Drawing Inferences

Read Between the Lines Not all information is clearly stated. Some information is implied and must be inferred by the reader.

Sources of Inferences You can sometimes draw an inference by observing something or someone. You can draw inferences when having a conversation with someone, either by the way the person said something or what was left unsaid. In reading, inferences can be drawn by analyzing the actions of the characters.

Inferences vs. Facts Inferences must be drawn from the facts that are provided to be accurate. However, you can underline a fact in a book, but you can only feel an inference.

Higher-Order Skills The ability to draw inferences is one of the higher-order reading skills.

Source Hancock, Ophelia. Reading Skills for College Students. 7 th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2007.