An Introduction to Inferential Thought

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An Introduction to Inferential Thought

• Thinking through what texts suggest requires
  evaluative skill.

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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

Inference is not a basic level skill. 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 studied 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 various reading limitations.
• Those learning English as another language.
• Ordinary learners who want to improve their
  ability to understand inferences in spoken and
  written language.

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

• First, consider the background information about
  the topic suggested.
• That is, check out prior experiences that pertain
  to the information.
• At first, Dumbo didnt know what a telephone
  number was, after all.

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Key words can be suggestive.

• Examine key vocabulary for terms that may be
  abstract or subtle shades of meaning.

The word rover means run around, so the dog
really objects to being all tied up!
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Evaluate figurative language.

• Figurative language goes beyond literal meaning.
• Pay special attention to idioms and proverbs.

Jack believes there is a tangible difference
between accidentally and on purpose.
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Evaluate figurative language.

• What is the communication barrier usually?
• Does an idiot have trouble with communication?

The key word here is communication barrier.
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Evaluate figurative language.

• What do women usually binge on?
• What do people usually snort?
• Where is Bobs wife?

The key words here are binge or excess and snort
or sniff.
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Evaluate figurative language.

• Is it strange that the man went to hospital after
  getting a shot?
• How free was the flu shot, after all?

Do patients usually get anything free from
doctors?
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Evaluate figurative language.

• Is it funny that the woman went down just from
  seeing her hospital bill?

Are people afraid that hospital bills may become
so expensive?
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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

What action is the rat into?
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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
  act in certain ways

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Review of inference

• It means to guess what is meant.
• It indicates to take into account factors other
  than the words or the images in a picture.
• Inference is a high-level thinking
  skill--reading between the lines.
• We will learn more about inferences
  throughout this unit.