Inferencing
What is an inference?
An educated guess
What is a central idea?
The most important point that the writer makes and uses details in the text to support, or with fiction, what a story is mostly about.
What are supporting details?
Facts, statistics, expert statements, examples, reasons, descriptions, and more specific information that support a bigger idea.
What is a summary?
A short description of the most important ideas and information in a text.
What are interactions?
Connections or ways an idea, person, or event influences another idea, person, or event.
What is the "formula" for making an inference?
Your knowledge + evidence
What is theme?
The life lesson or universal truth being conveyed in a story. It’s what the reader takes away from the story-what it means to you.
There are many kinds of endangered animals in South Texas: one type is the jaguarundi.
What type of evidence is this: fact, statistic, example, or expert statement?
What word provides you a clue?
Example. The words "one type" are a clue.
Summaries must be objective. What does objective mean?
Without bias, or personal opinion. Strictly fact-based.
Provide an example of an individual, an idea, and an event.
Answers will vary.
Frankie burst through the door, tossing her coat and gym bag on the ground. She danced across the kitchen floor and made her way through the dining room.
"Hi, sweetie," her mother said, taking off her glasses. "How did soccer tryouts go?"
Frankie clapped her hands and laughed excitedly.
What can you infer about Frankie?
She made the soccer team.
Identify each statement as a theme or central idea.
A. A legendary pirate and a young sailor battle over sunken treasure.
B. The real "treasure" is to love and be loved by another.
A. Central Idea
B. Theme
Frankie burst through the door, tossing her coat and gym bag on the ground. She danced across the kitchen floor and made her way through the dining room.
"Hi, sweetie," her mother said, taking off her glasses. "How did soccer tryouts go?"
Frankie clapped her hands and laughed excitedly.
Which statements support the inference that Frankie made the soccer team? How?
As the text says, "Frankie clapped her hands and laughed excitedly." We know that Frankie made the soccer team because her reaction to her mother's question is happy and enthusiastic.
Confederacy of Dunces, by John Kennedy Toole, provides an interesting perspective on life in New Orleans in the 1960s. The plot centers on Ignatius Reilly, who is overweight, antisocial, and flatulent. Reilly has many adventures and misadventures as he enters the work force.
This is not an objective summary. Which words in the excerpt provides an opinion or bias?
The writer calls this book "an interesting perspective."
This paragraph reads more like a book review with opinions than an objective summary. Saying that a book gives an interesting perspective is saying an opinion about a book.
Amy scanned the beach anxiously. What is taking them so long? she thought. About 75 yards out, she could see the swimmer waving his arms at the lifeguards on shore. Amy's mind flashed back to water polo practice and the water treading drill that Coach always made them do at the end of practice. Amy was one of the strongest swimmers on the team, and she'd always dreaded that drill. That was difficult when we were just tired; if this guy is really in distress, I'm not sure how much longer he's going to be able to keep his head up, she thought. She took one more look down the beach. The nearest lifeguard was far down the sand, reprimanding some kids for having boogie boards outside of the designated area.
Based on what this passage reveals about Amy, what are the most likely action(s) that she will take?
• swim out to assist the swimmer
• attract the lifeguard's attention
From the details in the passage, we can tell that Amy is very concerned for the swimmer's safety and is therefore likely to take action to make sure that the swimmer is helped. We also know that she herself is a strong swimmer. Based on this information, Amy would probably notify the lifeguard, or she might swim out to help the swimmer since the lifeguard is some distance away.
Henry opened the door, and Jerry stepped inside. Jerry hesitated for a moment, listening.
"Where's your dog?" he asked Henry.
"Oh, don't worry. Mom put Rover in his kennel."
Jerry tensed up as he heard the sound of Rover's claws on the hardwood. He backed up quickly towards the door, fumbling for the doorknob.
Using what you read with what you already know, make an inference about how Jerry feels about Rover.
Jerry is afraid of Rover. He acts like someone who is scared when he tenses up and moves to the door when he hears Rover coming.
Pharmacists dispense prescription medications to patients and offer expertise in the safe use of prescriptions. They also may provide advice on healthy living, conduct health screenings, and provide immunizations. Pharmacists communicate with physicians to ensure the right medications are given to patients.
