The text referred to is “A Visit to the Dungeons” Inference The text referred to is “A Visit to the Dungeons”
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.
Everyday Inferences Here are some inferences that you probably make on a daily basis. If a teacher writes information on the board during a lesson You infer that it is important information that you may need later. If a child 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.
Inferences What is this woman doing? 2. Where do you think this woman is? Is she there for work or pleasure?
Inferences Let's look a little bit closer and evaluate your guesses. Where do you think this woman is? Based on the furniture and decorations, she is probably in a hotel room. What is she doing? Is she there for work or pleasure? She is on the telephone. Based on her clothing and the presence of a fax machine, she is probably there for work.
{Click mouse to continue} Inferences What season is it in this picture? 2. What is the person doing? What socio-economic group does she belong to? Lower Class? Middle class? Upper Class? {Click mouse to continue}
The Santa hat and Ornament reveal that it is winter. Inferences 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. 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. The Santa hat and Ornament reveal that it is winter. {Click mouse to continue}
Lesson Objectives Understand how to make inferences about a text
“Explain” questions You may be asked to explain something about a text which requires you to read between the lines The question will often be in two parts: what… and then why…. The why part is where the inference comes in
When reading the text you need to consider what the question is asking you. What did the writer’s children enjoy about the visit to Warwick Castle? Why did they enjoy it? What are the key words in the question?
You need to make sensible inferences about why they might have enjoyed themselves. The text will suggest what they enjoyed but won’t directly tell you. Working it out is where the inference comes in
The best way is to give a detail (‘what’) and then offer a comment alongside it (‘why’). Stay in sequence and track the text carefully. Highlight or underline key details. Use these for the ‘what’ part. As you go along, link the above with a ‘why’ or ‘how’ comment.
Writing your answer… The first thing the children enjoyed was a trip to the dungeon and torture chamber, which they would have enjoyed because children would always be excited to see a real dungeon and the darkness would have made it realistic and spooky…
Answer 1 The writer’s children enjoyed the dungeons and torture chamber √ and Amy would have liked the way the guide said that the Winnie the Pooh character would be scared. √ When they went into the armoury they could enjoy the interactive displays that included wooden chests which asked questions and then had to be opened to find the answers. √ Also they liked the experience of holding a real medieval sword √ and trying on the medieval and Victorian costumes. √ In the kingmaker exhibition which had wax models of royalty and peasants, the wax models were so life-like it was almost scary, so they enjoyed that. √
Answer 2 The article states that the children wanted to go straight to the dungeon √ and they would have enjoyed it until the guide told them horrible stories of what happened there. I think they enjoyed the dungeons because children from this day and age will only have read about methods of torturing so will have been fascinated by seeing the real thing. √ The article also says that the girls are “amazed” when they are shown the sword √ and told about it. I think they enjoyed being allowed to hold a weapon from so long ago and it might have been used in a real battle. √
We are told that Amy was “fascinated” by some of the displays of guns √ and Olivia wanted to try on a soldier’s helmet, √ so they must have enjoyed both of these things. Lastly we are told the girls enjoyed dressing up in all the Victorian costumes. √ I think this is because they were a lot different from the clothes worn today. √
Inference Questions Questions which say “what” and then “why”. Answer in continuous prose (not as a list) Make one point for “what” and then explain that point as a “why”. There should be five points for “what” and five explanations.