Inference Strategy Lesson #1

What does infer mean?  Infer means to make a conclusion or make a guess about something based on hints or facts that you have learned.  You use what you know to make an educated guess.

CSI WJHS : The Reading Detectives  What do CSI people do when a crime has been committed?  ________

CSI WJHS : The Reading Detectives  You will be a reading detective.  Each question is like a crime.  You will use hints and clues from the text or “crime scene” to gather evidence.  Based on the evidence, you will draw a conclusion and answer the question (or solve the crime)

How can I use the inference strategy?  Reading Comprehension Tests  Higher Grades  Quizzes over Reading  Class Discussions

Example from Yesterday’s Reading  Denise waited for a perfectly calm day before making her maiden voyage. The little outrigger canoe that her father had built for her was cute and streamlines, but it sat low in the water. Denise didn’t wan any trouble from the wind or the waves. She noted from her tide chart that high tide would be at 11:04 in the morning. That would give her enough depth in the wide and shallow lagoon.  2. Why was Denise worried about the wind? A. The canoe sat so low that it could easily take on water. A. The canoe sat so low that it could easily take on water. B. She wouldn’t be able to steer. B. She wouldn’t be able to steer. C. She didn’t have a sail. C. She didn’t have a sail. D. It might blow her out to sea. D. It might blow her out to sea.

Step 1 of the Inference Strategy  I= Interact with the questions and the passage.

Step 1 of the Inference Strategy  What does it mean to interact?  To interact with the questions means to think about or work with the questions.

Everyone look at Cue Card #2  Skim over the passage  Read the Title  See how long the passage is  This passage’s title is ____________, and it is ___ paragraphs long.  Now, go to the questions.  Read them one-by-one

Step 2  N=Note what you know  During the N step you will figure out the type of question it is and write a code letter next to it.

STEP 2  This means that you will do three things: Decide the type of questions Decide the type of questions Mark the code letters Mark the code letters Think about what you know Think about what you know

Decide the Type of Question There are two major types of questions:  Factual Questions  The answer is right there in the text.  The author has given you the answer.

Decide the Type of Question There are two major types of questions:  Think and Seek Questions  You are required to think about the key words in the passage and look for clues relating to those key words.  You have to infer the best answer

3 Types of Think and Seek Questions  Big Picture Questions  Predicting Questions  Clarifying Questions Each question type has a code letter…Can you guess what they are?

Step 2 Continued  Think about what you know  Use your knowledge to help you answer the question  What are the four types of questions?

Step 3  F= Find the clues  You will read and look for clues to help answer the questions.  What is a clue? __________________

Step 4  E=Explore any supporting details  You will look for additional clues to support your answer.

Step 5   R=Return to the question   Make sure you answer the question!

Review  I=  N=  F=  E=  R=