Making Inferences from Textual Clues

What is an inference?

• A direct statement from the text.

• Making sense of clues and evidence.

• Guessing without any supporting details.

• Summarizing the main idea of a passage.

What clues from the passage suggest that Uncle Paleo was involved in a fire?

• His broken glasses and slow, heavy footsteps.

• Black smudges on his face and singed hair.

• He was stumbling around and looked like a wreck.

• He was wearing lead shoes.

Why is it important to consider multiple clues when making an inference?

• To make the story longer and more complex.

• To confuse the reader about the plot.

• To strengthen your conclusion and make it more likely.

• To find the only possible answer to a mystery.

What kind of information helps a reader make strong inferences about a story?

• Only what is directly stated in the text.

• Only the character's actions and dialogue.

• Information about the character, setting, plot, and your own background knowledge.

• The author's personal life and experiences.