Validating Inferences

1
Validating Inferences

• Checking out the accuracy of suggestions based on
  the information in reading passages

Adapted from the Efficient Reader
2
What is an inference?

• An inference is an unstated idea that is
  suggested by the facts or details in a passage.
• A valid inference is a logical
  conclusion based on evidence.
• What emotions can you infer from the photo?

Is the woman hurting the baby, or is she just
playing with him?
3
What is inferred in the passage?

• Jamul and Shanteel sat across from each other
  in a corner booth in the restaurant. For most of
  the meal, Jamul did not smile, and despite
  Shanteels efforts to make conversation, he
  barely spoke to her. Halfway through the meal,
  Jamul threw down his napkin and walked away
  without a backward look.
• a. Jamul and Shanteel are related to each other.
• b. Jamul and Shanteel are angry at each other.
• c. Jamul is unhappy with Shanteel.

4
Its Jamul that has the problem!

• Jamul and Shanteel sat across from each other
  in a corner booth in the restaurant. For most of
  the meal, Jamul did not smile, and despite
  Shanteels efforts to make conversation, he
  barely spoke to her. Halfway through, Jamul threw
  down his napkin and walked away without a
  backward look.
• a. They are related to each other.
• b. They are angry at each other.
• c. Jamul is unhappy with Shanteel.

5
What are the steps to validating a conclusion?

• An invalid conclusion is a false inference that
  is not based on the details, facts, or reasonable
  thinking.
• The VALID approach consists of 5 steps in
  thinking
• Verify and value the facts.
• Assess prior knowledge.
• Learn from the text.
• Investigate for bias.
• Detect contradictions.

6
Step 1 Verify and Value the Facts

• Government sets the age to get your drivers
  license, drink alcohol, and vote. To get a job,
  the government has to give you a SS. You have
  been paying Social Security taxes every month you
  have been employed. If you worked a low-paying
  job, starting wages were set by state and federal
  minimum-wage laws.
• Which two inferences are supported by facts?
• ___ 1. Government is basically unfair.
• ___ 2. Government affects daily life.
• ___ 3. Government has influence over people.

7
Facts support two conclusions

• The state and federal governments set the ages
  at which you could get your drivers license,
  drink alcohol, and vote. Before you could get a
  job, the federal government had to give you a
  SS. And you have been paying Social Security
  taxes every month in which you have been
  employed. If you worked a low-paying job, your
  starting wages were set by state and federal
  minimum-wage laws.
• Which inferences are supported by the facts?
• ___ 1. Government is unfair.
• _X_ 2. Government affects daily life.
• _X_ 3. Government has influence over people.
• After all, the verbs affect and influence
  mean about the same thing. If one is true, then
  so is the other!

8
Step 2 Assess Prior Knowledge

• What are two inferences supported by the details
  in the picture based on your prior knowledge?
• __ 1. Its a low-income neighborhood.
• __ 2. Its an upper-middle
  --class neighborhood.
• __ 3. Its a high-crime area.
• __ 4. Residents take pride in the
  neighborhood.

Is this really a poor place, or does it look
pretty rich?
9
Step 2 Assess Prior Knowledge

• What are two inferences supported by the details
  in the picture based on your prior knowledge?
• __ 1. Its a low-income neighborhood.
• X 2. Its an upper-middle
  --class neighborhood.
• __ 3. Its a high-crime area.
• X 4. Residents take pride in the
  neighborhood.

This isnt a poor place it looks pretty rich!
10
Step 3 Learn from the Text

• Use inferences with context clues.
• Janets sense of smell told her that Todd had
  been with another woman, for he reeked of
  perfume.
• Reeked means
• a. stunk
• b. shined
• c. trembled

Check out the perfume. How does it smell?
11
Step 3 Learn from the Text

• Use inferences with context clues.
• Janets sense of smell told her that Todd had
  been with another woman, for he reeked of
  perfume.
• Reeked means
• a. stunk
• b. shined
• c. trembled

To Janet, the other womans perfume smells
terrible!
12
Step 4 Investigate for Bias

• Saying Im a failure is destructive. It means
  failure will always be in you. Instead, use
  statements about here and now. Describe actions
  and reasons for your feelings. Say
• I feel like a failure right now Ive erased
  this computer file three times today.
• I felt like a failure when I couldnt think of
  that formula.
• What inferences are invalid due to bias?
• __ 1. Degrading means not good for you.
• __ 2. If we fail, we are always going to fail.
• __ 3. We believe what we say about ourselves.
• __ 4. Keep criticisms about yourself general.

