Observations & Inferences

OBSERVATIONS VS
INFERENCES

English 9 Honors

• INFER = to interpret what the information "means"; to "read between the lines"

• INFERENCE = an interpretation based on observations, prior knowledge (familiarity) of the topic or situation, and sound logic.

• IMPORTANT = do not confuse with "assumption" (a misinformed, ninformed, or haphazard "guess")

INFERENCE

• OBSERVE = to take in information or evidence via the senses

• OBSERVATION = What we see, hear, smell, taste, or touch

• IMPORTANT = "observe" is related to "objective" (free from bias and opinion)

OBSERVATION

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

As you watch, notice the relationship between observations and inferences.

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Watch & Learn!

​INFERENCE VS ASSUMPTION

​Imagine: You are lying in bed when suddenly you see sporadic flashes of light coming through your window followed by loud rumbles that shake the house. Seconds later, you hear water droplets on the window pane.

​INFERENCE (evidence + exper + logic)

​ASSUMPTION (uninformed, haphazard "guess")

​There is a thunderstorm OBSERVATIONS OF THE EVIDENCE sporadic flashes of light suggests lightning loud rumbles after flashes suggests thunder shaking of house suggests severity of lightning water droplets on window pane suggests rain PRIOR EXPERIENCE Observations are consistent with thunderstorms

​- The neigbors are setting off fireworks. - Grandpa is watching WWII shows on PBS again. - God is bowling and taking pictures. OBSERVATIONS OF THE EVIDENCE Home-use fireworks aren't strong enough to shake the house; fireworks don't cause rain; Grandpa watches TV outside the house? God bowls? God owns a camera? PRIOR EXPERIENCE The observations might be consistent with very personal but not typical experiences.

So...what is a CONCLUSION?

A conclusion is simply a larger inference, one based on multiple smaller inferences.

Think of it this way:

Inference 1 + Inference 2 + Inference 3 + Inference 4 = CONCLUSION

Categorize

Options (16)

bowl of speckled flour on table

stick of butter in microwave

cup of chocolate chips

empty egg carton on counter

flour might be expired

recipe calls for softened butter

recipe calls for chocolate chips

ran out of eggs

there are insects in the flour

Mom can't find the butter

the eggs fell out and cracked

Dad is sneaking chocolate again

Mom can't make the recipe as is.

Mom left to buy flour and eggs.

Mom is making chocolate chip cookies

The cookies will be made later.

Organize these options into the right categories

Observation

Inference

Assumption

Conclusion