Reading Inferences

1
Reading Inferences

• Using textual clues to understand authors
  indirect suggestions.

2
What is an inference?

• An inference is a reasonable guess.
• It is what you dont know based on what you do
  know.
• You must use the information to make logical
  inferences about the authors intended meaning.

Based on the mothers face, what do you infer she
feels?
3
Do you use all six thought levels?

• 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!
You must evaluate information in reading passages
if you want to infer a conclusion!
4
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
he still cant realize its useful value!
5
Use clues to find inferences.

• Is it easy to make little kids afraid?
• Are little ones scared of demons?
• Based on the clues in the picture, how does Jimmy
  feel about his Grab-N-Go gift?

Do you think that Jimmy will play that game again?
6
Can you make inferences?

• Make inferences for each of the examples.
• There is a lot of water on the street.
• The cat is making noise at the door.
• Your professor asks you to come to his office
  after class.
• Your computer is not working at all.

Why did someone put barbed wire on the fishbowl?
7
What types of inference exist?

• Inferencing includes
• Generalizations
• Conclusions
• Summarizing
• Cause and effect
• Time relationships
• Implied comparisons
• Authors beliefs
• Authors basic assumptions
• Authors tone

Why does the cook believe that all people do is
eat?
8
What is a generalization?

• A generalization is a writers estimate of an
  entire group.
• The opinion is based upon facts and experience
  with some group members.
• A generality involves a writers belief or
  judgment.

In general, is it true that men grow up
more slowly than women do?
9
What then are conclusions?

• Readers conclusions make up an overall sense of
  what a reading selection means.
• After making some inferences, readers look for
  connections in their inferences and observations.
  
• The connections lead the reader to make certain
  results or conclusions.

Is the man generalizing about the world, or just
sports?
10
So what is summarizing?

• A summary is an overview of the main ideas or
  results.
• Summaries do not include minor details, but they
  can explain technical problems.
• The summary is to be more factual than subjective.

How does the man summarize the results of his
wifes diet?
11
What does the passage infer?

• A Very Rare Animal
• One of the rarest animals is the Tasmanian Devil.
  At times someone claims to see one, but they
  never have proof. Recently, scientists found a
  skeleton, teeth and skin. They believed it was
  the remains of the rare Tasmanian Devil. They
  drew a picture of what the animal may have
  looked. They sent the picture with the body parts
  to Washington D.C.
• What did scientists probably do with the parts?
• A. Sent them to more experienced
  scientists. B. Made clothes and ornaments of
  them. C. Studied and compared them to other
  animals. D. Sold them to museums that displayed
  them.

12
What the passage infers.

• A Very Rare Animal
• One of the rarest animals is the Tasmanian Devil.
  At times someone claims to see one, but they
  never have proof. Recently, scientists found a
  skeleton, teeth and skin. They believed it was
  the remains of the rare Tasmanian Devil. They
  drew a picture of what the animal may have
  looked. They sent the picture and body to
  Washington, D.C.
• What did scientists probably do with the parts?
• A. Sent them to more experienced scientists
• in the capitol city of the United
  States. B. Made clothes and ornaments of
  them. C. Studied and compared them to other
  animals. D. Sold them to museums that displayed
  them.

13
Can you use the academic vocabulary?

• Words to use involvement, major, partnership,
  total, and process.
• The steps to write a paper are its __.
• Teams working together are in __.
• When you study everything, its the __.
• Togetherness with someone is also __.
• In college, everyone studies a big __.

Watch for these words on the next academic
vocabulary quiz.