Making Inferences About Characters Making Inferences About Motivation Comparing and Contrasting Characters Understanding Historical Context Your Turn What Skills Can Help You Understand Characters? Feature Menu

Making Inferences About Characters An inference is an intelligent guess. Inferences are based on two things: current evidence and prior knowledge. current evidence: information that’s in front of you right now prior knowledge: things you already know + inference

Making Inferences About Characters Based on what you already know and the information in front of you... If your friend looks like thiswhen she sees this, what might you infer about her feelings about roller coasters?

Making Inferences About Characters In a story, the author gives you current evidence— clues about the characters. As you read, pay attention to how characters lookthink speak act respond to others

Making Inferences About Characters Combine your observations of the characters in the story with your prior knowledge—your own past experiences and what you already know about human nature. The woman scowled. “Come here, young lady,” she said. “I’ve got something to say to you.” Rachel’s stomach hurt as she trudged up the porch steps. That woman reminds me of my neighbor, Mrs. Ames. I bet she’s really nice, even though she seems mean.

Tia was lacing up her cleats when Emily entered the locker room. “Some of us are going to the mall,” Emily said. “You want to come?” Tia looked at her friend. She wanted to hang out with Emily and the others, but tomorrow was an important game. “I can’t,” she said, “I’ve got practice.” “So what?” said Emily. “You’re the star of the team. Coach will let you play if you skip a practice. You can say you were sick.” “It’s tempting,” Tia thought. “It would be fun to go to the mall.” Then she shook her head. “The team is counting on me.” Tia was lacing up her cleats when Emily entered the locker room. “Some of us are going to the mall,” Emily said. “You want to come?” Tia looked at her friend. She wanted to hang out with Emily and the others, but tomorrow was an important game. “I can’t,” she said, “I’ve got practice.” “So what?” said Emily. “You’re the star of the team. Coach will let you play if you skip a practice. You can say you were sick.” “It’s tempting,” Tia thought. “It would be fun to go to the mall.” Then she shook her head. “The team is counting on me.” Making Inferences About Characters As you read the following passage, pay attention to Tia’s speech, thoughts, and actions. How do these clues help you infer that Tia is dedicated to her team? speech,thoughts,andactions.

Making Inferences About Characters What can you infer about Matt by the way his parents respond to him? Matt helped his parents carry their suitcases to the car. “Thank you,” said his mother as Matt closed the trunk. “You’ve got the hotel’s phone number, right?” Matt nodded. For the first time, his parents were going away for a weekend, leaving him alone at home. His mother hugged him, then got in the car. His father put his hand on Matt’s shoulder. “You know we trust you.” A minute later, they were gone. Matt had the house all to himself. As you read the following passage, notice how other characters respond to Matt. Matt helped his parents carry their suitcases to the car. “Thank you,” said his mother as Matt closed the trunk. “You’ve got the hotel’s phone number, right?” Matt nodded. For the first time, his parents were going away for a weekend, leaving him alone at home. His mother hugged him, then got in the car. His father put his hand on Matt’s shoulder. “You know we trust you.” A minute later, they were gone. Matt had the house all to himself. [End of Section]

Making Inferences About Motivation Motivation is what makes characters do the things they do. Motivation causes characters to speak or act in certain ways. For example, someone who performs in a band might be motivated by a love of music, a desire for fame, or both.

Making Inferences About Motivation Writers rarely state a character’s motivation directly. Instead, they plant clues about why characters act as they do. love greed jealousy heroism

By looking at the character’s action and answering that question, you can work backward to find the character’s motivation. Motivation Making Inferences About Motivation One way to infer why a character behaves in a certain way is to work backward. Start with something the character does. Then, ask yourself, “What did the character want (or want to avoid)?” Action (Cause) (Effect)

Making Inferences About Motivation Nick loved skiing. In fact, with better equipment, he thought he could compete. Lately, instead of hitting the slopes, Nick has been working at a pizzeria. What might his motivation be? because he wants to earn money... to buy better ski equipment. Nick gets a job... [End of Section]

Comparing and Contrasting Characters When you read a story, you may notice that some characters have similar traits, problems, or motivations... while others are very different.

To find similarities and differences among characters, create a chart to keep track of characters’ traits. Comparing and Contrasting Characters Characters and Their Traits CharacterCharacter Traits Tiadedicated to her team, honest Matttrustworthy, responsible [End of Section]

Understanding Historical Context Imagine that you lived in a time when there were no cars,computers,or televisions. How might your life be different? The Granger Collection, New York

Understanding Historical Context Historical context, made up of social, political, and cultural forces, affects your life. In the same way, historical factors affect the lives of characters in stories. As you work to understand characters’ motivations, remember that historical context affects their actions. Often, characters behave a certain way because of their situation in a specific place and time. [End of Section]

Which words show you how this character looks? Apply Reading Skills Quick Check The little boy stood in the cereal aisle of the grocery store. He raised a hand to his red, tear-streaked face and put his thumb in his mouth. With wide eyes, he looked left, then right, then behind him. Then he closed his eyes and whimpered. Which words show you how this character acts?

Which words show you how this character looks? Apply Reading Skills Quick Check The little boy stood in the cereal aisle of the grocery store. He raised a hand to his red, tear-streaked face and put his thumb in his mouth. With wide eyes, he looked left, then right, then behind him. Then he closed his eyes and whimpered.

Apply Reading Skills Quick Check The little boy stood in the cereal aisle of the grocery store. He raised a hand to his red, tear-streaked face and put his thumb in his mouth. With wide eyes, he looked left, then right, then behind him. Then he closed his eyes and whimpered. Which words show you how this character acts?

Apply Reading Skills Quick Check The little boy stood in the cereal aisle of the grocery store. He raised a hand to his red, tear-streaked face and put his thumb in his mouth. With wide eyes, he looked left, then right, then behind him. Then he closed his eyes and whimpered. Based on current evidence and your own prior knowledge, what inferences can you make about why this character is crying?

Apply Reading Skills Quick Check The little boy stood in the cereal aisle of the grocery store. He raised a hand to his red, tear-streaked face and put his thumb in his mouth. With wide eyes, he looked left, then right, then behind him. Then he closed his eyes and whimpered. He’s lost in the store. He’s alone and afraid. Based on current evidence and your own prior knowledge, what inferences can you make about why this character is crying?

Apply Reading Skills Your Turn In the passage that follows, Paul, a young soldier, is experiencing his first night in Vietnam. “You’re the new guy?” “Yes.” He did not want to admit it, being new to the war. The soldier grunted and handed him a stick of gum. “Chew it quiet—OK? Don’t blow no bubbles or nothing.” From “Where Have You Gone, Charming Billy?” (slightly adapted) from Going After Cacciato by Tim O’Brien. Copyright © 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 by Tim O’Brien. Reproduced by permission Dell Publishing, a division of Random House, Inc. and electronic format by permission of the author. The Vietnam War involved terrifying guerrilla combat, and the jungle may be full of enemy fighters.

Apply Reading Skills Your Turn 1. Why might Paul not want to admit that he’s new? “You’re the new guy?” “Yes.” He did not want to admit it, being new to the war. The soldier grunted and handed him a stick of gum. “Chew it quiet—OK? Don’t blow no bubbles or nothing.” From “Where Have You Gone, Charming Billy?” (slightly adapted) from Going After Cacciato by Tim O’Brien. Copyright © 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 by Tim O’Brien. Reproduced by permission Dell Publishing, a division of Random House, Inc. and electronic format by permission of the author. 2. Why does the other soldier not want Paul to blow bubbles?

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