Read Inferences

1
Read Inferences

• Become more aware of the suggestions
• in reading passages.

2
What is an inference?

• An inference is a reasonable guess.
• It is using what you know to infer more about the
  passage.
• You must use the information to make logical
  inferences about the authors intended meaning.

What different messages do the faces give?
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 passages 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
Can you 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 first step in to summarize is to find the
  main idea.

How does the man summarize the results of his
wifes diet?
11
What is the main idea here?

• It is important to remember that the calorie and
  Calorie are units of energy. These names are
  historical carryovers from the early idea that
  heat was an invisible fluid called caloric, a
  view that persisted into the nineteenth century.
  We now know that heat is a form of energy, and so
  doesnt need its own unit. Someday the calorie
  may give way to the SI unit, the joule, as the
  common unit for measuring heat. The relationship
  between calories and joules is 1 calorie 4.184
  joules.

12
The main idea is the first sentence.

• It is important to remember that both the calorie
  and Calorie are units of energy. These names are
  historical carryovers from the early idea that
  heat was an invisible fluid called caloric, a
  view that persisted into the nineteenth century.
  We now know that heat is a form of energy, and so
  doesnt need its own unit. Someday the calorie
  may give way to the SI unit, the joule, as the
  common unit for measuring heat. The relationship
  between calories and joules is 1 calorie 4.184
  joules.

13
Then paraphrase the main idea.

• Paraphrase original text by rewriting the
  sentence with synonyms for important words
• Original Text
• It is important to remember that both the
  calorie and Calorie are units of energy.

• The key word important is about like the word
  emphasize
• Paraphrase
• Energy units emphasized include common calorie
  and the specific Calorie.

14
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.

15
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.

16
What does the passage infer?

• In the mirror John Bell noticed that his hair was
  graying at the temples. As he picked up the
  morning paper, he realized that he could no
  longer see well without his glasses. Looking at
  the hands holding the paper he saw that they were
  wrinkled.
• What does the passage suggest about John?
• A. His body is changing in several ways for the
  better, as indicated by the mirror.
• B. He could be becoming just too nervous.
• C. He is getting influenza or another disease.
• D. With the passing of time, his body is
  becoming older.

17
What does the passage infer?

• In the mirror John Bell noticed that his hair was
  graying at the temples. As he picked up the
  morning paper, he realized that he could no
  longer see well without his glasses. Looking at
  the hands holding the paper he saw that they were
  wrinkled.
• What does the passage suggest about John?
• A. His body is changing in several ways for the
  better, as indicated by the mirror.
• B. He could be becoming just too nervous.
• C. He is getting influenza or another disease.
• D. With the passing of time, his body is
  becoming older.

18
Learn these academic words.

• Use layer, link, philosophy,
• register, comment.
• What is your __ about life and death?
• What __ do you have about the test?
• What did you __ to take next semester?
• How many __ of clothes do you wear?
• How do you __ up with your friends?

• Use acquisition, core, sequence, formula, issue.
• What is you __ of activities each day?
• What is the __ of your life?
• What __ did you get last weekend?
• How many __ do you have going on?
• What is the __ for success in life?

What can you do now to prepare for tests?