Inferences

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Inferences

• Playing the Educated Guessing Game

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What is an Inference?
An inference is an assumption that you make about
something that you see, read, or experience.

• It is based on all of the information that you
  have available at that time.
• It is not necessarily a correct guess, but it is
  an educated one.

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Everyday Inferences
Here are some inferences that you probably make
on a daily basis.
You infer that it is important information that
you may need later.
If your professor writes information on the board
during a lecture
If your son or daughter runs in the house holding
their knee and crying
You infer that they have somehow hurt their knee.
You may not always be correct in your inferences,
but they are assumptions that you make based on
the given clues.
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Inferences Take a Guess
You already know how to make everyday inferences!

Lets look at a few scenarios and infer about what
is going on.
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Inferences Take a Guess?

1. What is this woman doing?

2. Where do you think this woman is?

1. Is she there for work or pleasure?

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Inferences Take a Guess?
Where do you think this woman is?
Lets look a little bit closer and evaluate your
guesses.
Based on the furniture and decorations, she is
probably in a hotel room.
What is she doing?
She is on the telephone.
Is she there for work or pleasure?
Based on the her clothing and the presence of a
fax machine, she is probably there for work.
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Inferences Take Another Guess?

1. Where are they?

2. Who is the man standing in the front of the
room?
3. Is this company on the cutting edge?
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Inferences Take a Guess?
Lets look a little bit closer and evaluate your
assumptions.
Who is the man standing in the front of the room?
Because he is in the front of the room standing
we would infer that he is the boss.
The table and topic, reveal that they are in a
corporate board room.
Where are they?
Is this company on the cutting edge?
We can infer by his dialogue that they are behind
the competition.
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Inferences Take One More Guess?

1. What season is it in this picture?

2. What is the person doing?

1. What socio-economic group does she belong to?
   Lower Class? Middle class? Upper Class?

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Inferences Take a Guess?
What is the person doing?
Lets look a little bit closer and evaluate your
assumptions.
She is holding the Ornament. We could infer
further that she is decorating a Christmas tree.
What socio-economic group does she belong to?
Based on the quality of the clothing and
ornament, we can rule out lower class. Based on
the known information any further inference would
be a stretch.
What season is it in this picture?
The Santa hat and Ornament reveal that it is
winter.
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Inferences Word Pictures
As you looked at the previous pictures, you were
able to infer things about the scenarios that
they presented.
When you read a text, think of it as a WORD
PICTURE.
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Inferences Word Pictures
When reading, there are several types of word
pictures the author will paint for you.
Lets look at a few examples!
It will be your job to use those picture to infer
things such as

• The setting
• A Characters Personality or Emotions
• What a Characters Motives Might Be
• What the Writers Motives behind writing the
  piece might be
• Just To Name A Few

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Inferences The Setting
Read the following selection
The air blowing off of the water is clean and
crisp. As she slowly made her way to her
destination, the damp sand beneath her feet began
to stick to the bottom of her toes. Finally,
she was close enough to see. A blue and white
table cloth spread over the sand. Candles,
crystal, and china glistened in the light of the
setting sun. She smiled, and a tear ran down her
cheek.
Where is this woman?
What time of day is it?
As she approaches, what does she see?
Will she be spending the evening alone?
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Inferences The Setting
The air blowing off of the is clean and
crisp. As she slowly made her way to her
destination, the damp beneath her
feet began to stick to the bottom of her toes.
Finally, she was close enough to see. A blue and
white spread over the sand.

glistened in the light of the
. She smiled, and a tear ran down her
cheek.
water
Where is this woman?
Based on the word picture painted for us, she is
on the beach.
What time of day is it?
sand
It is evening.
As she approaches, what does she see?
Will she be spending the evening alone?
table cloth
That someone has prepared a romantic picnic for
her.
Candles, crystal, and china
We can logically assume that whomever has made
the picnic will probably join her.
setting sun
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Inferences Character Personalities Emotions
Authors often use word pictures to give you
clues about the personalities and emotions of the
characters. For Instance
If the character is shown refusing to be
controlled by others such as their parents, boss,
or other authority figure
We infer that they are rebellious.
If the character storms out of the room, slamming
the door behind them
We infer that they are angry.
If we see them doing things that show good
character in front of other, but exhibiting
negative traits when alone
We infer that they are deceptive.
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Inferences Character Personalities Emotions
With this in mind,

