©2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing by Longman Publishers Chapter 10: Inference Breaking Through: College Reading, 8/e by Brenda Smith

©2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Inference An inference is a meaning that is suggested rather than directly stated but can be deduced from clues.

©2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Inference from Cartoons and Jokes Sam: Do you know how to save a politician from drowning? Joe: No Sam: Good!

©2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Recognizing Suggested Meaning The suggestion carries the meaning. Example: The welcome of the land to the men from the sea was warm and generous; but a still and dripping shape was carried slowly up the beach, and the land’s welcome for it could only be the different and sinister hospitality of the grave. The Open Boat by Stephen Crane Assumption: Someone has drowned.

©2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Connecting with Prior Knowledge Inferences require linking old knowledge to new. Clues may draw on assumed knowledge of:  history  current issues  social concerns

©2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Recognizing Slanted Language Denotation  dictionary definition of a word Connotation or slant  the feeling or emotion surrounding a word Example: -run down -deteriorated -neglected

©2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Drawing Conclusions  facts  hints  clues  prior knowledge  Assumptions  Conclusions

©2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Summary Points  What is an inference?  Why are jokes funny?  What is the effect of slanted language?  What are conclusions?

©2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Interpreting Literary Devices: Figurative Language  Simile:  Spot ran like the wind.

©2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Simile A comparison using the words like or as. Examples:  The boy plays soccer like a tiger.  The overcooked bread was as hard as the table.

©2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Interpreting Literary Devices: Figurative Language  Metaphor: Grandpa had a head of snow and a warm heart.

©2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Metaphor A metaphor is a directly stated comparison. Examples:  The soccer player was a tiger.  The storm was the thief of the enchanting summer night.

©2007 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman Publishers Reading Newspaper Editorials  What event prompted the editorial?  What is the opinion being promoted?  Do the details prove the thesis?  Is the author liberal or conservative?  What is left out?  Are the sources and facts credible? ASK:

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