Making Inferences Joseph and Caitlin

What statement about inferencing is CORRECT?

• An inference is not based on any evidence

• An inference is based only on what the text says

• An inference always turns out to be right

• An inferences requires you to use clues

_______ + ________ = Inference

• Background knowledge + Clues from the text

• Background knowledge + Opinion

• A guess without evidence + information from the text

Michael and Seth are on their way to Benson State Park. They like to go to the park on weekends during the winter. They like to skate on the frozen lake. Every day, the park ranger checks the ice on the lake. If it is safe to skate, she puts up a sign that says, TODAY THE ICE IS SAFE. If it is not safe to skate, she puts up a sign that says, TODAY THE ICE IS NOT SAFE. Michael and Seth are at the park. They read the sign for today, and then put on their skates.
The reader can conclude that...

• Today is Saturday.

• Today is a safe day for skating.

• The park ranger likes her job.

• Michael and Seth like cold weather.

What is an Inference?

• A conclusion or judgement based on evidences and our background knowledge.

• Is what the story is about.

• In when you find the similarity between two or more things.

• Is when you compare two or more things using the words like or as.

In a narrative, if a character's voice is described as "barely above a whisper" during a tense scene, what can you infer about the character's emotional state?

• They are excited.

• They are indifferent.

• They are scared or anxious.

• They are confident.

What can you "infer" by reading the passage below? "I hate the idea of having all those people out there watching me...I just don't like it when I'm around so many people. I wish I just could hide somewhere," whispered Violet.

• Violet can be a mean girl.

• Violet can be somewhat relaxed

• Violet is probably somewhat shy.

• Violet is afraid of everything.

If a student got 100% on his work, what could you infer?

• He listened and studied.

• He didn't come to school that day.

• He didn't listen in class.

• He copied off of his neighbor.

Many breeds of dogs are used for work. In many cultures dogs are used to herd sheep. The dogs keep the flock from being attacked by animals such as wolves. They also keep sheep from wandering off. Sheepdogs are known for their loyalty and gentleness. Based on your reading of the text, you can INFER that:

• Sheepdogs are not very smart dogs.

• Sheepdogs are gentle and loyal.

• There are many breeds of dogs.

• Wolves are afraid of sheepdogs.

An INFERENCE is...

• logical conclusion

• guess based on evidence

• Both

When making an inference, the most important thing is...

• What you know about the topic

• The topic of the text

• The characters in the text

• Being able to prove your inference using evidence from the text.