lets take another look at the excerpt we read
earlier.
The air blowing off of the water is clean and
crisp. As she slowly made her way to her
destination, the damp sand beneath her feet began
to stick to the bottom of her toes. Finally,
she was close enough to see. A blue and white
table cloth spread over the sand. Candles,
crystal, and china glistened in the light of the
setting sun.
How does the woman feel about what this person
has done?
Though we have not been introduced to the person
that has planned this, what can we assume about
their personality?
Based on her smile and tears, we can assume she
is happy and touched by the gesture.
We can assume that he is caring, romantic, and
thoughtful. Though this may or may not prove to
be correct by the end of the story, that is the
word picture the author is painting for us.
She smiled, and a tear ran down her cheek.
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Inferences Character Motives
Lets add on a few lines to that excerpt
Charles had been planning this night for weeks.
He had waited for a night with clear skies and a
soft breeze. He had laid out the tablecloth,
placed the glasses and plates just right. For a
few seconds, he wondered if she had found the
note that he had left her, but soon he could see
her slowly walking down the beach. As she
approached, he took a deep breath, kneeled down
on one knee, and pulled a small box from his
pocket.
Why did he leave her a note?
We can infer that he left her a note to tell her
to meet him on the beach.
Why has Charles made this picnic for her?
To propose to her.
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Inferences Writers Motives
All people have their own moral and political
perspectives. Sometimes, these perspectives
color what an author writes. This can take place
in both fiction and nonfiction pieces.
Read the following excerpt and try to determine
what this writers motives for writing this might
be.
At the close of the year 1999, composting and
recycling had stopped 64 million tons of material
from ending up in landfills and incinerators
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) . Though
that is a good start, America has a long way to
go. As a country, it is our responsibility to
protect the environment for the sake of future
generations!
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Inferences Writers Motives
Lets ask ourselves a few questions about this
piece.
At the close of the year 1999, composting and
recycling had stopped 64 million tons of material
from ending up in landfills and incinerators
(U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) . Though
that is a , America has long
way to go. As a country, it is
to protect the environment for the
sake of future generations!
good start
our responsibility
Do you think this is a fiction or nonfiction
piece?
What motives does this writer have for writing
this piece?
How do we know that we are getting colored
information?
Because we are only given one sided statistics
and by the use of these words.
This is a nonfiction piece.
The writer is an environmentalist.
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Inferences Take a Guess Part 2
Now that you know how to use what the text does
say to figure out things that it does not,
Lets look at a few excerpts to practice your new
skills!
Write your answers down as you go.
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Inferences Take a Guess Part 2
Read the following poem,
and answer
the questions that follows.
Our deepest fear is not that we are
inadequate.Our deepest fear is that we are
powerful beyond measure.It is our light, not our
darkness that most frightens us.Your playing
small does not serve the world.There is nothing
enlightened about shrinkingso that other people
won't feel insecure around you.We are all meant
to shine, as children do.And as we let our own
light shine, we unconsciouslygive other people
permission to do the same.As we are liberated
from our own fear,our presence automatically
liberates others. -a return to love by marianne
williamson  
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Inferences Take a Guess Part 2
Our deepest fear is not that we are
inadequate.Our deepest fear is that we are
powerful beyond measure.It is our light, not our
darkness that most frightens us.Your playing
small does not serve the world.There is nothing
enlightened about shrinkingso that other people
won't feel insecure around you.We are all meant
to shine, as children do.And as we let our own
light shine, we unconsciouslygive other people
permission to do the same.As we are liberated
from our own fear,our presence automatically
liberates others. -a return to love by marianne
williamson  
1. Infer what the writers motive is.
a) She is trying to frighten her audience into
appropriate behavior.
b) She is a child activist.
c) Her motive is to inspire her reader.
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Inferences Take a Guess Part 2
Our deepest fear is not that we are
inadequate.Our deepest fear is that we are
powerful beyond measure.It is our light, not our
darkness that most frightens us.Your playing
small does not serve the world.There is nothing
enlightened about shrinkingso that other people
won't feel insecure around you.We are all meant
to shine, as children do.And as we let our own
light shine, we unconsciouslygive other people
permission to do the same.As we are liberated
from our own fear,our presence automatically
liberates others. -a return to love by marianne
williamson  
2. With which statement would the author most
agree?
a) All men/women are created equal.
b) Life is not fair.
c) The only thing to fear is fear itself.
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Inferences Take a Guess Part 2
Read the following paragraph,
and answer the questions
that follow.
Geoffrey awoke early that morning, for fear of
being late for his appointment. He showered,
brushed his hair, and put on his best suit. He
stuck extra ink pens and pencils into his brief
case. He did not want to leave anything to
chance. He knew that if he did not get a job
soon, Martha would have to leave the children and
go back to work.
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Inferences Take a Guess Part 2
Geoffrey awoke early that morning, for fear of
being late for his appointment. He showered,
brushed his hair, and put on his best suit. He
stuck extra ink pens and pencils into his brief
case. He did not want to leave anything to
chance. He knew that if he did not get a job
soon, Martha would have to leave the children and
go back to work.