13
Step 4 Investigate for Bias

• Saying Im a failure is destructive. It means
  failure will always be in you. Instead, use
  statements about here and now. Describe actions
  and reasons for your feelings. Say
• I feel like a failure right now Ive erased
  this computer file three times today.
• I felt like a failure when I couldnt think of
  that formula.
• What inferences are invalid due to bias?
• __ 1. Degrading means not good for you.
• __ 2. If we fail, we are always going to fail.
• __ 3. We believe what we say about ourselves.
• __ 4. Keep criticisms about yourself general.

14
Step 5 Detect Contradictions

• What is the best explanation for a child that
  performs these actions?
• Makes careless errors
• Cant sit still
• Talking excessively
• Always interrupts
• Is very forgetful

Is he just a rebellious or disrespectful child?
15
Step 5 Detect Contradictions

• What is the best explanation for a child that
  performs these actions?
• Makes careless errors
• Cant sit still
• Talking excessively
• Always interrupts
• Is very forgetful

He has all the indicators of the
attention-deficit, not of a rebellious or
disrespectful child.
16
Think Through an Inference

• Step 1 Verify and Value the Facts
• Step 2 Assess Prior Knowledge
• Step 3 Learn from the Text
• Step 4 Investigate for Bias
• Step 5 Detect Contradictions
• The cat is feeling
• a. frightened
• b. content
• c. loving
• d. hungry

Check out the cats tail! What does it mean to
you?
17
The cat is totally scared!

• Step 1 Fact The cats body is up
• Step 2 Knowledge It means upset
• Step 3 Learn The cat is mad
• Step 4 Bias Cats get bothered
• Step 5 Contradiction Its not happy
• The cat is feeling
• a. frightened
• b. content
• c. loving
• d. hungry

The cat is very upset about something!
18
Find the correct inferences

• Every three years the city council looks at the
  local cable TV companies and grants them the
  right to do business. New cable companies are
  allowed to bid for access. The council also looks
  at rates and services. No new cable companies
  have been approved in many years. The current
  cable company, the only one allowed access, pays
  a large fee to the city every year.
• 1. The council ensures fair prices for cable.
• 2. The review process is open and honest.
• 3. The cable company and the city council have
  made a deal with each other.
• 4. The current cable company has fair rates.

19
Councilmen are on the take!

• Every three years the city council looks at the
  local cable TV companies and grants them the
  right to do business. New cable companies are
  allowed to bid for access. The council also looks
  at rates and services. No new cable companies
  have been approved in many years. The current
  cable company, the only one allowed access, pays
  a large fee to the city every year.
• 1. The council ensures fair prices for cable.
• 2. The review process is open and honest.
• 3. The cable company and the city council have
  made an unfair deal with each other.
• 4. The current cable company has fair rates.

20
What does the photo suggest?
1. The man and woman are old and tired. 2. The
woman likes the man, but the man doesnt like her
much. 3. They have been riding bicycles and are
taking a break.

Check out the looks! What does it mean to you?
21
Not old, friendly, and resting!
1. The man and woman are old and tired. 2. The
woman likes the man, but the man doesnt like her
much. 3. They have been riding bicycles and are
taking a break.

They are young, not old, and looking at each
other in a friendly way, so they probably like
each other.
22
Review of Inferences

• An inference is an unstated idea that is
  suggested by the facts or details in a passage.
• An author implies an idea, and a reader makes an
  inference about the authors meaning.
• Using context clues to understand the meaning of
  a word is one example of making an inference.

23
Review of Inferences

• The first step in making a sound inference is to
  verify and value the facts.
• The second step is to assess prior knowledge.
• The third step is to learn from the text.
• The fourth step is to investigate for bias.
• The fifth step is to detect contradictions.