Implicit vs. Explicit
Explicit or Implicit? “The dog barked loudly at the mail carrier.”
Explicit → The dog barked loudly at the mail carrier.
What is “key evidence” in a text?
Key evidence = the most important detail that directly supports a claim or main idea.
What does it mean to “cite text evidence”?
Citing text evidence = using a direct quote or paraphrase from the text to support an answer.
What does it mean to “make an inference”?
Inference = an educated guess/conclusion based on text clues + prior knowledge.
What does it mean to “support an inference”?
Supporting an inference = proving your conclusion by pointing to specific evidence from the text.
Explicit or Implicit? “Jordan stared at the floor, his fists clenched, but said nothing.”
Implicit → Jordan is angry/frustrated (clenched fists, staring at floor).
Why is key evidence more important than extra details?
Because it directly proves the point, while extra details don’t strongly connect.
Fill in the blank: “I know the character is nervous because the text says, ‘________.’”
Example → “I know the character is nervous because the text says, ‘He tapped his foot under the desk.’”
Explicit or Inference? “He grabbed his umbrella as he rushed out the door.”
Explicit → He grabbed his umbrella. Inference → It’s raining or he expects rain.
Which inference is better supported?
A) “She is excited because she’s laughing and smiling.”
B) “She is angry because she is sitting on a chair.”
Better supported → A) She is excited because she’s laughing and smiling. (Evidence matches emotion).
Define “explicit” in your own words.
Explicit = clearly stated in the text (no guesswork needed).
In a passage where “Noah glanced at the clock every 2 minutes,” what key evidence shows he is worried?
Key evidence → Checking the clock every 2 minutes shows he’s worried.
Why do teachers want you to cite evidence instead of just giving an opinion?
Because evidence proves your answer; opinions without proof aren’t reliable.
If a poem says: “The old tree bends, heavy with years,” what can you infer about its meaning?
Inference → The tree symbolizes age, wisdom, or endurance.
Passage: “Marcus shoved the note into his pocket, his face red.”
– Support an inference about Marcus’s feelings with one piece of evidence.
Inference → Marcus is embarrassed or nervous.
Evidence: He shoved the note away, his face turned red.
“The stadium roared as the final seconds ticked away. Jasmine stood frozen, her jersey damp with sweat, clutching the ball so tightly her knuckles turned white. She could hear her teammates shouting, but her gaze was locked on the scoreboard: one point behind, five seconds left. Her breath came quick and shallow, and she blinked hard to keep her vision clear.”
– What details are explicit? What feelings can you infer implicitly?
Explicit → Jasmine stood frozen, jersey damp, clutching ball, gaze locked on scoreboard, 5 seconds left.
Implicit → She is nervous, under pressure, and afraid of failing.
“The wind howled through the shutters, rattling the old farmhouse. Oliver paced the living room, checking the clock every minute. The storm warning had said to stay indoors, but his father hadn’t come back from the store. Oliver’s hands shook as he tried to focus on his book, but he couldn’t get past the first page. He jumped at every creak of the house, his eyes flicking back to the door again and again.”
– Which piece of evidence is key to understanding Oliver’s main concern?
Key evidence → Oliver’s hands shook, eyes flicking to the door = he’s worried about his father’s safety.
“Liam sat at the edge of the soccer field, still in his uniform though practice had ended an hour ago. His teammates had already gone home, laughing and waving as they left, but Liam stayed. He traced circles in the dirt with his shoe, staring at the goal. Finally, he pulled his phone from his pocket, scrolled through his messages, and sighed. ‘Not today either,’ he whispered, slipping the phone back before dragging himself to his feet.”
– Quote one line from this passage that best shows Liam’s disappointment.
Quote → “Leah tapped her foot under the table, scrolling through her phone every few seconds.”
“The classroom was unusually quiet, except for the scratch of pencils and the occasional cough. Evan sat hunched over his test, tapping his foot under the desk. His eraser was worn down to a nub, and his paper was smudged from constant changes. He kept glancing at the clock, biting his lip, then scribbling furiously again. When the teacher announced five minutes left, Evan’s shoulders stiffened, and he dropped his pencil with a shaky sigh.”
– What can you infer about Evan’s state of mind? Support with evidence.
