Inferring Strategy

Compiled by Diane Jensen and Jody Sulser

ExLL 2009

Inferring

Making Inferencesis

reading BETWEENthe lines

is the bedrock of comprehension uses schema and author’s clues to draw conclusions, make critical judgments, and form unique interpretations

occurs in the form of conclusions, predictions, or new ideas.

Inferring …

go hand in hand to build understanding

an inference is a prediction based from author’s clues and your own schema

when a question is generated, an inference is rarely far behind

inferring, questioning, and predicting are next of kin

However…

Inferring, Questioning and Predicting…

Prediction: A logical guess based on facts. It is either confirmed or disproved by the text

Inference: A logical conclusion based on schema and clues in the text. Inferences are not explicitly confirmed in the text

Opinion: A belief or conclusion that isn’t necessarily based on facts or information. It can be informed or ridiculous, because it is based on what one thinks instead of what is proven by facts to be true.

Teach the Difference

1. Ask yourself a question. Wonder about something in the text. (I wonder why Owen quit writing to Petey?)

2. Consider textual evidence left by the author that may represent important clues. (The man was 73 years old, he couldn’t lift the patients anymore when he left the hospital, he wrote letters and then they suddenly stopped.)

3. Think about what you know about the evidence. What does your background knowledge tell you about these clues? (Owen was old and getting weak. My grandma always sent birthday cards until she died.)

4. Using the clues in the text and your background knowledge about the topic, try to answer the original question. (Owen quit writing because he got old and died.)

Teach students to Infer

create meaning that is not explicitly stated in the text

use the combination of background knowledge and explicitly stated information to answer questions they have as they read

are more able to remember and reapply what they have read, create new and revise background knowledge

When proficient readers infer they…

may read more slowly, reread sections, write, or draw to better understand the content

revise their inferences based on the inferences and interpretation of others

When proficient readers infer they…

Getting Started with Inferring

Read comicsRead riddlesRead poetryPlay charadesGuess the use of the unusual kitchen

applianceFigure out the mystery substance in

bottlesRead and solve mysteries togetherSketch and write the endings to a

thrilling storyCatch students inferring and LABEL IT!

PoetryFictionWide variety of interpretation is appropriate

NonfictionMore narrow range of interpretation is typical

** latitude is given providing the reader can defend their inferences with relevant prior knowledge and specific text they have read

Texts to use for inferring:

Cartoons As an Example of InferenceWhy do some cartoons make you laugh, while

others go right over your head?

Picture Books as an Example of Inference

Listen to the description and look at the illustration. Infer where the ants are in the

kitchen.

When the mind is thinking, it is talking to itself.

~Plato