Making Inferences Reading between the lines

Authors vs. Readers  Authors Imply, Readers Infer.  Authors make implications that readers have to infer.  What do I mean by these statements?  Good Readers are Detectives who are always looking out for clues to help them better understand stories and pictures.

SPECULATING/MAKING INFERENCES An INFERENCE is an idea that is suggested by the facts or details in a passage YOU CAN USE THESE FACTS & DETAILS TO: Margie’s mother dropped the pot of boiling water into the sink and said, “Ouch!” Make a logical guess about cause & effect: She said, “Ouch!” because the hot water burned her. After the party, the sausage pizza was gone, but many pieces of plain pizza were still on the table. Draw a conclusion based on evidence: The people at the party liked sausage pizza better than plain pizza. Jill’s hands were shaking as she turned to the coach and said softly, “I’m sorry, but I’m just not ready to dive into the deep end of the pool yet.” Figure out a character’s probably meaning or feelings: Jill’s shaking hands and soft voice tell you is she is probably feeling nervous and scared. The author began the essay with the statement, “Dogs are smart and loving; cats merely take up space.” Make an assumption about an author’s attitude and purpose for writing: This author wants to persuade readers that dogs are superior to cats.

MAKING INFERENCES  Read this very brief passage, followed by a multiple-choice question  Pete’s words PROBABLY indicate that  A. Pete doesn’t like Jennifer.  B. Pete doesn’t like to stay with a baby-sitter.  C. Pete doesn’t like bananas.  D. Pete doesn’t like to eat alone. Jennifer was baby-sitting Mrs. Marconi’s four- year-old boy, Pete. “ I won’t, I won’t!” Pete screamed, and he threw the banana on the floor.

Authors do not explain everything in a story.  Readers use story clues.  They use details about what they’ve read to make an inference.  Readers use their own personal experience.  They make “text to self” connections.  Readers use prior knowledge.  They make “text to text” connections. The combination of these strategies allow readers  to make a inferences (reasonable guesses) about characters and events.

What kind of person is Jake?  Jake stood on the riverbank. He cast his fishing rod into the deep water. He had been trying to catch a fish for many hours. Alex and Zach laughed as they watched Jake throw the line into the water one more time.

How do you think Alex and Zach feel about Jake’s efforts to catch a fish?  Jake stood on the riverbank. He cast his fishing rod into the deep water. He had been trying to catch a fish for many hours. Alex and Zach laughed as they watched Jake throw the line into the water one more time.

 The bus driver pulled out of the station. Jim’s heart beat fast. He had never traveled alone. He waved good-bye to his grandparents. “The bus will be in Tucson in two hours,” Jim told himself. He checked his watch. Jim pictured his father waiting for the bus in Tucson. “Two hours will be over in no time,” Jim said. How do you think Jim feels?

What personal experience or prior knowledge helped you figure out how Jim feels?  The bus driver pulled out of the station. Jim’s heart beat fast. He had never traveled alone. He waved good-bye to his grandparents. “The bus will be in Tucson in two hours,” Jim told himself. He checked his watch. Jim pictured his father waiting for the bus in Tucson. “Two hours will be over in no time,” Jim said.

Three strategies (connections) you can use to make INFERENCES:  Story Clues  Personal Experience  Text to Self  Prior Knowledge  Text to Text

What inference can we make about this woman?  The woman waited nervously in line. When the counter was empty, she carefully unloaded her items from her cart. Lines creased her forehead as if to show the calculations ringing up in her head. Finally, the cashier began ringing up the items as the woman clutched her purse.