• What kind of appointment is Geoffrey getting
  ready for?
• He is going job hunting.
• He is going to a board meeting for his job.
• He is going to a job interview.

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Inferences Take a Guess Part 2
Geoffrey awoke early that morning, for fear of
being late for his appointment. He showered,
brushed his hair, and put on his best suit. He
stuck extra ink pens and pencils into his brief
case. He did not want to leave anything to
chance. He knew that if he did not get a job
soon, Martha would have to leave the children and
go back to work.

• 2. Who is Martha?
• His mother.
• His wife.
• His daughter.

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Inferences Take a Guess Part 2
Geoffrey awoke early that morning, for fear of
being late for his appointment. He showered,
brushed his hair, and put on his best suit. He
stuck extra ink pens and pencils into his brief
case. He did not want to leave anything to
chance. He knew that if he did not get a job
soon, Martha would have to leave the children and
go back to work.

• 3. Which of these personality traits best fits
  Geoffrey?
• Responsible
• Optimistic
• Selfish

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Inferences Take a Guess Part 2
Geoffrey awoke early that morning, for fear of
being late for his appointment. He showered,
brushed his hair, and put on his best suit. He
stuck extra ink pens and pencils into his brief
case. He did not want to leave anything to
chance. He knew that if he did not get a job
soon, Martha would have to leave the children and
go back to work.

• 4. What is Geoffreys motive for waking up
  early ?
• To be an example for his children.
• To be on time for his appointment.
• He does not want Martha to go back to work.

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Inferences Take a Guess Part 2
Geoffrey awoke early that morning, for fear of
being late for his appointment. He showered,
brushed his hair, and put on his best suit. He
stuck extra ink pens and pencils into his brief
case. He did not want to leave anything to
chance. He knew that if he did not get a job
soon, Martha would have to leave the children and
go back to work.

• 5. What might he need extra pens and pencils
  for at his appointment ?
• To fill out necessary forms.
• To take notes on the speaker.
• To hand out as advertisements for his firm.

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Inferences Take a Guess Part 2
Now, lets check your inferences.
1. Infer what the writers motive is.
a) She is trying to frighten her audience into
appropriate behavior.
b) She is a child activist.
c) Her motive is to inspire her reader.
The authors motive is shown in statements like
these
We are powerful beyond measureWe are all meant
to shine, as children do.
Though she uses the word children, the dominant
topic is inspiration and motivation
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Inferences Take a Guess Part 2
2. With which statement would the author most
agree?
a) All men/women are created equal.
b) Life is not fair.
c) The only thing to fear is fear itself.
Looking at the same quote we saw before
We are powerful beyond measureWe are all meant
to shine, as children do.
The authors use of we and all suggests that
she believes everyone is meant to shine.
Evidence of the other beliefs are not in the poem.
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Inferences Take a Guess Part 2
Now, lets go on to the next piece.

• What kind of appointment is Geoffrey getting
  ready for?
• He is going job hunting.
• He is going to a board meeting for his job.

c) He is going to a job interview.
The writer is suggesting that the appointment
will solve this problem
He knew that if he did not get a job soon,
Martha would have to leave the children and go
back to work.
We can assume that he is not going job hunting
because that does not require an appointment.
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Inferences Take a Guess Part 2

• 2. Who is Martha?
• His mother.
• c) His daughter.

b) His wife.
He knew that if he did not get a job soon,
Martha would have to leave the children and go
back to work.
The same quote we used for the last question,
suggests that Martha is the mother of his
children and not his mother or his child.
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Inferences Take a Guess Part 2

• 3. Which of these personality traits best fits
  Geoffrey?
• b) Optimistic
• c) Selfish

• Responsible

Geoffrey awoke early that morning He stuck
extra ink pens and pencils into his brief case.
He did not want to leave anything to chance.
These words describe a man who is responsible.
There are no suggestions that he is optimistic or
selfish in the text.
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Inferences Take a Guess Part 2

• 4. What is Geoffreys motive for waking up
  early ?
• To be an example for his children.
• To be on time for his appointment.

c) He does not want Martha to go back to work.
Though Geoffrey does not want to be late for his
interview, that is not his ultimate motive. His
ultimate motive would be what is causing him to
want to be on time in the first place. This
brings us back to this quote
He knew that if he did not get a job soon,
Martha would have to leave the children and go
back to work.
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Inferences Take a Guess Part 2

• 5. What might he need extra pens and pencils
  for at his appointment ?
• b) To take notes on the speaker.
• c) To hand out as advertisements for his firm.

a) To fill out necessary forms.
Because we have established that Geoffrey is
going to a job interview, we can infer that he
needs these utensils to fill out the application
or any other forms that they may give him
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Want to Learn More About
Using What You Do Know to Figure Out What You
Dont?
Visit us on campus at
The Learning Center Room 100
Educational Services Building
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