Reading Strategy: Making Inferences Readers need to find the meaning behind the words.

Reading Strategy:Reading Strategy:Making InferencesMaking Inferences

Readers need to find the meaning Readers need to find the meaning behind the words.behind the words.

What Are Inferences?What Are Inferences? Inferences are often referred to as what Inferences are often referred to as what

you “read between the lines.”you “read between the lines.” Inferences are what the author implies or Inferences are what the author implies or

suggests.suggests. The author wants you, the reader, to make The author wants you, the reader, to make

the jump to the same conclusion the the jump to the same conclusion the author has made.author has made.

When the author When the author implies implies something, the something, the reader has to reader has to infer.infer.

What Happens When You Read?What Happens When You Read?

While you read, your inside voice:While you read, your inside voice:– Makes guessesMakes guesses– Finds connecting pointsFinds connecting points– Asks questionsAsks questions– Makes predictionsMakes predictions– Personalizes the readingPersonalizes the reading– Uses background knowledge to interpretUses background knowledge to interpret

A Simple InferenceA Simple Inference If the skies suddenly grow very If the skies suddenly grow very

cloudy and the wind begins to whip cloudy and the wind begins to whip around your legs, how do you infer?around your legs, how do you infer?– You have seen this weather pattern You have seen this weather pattern

before.before.– You have background knowledge about You have background knowledge about

storms.storms.– You make connections between your You make connections between your

background knowledge and the current background knowledge and the current weather pattern.weather pattern.

– Based on these connections, you make Based on these connections, you make a prediction.a prediction.

Let’s Use Background KnowledgeLet’s Use Background Knowledge Even couples with only mild difficulties in Even couples with only mild difficulties in

communicating can have important communicating can have important misunderstandings. Marjorie, for example, wanted misunderstandings. Marjorie, for example, wanted Ken to invite her to a favorite cocktail lounge Ken to invite her to a favorite cocktail lounge overlooking a bay to celebrate their anniversary. overlooking a bay to celebrate their anniversary. She archly asked him, “Ken, do you feel like going She archly asked him, “Ken, do you feel like going out for a drink tonight?” Ken, who was feeling out for a drink tonight?” Ken, who was feeling tired, missed the hidden message contained in her tired, missed the hidden message contained in her question. He responded, “No, I’m too tired.” question. He responded, “No, I’m too tired.” Marjorie was extremely disappointed. Only after Marjorie was extremely disappointed. Only after feeling hurt and sorry for herself did she realize feeling hurt and sorry for herself did she realize that she had not communicated to Ken her real that she had not communicated to Ken her real desire – to celebrate their anniversary. When she desire – to celebrate their anniversary. When she later made clear her true wish, he readily agreed later made clear her true wish, he readily agreed to celebrate.to celebrate.

Beck, Beck, Love is Never EnoughLove is Never Enough

What Can You Infer?What Can You Infer?

Marjorie and Ken are probably married?Marjorie and Ken are probably married? Marjorie and Ken have been married for a Marjorie and Ken have been married for a

long time?long time? Ken does not enjoy going out for drinks Ken does not enjoy going out for drinks

with his wife?with his wife? If Marjorie had expressed her wish more If Marjorie had expressed her wish more

clearly, Ken would have probably agreed?clearly, Ken would have probably agreed? All couples can have communication All couples can have communication

problems?problems?

Which of the assumptions listed below can be inferred from the text?

You Used Your Background You Used Your Background KnowledgeKnowledge

Married couples have anniversaries.Married couples have anniversaries. Couples married both a short time Couples married both a short time

and a long time have anniversaries.and a long time have anniversaries. Married couples you know have had Married couples you know have had

misunderstandings and hurt feelings.misunderstandings and hurt feelings.

You Used Hints in the Text and You Used Hints in the Text and Asked Yourself QuestionsAsked Yourself Questions

Ken “readily agreed” is a clue. You asked Ken “readily agreed” is a clue. You asked yourself, “Does this mean he didn’t yourself, “Does this mean he didn’t understand at first?”understand at first?”

““No, I’m too tired,” is a clue. You made a No, I’m too tired,” is a clue. You made a connection to this statement and connection to this statement and Marjorie’s hurt feelings. Marjorie’s hurt feelings.

““For example” is a clue that a story is For example” is a clue that a story is coming. You could predict that the author coming. You could predict that the author was going to give a specific example, or was going to give a specific example, or story, to illustrate the point. story, to illustrate the point.

Guiding Questions To Help With Guiding Questions To Help With InferencesInferences

The author gave me a gift in the title. The author gave me a gift in the title. What prediction popped into my head from What prediction popped into my head from it? How does it help me?it? How does it help me?

Now that I’ve almost finished this passage, Now that I’ve almost finished this passage, can I confirm my predictions? can I confirm my predictions?

What message do I think the writer wants What message do I think the writer wants me to understand? How will this help me me to understand? How will this help me remember the reading? remember the reading?

What words helped me reach my What words helped me reach my conclusions?conclusions?

How can I explain my inference to How can I explain my inference to somebody else?somebody else?

Mr. PerfectMr. PerfectThe minister asked for anyone who knew a

truly perfect person to stand up. After a long pause, a meek-looking fellow in the back stood. “Do you really know a perfect person?” he was asked.

“Yes, Sir, I do,” answered the little man.

“Would you please tell the congregation who this rare, perfect person is?” pursued the preacher.

“Yes, Sir, my wife’s first husband.” Bonham, The Treasury of Clean Jokes

Questions and Observations for Questions and Observations for “Mr. Perfect”“Mr. Perfect”

How did the title help you?How did the title help you? Did your prediction of who the perfect Did your prediction of who the perfect

person was hold true?person was hold true? What message is the author conveying?What message is the author conveying? How did your background knowledge help How did your background knowledge help

you interpret the message?you interpret the message? What do you think the little man’s wife What do you think the little man’s wife

does to him at home?does to him at home? Why did the author decide to make the Why did the author decide to make the

man “little”?man “little”? How can you explain your inferences to How can you explain your inferences to

somebody else?somebody else?

What Statements Can be Logically What Statements Can be Logically Inferred?Inferred?

1.1. The minister is surprised when the man The minister is surprised when the man stands up.stands up.

2.2. The minister is doubtful that the man The minister is doubtful that the man really knows a perfect person. really knows a perfect person.

3.3. The man believes that his wife’s first The man believes that his wife’s first husband is perfect. husband is perfect.

4.4. The wife believes that her first husband The wife believes that her first husband is perfect. is perfect.

5.5. The man’s wife has been comparing him The man’s wife has been comparing him unfavorably with her first husband. unfavorably with her first husband.

So, When We Infer, We…So, When We Infer, We… Make inferences based on sound Make inferences based on sound

reasoning.reasoning. Use background knowledge to make Use background knowledge to make

connections and personalize the reading.connections and personalize the reading. Ask internal questions while reading. Ask internal questions while reading. Make predictions and confirm or discard Make predictions and confirm or discard

them as we continue reading.them as we continue reading. Try to recognize the author’s purpose and Try to recognize the author’s purpose and

message.message. Make inferences using what is “between Make inferences using what is “between

our ears.” our ears.”

“Writers give clues, but readers have to amass the evidence and draw

conclusions for themselves.“

Zimmerman and Hutchins, 2003, p. 106