situations.
• They probably have broken a fish bowl or some
  other large water container.
• Clue words include flopping, pool of water,
  and broken glass.

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Using Personal Experiences to Make Inferences

• When your mom is mad at your dad, dont let her
  brush your hair.
• Why? Because when shes upset, she gets rough
  with your head!
• Never ask your three year old brother to hold a
  tomato.
• After all, hell probably start eating it or
  breaking it into a big mess!

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Location inferences

• Location works to tell the reader quite a bit,
  especially if youve been there!
• Cathy put a towel over her wet bathing suit, and
  brushed the sand off her feet before putting on
  her sandals.
• So where is the girl?
• Which words are clues?

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Agent Inferences

• Deciding on the role of the person can help us
  understand the implications.
• June had to order more roses and irises before
  she could arrange the flowers for the wedding
  bouquets and table centerpieces.
• What is Junes occupation?
• Which words give you clues?

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Time Inferences

• When something happened can tell you a lot about
  the situation.
• Ralph needed a flashlight to make his way from
  the tent to the outhouse.
• When did this occur?
• Which words or phrases give you clues?

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Action Inferences

• Deciding on the action can help us understand the
  implications.
• Shelby ran the bow over the strings to create a
  beautiful sound.
• What is Shelby doing?
• Which phrases give you clues?

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Instrument Inferences

• Deciding on the instrument can help us understand
  the implications.
• Just two or three more blows and the tree would
  fall.
• What tool was being used?
• Which phrases give you clues?

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Category Inferences

• Deciding on the category can help us understand
  the implications.
• I love Monopoly, but my brother prefers Checkers
  or Scrabble.
• The italicized words are members of which
  category?

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Object Inferences

• Deciding on the object can help us understand the
  implications.
• The cover and spine were in good condition, but
  many of the pages were dog-eared.
• What is being talked about?
• Which words give you clues?

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Cause-effect Inferences

• Deciding on the cause or effect can help us
  understand the implications.
• In the morning, we woke to find the trees striped
  bare of their leaves and many broken branches
  strewn across the yard.
• What caused it to happen?
• Which phrases give you clues?

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Problem-solution Inferences

• Deciding on the problem or solution can help us
  understand the implications.
• Helene had an earache but she was unable to reach
  her doctor.
• What should Helene do about the problem?
• Which phrases give you clues?
• What would you do?

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Feeling-attitude inferences

• Deciding on the feeling can help us understand
  the implications.
• This was the first time Rowans paintings were on
  exhibition at the art gallery. The gallery owner
  informed him that many people praised his work,
  and several of them asked if the paintings were
  for sale.
• What feeling was Rowan experiencing?
• Which phrases give you clues?

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Inferences about proverbs

• Dont hang out with Tina and Rochelle. They
  never study and frequently cut classes.
  Remember, people think Birds of a feather flock
  together.
• Then which statement best illustrates the
  meaning?
• All the brains joined the chess club.
• Bernies reputation suffered when he became
  friendly with the boys who pushed other kids
  around.
• You can often find all of the birds in one
  section of the zoo.
• Taking the statement(s) selected into
  consideration, what does the proverb mean?

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Paragraph Analysis

• Find the sentence that doesnt belong. Then
  replace it with a more appropriate sentence.
• Stephanie wanted a dog. She begged her mother to
  allow her to take a puppy from her neighbors
  dogs litter. Her mom was reluctant because she
  didnt know if Stephanie would take all
  responsibility for the dogs care. Rachel and
  Sarah had dogs. Finally, mom, who really liked
  dogs, decided to allow Stephanie to have a puppy.

If the topic is about what Stephanie wants, then
which sentence isnt about her desire?
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Its not about others!

• Find the sentence that doesnt belong. Then
  replace it with a more appropriate sentence.
• Stephanie wanted a dog. She begged her mother to
  allow her to take a puppy from her neighbors
  dogs litter. Her mom was reluctant because she
  didnt know if Stephanie would take all
  responsibility for the dogs care. Rachel and
  Sarah had dogs. Finally, mom, who really liked
  dogs, decided to allow Stephanie to have one.

So what if Rachel and Sarah have dogs? The text
is about what Stephanie wants!
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Visual Humor

• What is the basis of the humor in this cartoon?
• What do you see in the cartoon that gives you
  clues?

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Completing Because Statements

• Children should never go into a pool alone
  because
• I never ate green eggs and ham because
• The Holy Bible is religious reading because