In addition to working directly with patients and medicines, some pharmacists who own their own pharmacies or manage a chain of them spend time on business actives, such as inventory management. Pharmacists must also take continuing education courses throughout their careers to keep up with the latest advances in pharmacological science.
-From us.gov
Determine the central idea of the entire passage.
A strong answer will state that pharmacists have many responsibilities in addition to dispensing medicine.
Tanned skin on a caucasian person is not a sign of good health - it means that your skin has been hurt by the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. Too much sun without protection can cause skin damage, eye problems, and more serious health problems such as skin cancer and lip cancer. Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S., and it can be deadly. The good news is that you can take steps to protect your health.
-From girlshealth.gov
Which sentence supports the claim that tanning is dangerous?
The evidence used to support this claim is that skin damage, eye problems, skin cancer, and lip cancer are caused by sun damage.
This article describes the causes of World War I. According to this detailed article, the war was spurred on mainly by distrust and competition between European powers. For instance, Britain and Germany were in fierce competition to have the best Navy. Additionally, European countries were selfishly competing for colonies in Africa. Also, nationalism was widespread at that time: many people wanted to prove that their country was the most powerful; and, for good reason, they did not want to be commanded by foreign powers with different cultures and languages.
Which statements are probably not objective? Why?
Photographer Dorothea Lange was born in Hoboken, New Jersey, in 1895. Lange is best known for her work documenting poor conditions of the migrant workers who traveled in large numbers to California during the Great Depression of the late 1920s and 1930s. Her photographs brought much-needed attention to their plight. Lange used photography to document the difficult period of the Depression and to motivate agencies and individuals to take action to improve the situation. With her photographs Lange was able to capture the emotional and physical toll that the Depression and other events took on human beings across the country.
-From America's Story from America's Library
Identify and describe the interactions between the key individuals, events, and ideas discussed in the text.
Dorothea Lange's ideas about the importance of sharing the human face of the Great Depression influenced how people living at the time perceived the situation and how the Great Depression has been imagined and remembered throughout history. She was able to influence people to realize that real individuals were struggling every day and to urge those with power to act to help those in need.
In order to lead an international initiative to slow climate change, the President proposed an end to public financing for new coal-fired power plants overseas. Following the lead of the U.S., other nations—including the U.K., the Netherlands, and the Nordic countries—have joined the initiative.
-Excerpted from "Climate Change and President Obama's Action Plan" from whitehouse.gov
What can you infer about coal-fired power plants from the passage?
The passage suggests that coal-fired power plants have a negative effect on the climate. If the President of the United States takes action to end public financing for coal-fired plants in order to limit climate change, we can infer that these plants negatively affect the climate.
In his sophomore year of high school, Michael Jordan tried out for the varsity basketball team. But at five feet and eleven inches tall, the coach believed that Jordan was too short to play at that level, so Jordan was cut from the team. Jordan didn't let this obstacle defeat him. In fact, it pushed him to work even harder. He trained vigorously and grew another four inches the following summer. When he finally made the varsity squad, Jordan averaged 25 points a game and went on to become one of the greatest basketball players in history.
What is the theme of the story? What happens in the story that leads you to believe this?
Never give up. Persistence pays off. Jordan could have quit basketball his sophomore year, but he continued playing and became one of the best players in history.
In 1891, while teaching at the YMCA International School in Massachusetts, Dr. James Naismith struggled to keep his rowdy students focused in the winter. The school could only hold gym indoors during the winter months, but there was no popular indoor team sport to keep them occupied.
What evidence from the text supports the inference that winters in Massachusetts are too cold to play outdoor sports?
The school could only hold gym indoors during the winter months.
How do you say “Holy cow” in French? The fastest thing in France may just be the fastest ground transportation in the world. The TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse: French for very high speed) is France’s national high speed rail service. On April 3rd, 2007, a TGV test train set a record for the fastest wheeled train, reaching 357.2 miles per hour. In mid 2011, TGV trains operated at the highest speed in passenger train service in the world, regularly reaching 200 miles per hour. But what you may find most shocking is that TGV trains run on electric power not petrol. Now if you’ll excuse me; I have a record to catch.
Summarize the passage in your own words.
The TGV is a French train that set a record for the fastest wheeled train and the fastest passenger train service.
Provide an example of a historical figure or group's ideas influencing other people or leading to an event.
Answers will vary.