Inference → Evan is stressed/nervous about his test (foot tapping, constant clock checking, scribbling, sighing).
“During the Great Depression, long lines stretched outside soup kitchens where families waited for a single bowl of stew. In many towns, churches opened their basements as makeshift shelters, and neighbors pooled their food to create communal meals. Despite their hardships, people found small ways to support one another—sharing blankets, mending clothes for neighbors, and watching one another’s children. Historians note that these acts of solidarity often made survival possible in communities hit hardest by unemployment.”
– Make an inference about the values of these communities and support it with two pieces of text evidence.
Inference → Communities valued cooperation and resilience.
Evidence: Neighbors pooled food, shared blankets, watched each other’s children.
“‘Everything’s fine,’ Daniel muttered as he shoved his backpack into the corner. He avoided his sister’s eyes, pulling his hoodie over his face. At dinner, he picked at his food, barely answering questions, and disappeared to his room as soon as he could. Behind his closed door, the glow of his phone screen flickered as he scrolled through messages, rereading the same one over and over.”
– Identify explicit actions. What implicit feelings or situations can you infer?
Explicit → Daniel shoved backpack, pulled hoodie over face, picked at food, closed himself in room, scrolled messages.
Implicit → He’s upset, hiding emotions, possibly sad or worried about something in his messages.
“The museum was nearly empty in the late afternoon light. Camila walked slowly past the portraits, but her eyes kept returning to one painting: a woman standing at a harbor, suitcase at her side, gazing into the distance. Camila leaned closer, noticing the expression on the woman’s face—somewhere between fear and determination. She pulled out her notebook and scribbled a line: ‘Leaving is sometimes harder than staying.’ She didn’t notice the guard watching her carefully, curious about why this one painting had captured her attention for so long.”
– What detail is key evidence that reveals why this painting matters to Camila?
Key evidence → Camila wrote “Leaving is sometimes harder than staying” — shows the painting resonates with her personally, not just casual interest.
“The crowd hushed as the orchestra began, but Ella barely noticed the music. She sat in the balcony seat her grandmother had once loved, clutching the old playbill they had kept together. Her grandmother had passed just two months before, and Ella hadn’t been able to bring herself to return until now. As the violins swelled, Ella blinked back tears, hearing her grandmother’s voice in her memory: ‘Listen for the story hidden in the notes.’ She closed her eyes, letting the sound wash over her like a familiar embrace.”
– Cite two pieces of text evidence that show Ella’s emotional connection to this moment.
Two pieces:
“She sat in the balcony seat her grandmother had once loved.”
“She blinked back tears, hearing her grandmother’s voice in her memory.”
“The sun had long set by the time Priya closed her laptop. Her notes sprawled across the desk, highlighted and underlined in every color. A half-empty mug of coffee sat cold beside her, forgotten hours ago. She rubbed her temples and stretched her aching back, glancing at the stack of flashcards waiting to be reviewed. For a moment, she reached for her phone, scrolling past messages from friends inviting her out. With a small shake of her head, she set it aside, whispering, ‘Just one more chapter.’ The night deepened, but Priya’s desk lamp burned on.”
– What can you infer about Priya’s priorities and mindset? Which details support your inference?
Inference → Priya values education/success over social life and is determined.
Evidence: notes covered in highlights, late-night studying, ignoring friends’ messages, says “Just one more chapter.”
“Behind the laughter of the festival—children chasing lanterns, music echoing through the streets—Marta sat quietly at the edge of the square. She smiled when friends waved, but her gaze lingered on the horizon, where the mountains darkened against the setting sun. Last year, she would have been in the middle of the crowd, dancing and singing. But now, her father’s chair at home sat empty, and the house was quieter than she liked to admit. Marta took a deep breath, straightened her shoulders, and finally stood, weaving back into the crowd, determined to carry both joy and sorrow together.”
– Make an inference about Marta’s emotions. Support your answer with at least two pieces of text evidence.
Inference → Marta feels both grief and determination to keep living joyfully.
Evidence 1: “Her father’s chair at home sat empty.”
Evidence 2: “She smiled when friends waved, but her gaze lingered on the horizon.”
Evidence 3 (bonus): “Determined to carry both joy and sorrow together.”