1. Inferences

2. What does inference mean?
To infer means to take information from the text and your background knowledge to better understand the text.
An author cannot possibly include every detail in a story, so the author will give the reader clues to help understand what’s going on.

3. Often writers purposefully choose to hint at details rather than state them; this can add meaning and suspense for the reader.
Inferences are logical guesses based on clues in the text and on the reader’s own knowledge and common sense.

4. The park where you play basketball after school is usually clean and tidy. Today, however, bits of paper and trash are everywhere and the garbage cans are overflowing. What inference can you make?

5. We need to find clues to get some answers.
We need to add those clues to what we already know or have read.
There can be more than one correct answer.
We need to be able to support inferences.

6. Josh stood behind the curtain, twisting his hands
Josh stood behind the curtain, twisting his hands. He tried to go over his lines but found he couldn’t remember them. Peering from around the curtain, he watched with a sinking, uncomfortable feeling in his stomach as the audience filled the theater.

7. While Josh waited in the wings, he saw Principal Sanchez on the other side of the stage. The principal was straightening his tie and getting ready to welcome the audience. Josh studied the crowd one last time before the curtain rose. The front row was filled with five smiling people, all with his same red hair and freckles.

8. They applauded when the principal finished his remarks
They applauded when the principal finished his remarks. Then, suddenly, Josh found himself moving onto the stage. He heard his lines spoken clearly and confidently. With a shock he realized that he was doing the speaking. The play had begun.

9. Write two inferences you can make from each statement below:
Suddenly Sam’s mouth goes dry and his heart slams against his chest.
Alana rips open the package and squeals.
Jake tosses and turns all night.