Making Inferences and Conclusions

Which answer is most correct?

Do writers always tell their readers exactly what they mean all the time, or do they allow their readers to draw conclusions and discover at least some of the meaning on their own?

• They tell their readers exactly what they mean all the time.

• They allow their readers to draw conclusions and discover at least some of the meaning on their own.

True or False: Below is the Description for How to Draw Inferences? 1. You look for clues in the text, little pieces of information that seem to relate to the missing information or your question. 2. You think about what you already know from your own experience in the real world. 3. You put these two pieces of the puzzle together in a logical way to produce a reasonable conclusion that supplies the missing piece of information or the answer to your question. Drawing an inference requires your background knowledge and information from the text?

• True

• False

You draw many inferences in your everyday life?

Drawing an Inference You've made many inferences in your life, but you might not even know it. For instance, your cat runs up to you the minute you step through the door. She meows, rubs your legs, runs into the kitchen and stares at the cupboard where you normally store the cat food. It doesn't take much effort to figure out that your cat wants food. You've just drawn an inference.

• True

• False

Drawing an inference from a book follows the same process of drawing inferences in your everyday life?

• True

• False

What is the second step readers must take to draw an inference?

• Look for clues in the text

• Put the pieces together in a logical way to produce a reasonable conclusion

• Think about what they already know from their own experience in the real world

a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning

• paraphrase

• annotation

• inference

• interpretation

using information that is implied or inferred to make meaning out of what is not clearly stated

• annotation

• making inferences

• drawing conclusions

• paraphrasing

specific details from the text that support your conclusions or argument

• textual evidence

• drawing conclusions

• text

• annotations

Ryan was looking forward to sleeping over at his friend Robert's house. Though they had been classmates for a while, the two had only recently become good friends. Ryan packed up his sleeping bag, a pillow, and a few of his favorite toys and games, and then his mom dropped him off at Robert's. Robert met Ryan on the porch and the two did their secret handshake and started playing right away. First they played pirates in Robert's tree fort. Next they played ninjas in the driveway. Then it started getting dark and they went inside of Robert's house. As soon as they walked in the house, Ryan's eyes starting getting red and itchy. He saw a big orange cat sitting on the couch. Then he started sneezing uncontrollably. "I'm sorry, Robert. It's been a lot of fun, but I have to call my mom." What can we infer by Ryan's quick decision to call his mother?

• Ryan was suddenly homesick.

• Robert's mother wasn't expecting Ryan to spend the night.

• Ryan's is allergic to cats.

• Ryan didn't know the secret handshake required by Robert.

Ryan was looking forward to sleeping over at his friend Robert's house. Though they had been classmates for a while, the two had only recently become good friends. Ryan packed up his sleeping bag, a pillow, and a few of his favorite toys and games, and then his mom dropped him off at Robert's. Robert met Ryan on the porch and the two did their secret handshake and started playing right away. First they played pirates in Robert's tree fort. Next they played ninjas in the driveway. Then it started getting dark and they went inside of Robert's house. As soon as they walked in the house, Ryan's eyes starting getting red and itchy. He saw a big orange cat sitting on the couch. Then he started sneezing uncontrollably. "I'm sorry, Robert. It's been a lot of fun, but I have to call my mom." Which clue lets the reader know Ryan is probably allergic to cats?

• Robert sees a big orange cat sitting on the couch

• Ryan begins to sneeze.

• Ryan's eyes get red and itchy, then he starts sneezing

• Robert is allergic to cats, too.