1. Reading Strategy
Making Inferences

2. Background knowledge or schema
Inference :
A logical conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning
Background knowledge or schema
Contextual Evidence
Inference
What you know
What you read
Inference

3. How can I figure out what the author doesn’t tell me?
Authors don’t always tell us everything so:
Ask “What is the author leaving out that is important to understanding the article?”
Making Inferences is also called Drawing Conclusions or
Reading Between the Lines

4. What can I infer about? Emotions: Tears streamed down her face.
Location: Waves crashed against the shore.
Action: Joe dribbled down the court.
Time/Era: When the porch light burned out, there was total darkness.
Cause/Effect: In the morning, we noticed that the trees were uprooted and homes were missing their rooftops.
Characteristic: Mrs. Martin has so many clothes; she can go a whole month and not wear the same thing. Sometimes she changes at lunch just to show off.

5. #1
When Pedro finished, he put the book in his backpack and turned on the TV.
What had Pedro done? ______________________________________

6. #2
As the seat began to swing back and forth, Tom gripped the safety bar tightly and told himself not to look down.
Where is Tom? ______________________________________

7. #3 Peggy slammed the door shut behind her and stomped down the stairs.
How does Peggy feel? ______________________________________

8. Journal 2/24:
Use the picture to make two inferences. Write what you see (observation) and what you know to make your inferences.