Making Inferences
This is the term for reading between the lines and figuring out what is not directly stated in the text.
What is inferring?
This type of text structure is used to tell events in the order they happen.
What is chronological order or sequential order?
When someone is yawning during a meeting, you might infer they are feeling this.
What is tiredness?
Signal words such as 'first', 'next', and 'finally' help identify this text structure.
What is chronological order?
In the passage, 'The apple fell from the tree and rolled down the hill, where it stopped by the riverbank. It was carried by the water until it landed on a sandy shore,' what is the main idea?
What is 'An apple travels from a tree to a riverbank and ends up on a sandy shore?'
If a character is described as slamming the door and stomping away, you might infer this emotion.
What is anger or frustration?
A text structure that explains an issue and how it was resolved.
What is problem and solution?
If a student is repeatedly absent after a vacation, you may infer they are experiencing this type of problem.
What is illness?
Signal words such as 'similarly', 'however', and 'on the other hand' are used in this structure.
What is compare and contrast?
'Dogs are loyal pets that often protect their owners and homes. They can also provide companionship and joy.' What is the main idea?
What is 'Dogs are loyal and provide companionship and protection?'
The process of using context clues and prior knowledge to make guesses about what will happen next in a text.
What is predicting?
This type of structure shows how two or more things are similar and different.
What is compare and contrast?
A car parked outside with snow on it all week can lead you to infer this about its owner.
What is being away or traveling?
Signal words like 'because', 'therefore', and 'as a result' indicate this text structure.
What is cause and effect?
From this passage, 'Students who plan their time well tend to do better in school. They can balance homework, activities, and relaxation with ease,' what is the implied main idea?
What is 'Time management leads to academic success and life balance?'
Throughout a novel, a character is repeatedly mentioned as checking a clock nervously. What could this repetitive action suggest about their situation?
What is 'The character is anxious about an upcoming event or deadline'?
A text structure used to explain why something happens and the effects of it.
What is cause and effect?
If your friend suddenly stops replying to your messages, you might infer they are feeling this.
What is upset or busy?
Signal phrases like 'one solution', 'the problem is', and 'to solve this' are used in this structure.
What is problem and solution?
In this observation, 'The city park's new layout includes more walking paths, playgrounds, and gardens, making it more inviting for families and visitors,' what is the implied main idea?
What is 'The city's park renovations make it more family-friendly and appealing?'
In a narrative, a character is always referenced as speaking with 'quivering words' in conversations. What can you infer about their emotion or state?
What is 'The character is frequently feeling nervous or fearful'?
Describes or explains a topic, idea, person, place, or thing to give the reader a mental picture.
What is description?
If your dog barks and runs to the door every time the doorbell rings, you can infer it has associated the sound with this event.
What is someone's arrival?
Sensory details (what you see, smell, hear, taste, touch), adjectives, and vivid imagery are often used in this text structure.
What is description?
For the statement, 'Scientists have discovered new species in the depths of the ocean, showing how much we still have to learn about marine life,' what is the implied main idea?
What is 'There is still much to learn about marine life due to new discoveries?'