Inferencing
When you read between the lines and use clues from the text to understand something the author doesn’t directly state, you are making this.
What is an Inference.
This term describes the most important point the author wants you to understand in a nonfiction text.
What is the central idea?
These tools, like headings, captions, and bold words, help readers locate and understand key information in a text.
What are text features?
This text structure organizes information by showing how things are alike and different.
What is compare and contrast?
An objective summary should always include this, which is the main point the author wants readers to understand.
What is the central idea?
If a character's stomach growls loudly during a test, and they keep glancing at the clock, what can you infer about them?
What is they are hungry or eager for the test to end?
To determine the central idea, look at the title, headings, and this part of the text, often at the beginning.
What is the introduction?
This text feature provides a list of topics and page numbers, usually found at the beginning of a book.
What is a table of contents?
When a text explains a sequence of events in the order they happened, it uses this structure.
What is chronological order or sequence?
True or false: When writing an objective summary, you should use direct quotes from the text.
What is false?
This is what you combine with textual evidence to make a strong inference.
What is prior knowledge/background knowledge?
In a paragraph about how bees help plants grow, the central idea might focus on this role of bees.
What is pollination?
Diagrams, graphs, and maps are examples of this type of text feature.
What are visual aids?
If a text explains how eating too much sugar can lead to health problems, it is using this text structure.
What is cause and effect?
Summaries should include the central idea and these supporting elements.
What are key details?
In a mystery story, the author writes, "The butler's gloves were damp." What might you infer about the butler?
What is the butler was involved in the crime or in water recently?
True or false: The central idea can be state in just one sentence.
What is True?
If you want to find the meaning of an unfamiliar word, this text feature is often helpful.
What is a glossary?
If an author organizes a passage by explaining a problem and offering a solution, they are using this structure.
What is problem and solution?
This step is helpful when summarizing: reading a passage carefully and then writing the summary in your own words.
What is paraphrasing?
If a historical text mentions “rationing” and “scarcity” during World War II, what inference can you make about daily life at that time?
What is people had limited access to food and supplies?
What strategy can you use to identify the central idea in a text full of details and examples?
What is summarizing and/or paraphrasing?
This text feature appears at the end of a nonfiction book and lists where information or topics can be found.
What is an index?
Text that compares and contrasts two topics often uses these signal words.
What are "similarly," "however," "on the other hand," or "in contrast"?
A summary should avoid this, which includes your feelings or opinions.
What is personal bias?