1. What’s going on here?
Retrieved from

2. Make Your Point (And Prove It, Too)
RL1 Making and Supporting a Point

3. The Target
I can make a theme-related inferential (how/why) point using the strongest quotes and examples from multiple parts of the text, including determining where the text leaves matter uncertain.
I can make an inferential (how/why) point using the strongest quotes and examples from multiple parts of the text, including determining where the text leaves matter uncertain.
I can make an explicit (who/what/when/where) point using quotes and examples from multiple parts of the text, including determining where the text leaves matters uncertain.
1 I can make an on-topic point, explicit or inferential.

4. Explicit versus Inference
Explicit: what the text says
Inference: what the texts says combined with what you know
Explicit Details
A doctor listens to symptoms.
A detective examines evidence.
Combining
A doctor consults background knowledge.
A detective combines all the evidence with prior experience.
Inferences
A doctor gives a diagnosis.
A detective presents a theory of the crime.

5. A Mini Example
“To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men,--that is genius” (Emerson, 1841).
2 Explicit
Emerson says that to believe your thoughts are worthy of all people is genius.
3 Inferential
We do not believe in our own thoughts often enough; Emerson says those who do are geniuses, but geniuses are rare.
4 Claim + Inferential
We should speak our minds rather than holding back our thoughts; Emerson says that when we share our thoughts as common knowledge, we act as geniuses.

6. Perfect Paragraph Practice
Write a perfect paragraph to make a point about your novel. Use your reading log as a starting point.
Perfect Paragraph
Say It:
State your point
Explain It:
Give details to support
Support It:
Connect the details to the point
So What It:
Why does it even matter?

7. References
Byrd, Ian (2012). Making inferences: Think like an anthropologist. Retrieved from