Unit Two: Making inferences Support inferences with clues from
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Inspire to write on the slides using your Promethean Board. Unit 2:
Making Inferences Supporting inferences with clues from the text
and prior knowledge I can use talk to the text to hunt for clues in
text to support an inference I can answer inference questions using
my prior knowledge and clues from the text. I can justify the
answer to an inference question Lesson Outcomes: TUESDAY, March 10,
2015 REMINDER: In your Pre Assessment, you saw a tool box. Today we
will begin using some of the tools. Strategies Tool Box Talking to
the Text Questioning Chunking Activating Prior Knowledge/ Making
Connections Predicting Visualizing Identifying a problem/Using Fix
Ups Summarizing Inferencing We all have to take tests where we are
presented with a passage of text and we have to work our way
through the multiple-choice problems that follow. For many people,
understanding how to make an inference is the toughest part of
these reading passages, because an inference in real life requires
a bit of guessing. On a multiple-choice test, however, making an
inference comes down to honing a few skills. Answering Inference
Questions Step 1: Identify an Inference Question Step 2: Trust the
Passage Step 3: Hunt for Clues Step 4: Narrow Down the Choices Step
5: Practice Last Week We learned Steps 1&2, now Lets learn
Steps 3-5 Step 3: Hunt for Clues Your third step is to start
hunting for clues supporting details, vocabulary, character's
actions, descriptions, dialogue, and more to prove one of the
inferences listed below the question. (Remember Step 2 Trust the
passage: the correct answer will be in the passage just find the
details in the passage to prove it) Skills for Answering Inference
Questions Lets Practice Step 3 Together Based on the information in
the passage, it could be suggested that the narrator believes
Elsa's prior marriages to be: A. uncomfortable, but well-suited to
Elsa B. satisfactory and dull to Elsa C. cold and damaging to Elsa
D. awful, but worth it to Elsa Teacher Model Please work through
this reading by talking to the text then answering the questions to
make and support an inference Fill out your sheet while the teacher
models. Based on the information in the passage, it could be
suggested that the narrator believes Elsa's prior marriages to be:
A. uncomfortable, but well-suited to Elsa B. satisfactory and dull
to Elsa C. cold and damaging to Elsa D. awful, but worth it to Elsa
The widow Elsa was as complete a contrast to her third husband, in
everything but age, as can be conceived. Compelled to relinquish
her first marriage after her husband died in the war, she married a
man twice her years to whom she became an exemplary wife despite
their having nothing in common, and by whose death she was left in
possession of a splendid fortune, though she gave it away to the
church. Next, a southern gentleman, considerably younger than
herself, to her hand in marriage, and carried her to Charleston,
where, after many uncomfortable years, she found herself again a
widow. It would have been remarkable if any feeling had survived
through such a life as Elsa's; it could not but be crushed and
killed by the early disappointment of her first groom's demise, the
icy duty of her second marriage, and the unkindness of her third
husband, which had inevitably driven her to connect the idea of his
death with that of her comfort. Lets Practice Step 3 Together To
find clues that point to the correct answer, look for descriptions
that would support the answer choices. Here are some of the
descriptions of her marriages in the passage: "she became an
exemplary wife despite their having nothing in common" "after many
uncomfortable years, she found herself again a widow." "the icy
duty of her second marriage and the unkindness of her third husband
which had inevitably driven her to connect the idea of his death
with that of her comfort." Teacher Model Please work through this
reading by talking to the text then answering the questions to make
and support an inference Fill out your sheet while the teacher
models. Based on the information in the passage, it could be
suggested that the narrator believes Elsa's prior marriages to be:
A. uncomfortable, but well-suited to Elsa B. satisfactory and dull
to Elsa C. cold and damaging to Elsa D. awful, but worth it to Elsa
The widow Elsa was as complete a contrast to her third husband, in
everything but age, as can be conceived. Compelled to relinquish
her first marriage after her husband died in the war, she married a
man twice her years to whom she became an exemplary wife despite
their having nothing in common, and by whose death she was left in
possession of a splendid fortune, though she gave it away to the
church. Next, a southern gentleman, considerably younger than
herself, to her hand in marriage, and carried her to Charleston,
where, after many uncomfortable years, she found herself again a
widow. It would have been remarkable if any feeling had survived
through such a life as Elsa's; it could not but be crushed and
killed by the early disappointment of her first groom's demise, the
icy duty of her second marriage, and the unkindness of her third
husband, which had inevitably driven her to connect the idea of his
death with that of her comfort. Step 4: Narrow Down the Choices The
last step to making a correct inference on a multiple- choice
question is to narrow down the answer choices. Skills for Answering
Inference Questions Graphic Organizer Step 4. Narrow Down the
Choices Paired Practice Answer/ Correct or IncorrectRationale A.
Incorrect Because although the marriages certainly seem
uncomfortable based on the clues, they were not well-suited to her
as she had nothing in common with her second husband and wanted her
third husband to die. B. Incorrect Using the clues from the
passage, we can infer that nothing much was "satisfactory" to Elsa
about her marriages C. Correct The marriages were cold and
damaging. The passage states explicitly that her marriage was an
"icy duty" and her third husband was "unkind." We also know that
they were damaging because her feelings had been "crushed and
killed" by her marriages. D. Incorrect Because nothing is stated or
implied in the passage to prove that Elsa believed her marriages to
be worth it in some way; in fact, we can infer that it wasn't worth
it to her at all because she gave away the money from her second
husband. Directions With a partner: Read through the text, talk to
the text to make your thinking visible. Your talking should relate
to whether or not the statement supports the correct answer.
Underline the clues in the text that support the correct answer to
the inference question. Then complete your graphic organizer by
providing an explanation for each incorrect answer and a rationale
for the correct answer Please work through this reading talking to
the text and inferencing with a partner. Each person needs to fill
out their own sheet. In the 1930s, why did author Zora Neale
Hurston choose Eatonville, Florida, to be the first source for her
collection of folklore? I was glad when somebody told me, You may
go and collect Negro folklore. In a way, it would not be a new
experience for me. When I pitched headforemost into the world I
landed in the crib of Negroism. It was fitting me like a tight
chemise. I couldn't see it for wearing it. It was only when I was
off in college, away from my native surroundings, that I could
stand off and look at my garment. Then I had to have the spy-glass
of anthropology to look through. I was asked where I wanted to work
and I said, Florida. Its a place that draws peopleNegroes from
every Southern state and some from the North and West. So I knew
that it was possible for me to get a cross section of the Negro
South in one state. And then I realized that I felt new myself, so
it looked sensible for me to choose familiar ground. I started in
Eatonville, Florida, because I knew that the town was full of
material and that I could get it without causing any hurt or harm.
As early as I could remember, it was the habit of the men
particularly to gather on the store porch in the evenings and swap
stories. Even the women would stop and break a breath with them at
times. As a child when I was sent down to the store, I'd drag out
my leaving to hear more. Folklore is not as easy to collect as it
sounds. The ideal source is where there are the fewest outside
influences, but these people are reluctant at times to reveal that
which the soul lives by. I knew that even I would have some
hindrance among strangers. But here in Eatonville I knew everybody
was going to help me. Based on the information in the passage, it
is most reasonable to conclude that the authors life experiences
caused her to: A.began to hate of her culture. B.desire to steal
materials from Eatonville. C.learn to love anthropology.
D.developed a greater understanding of self and culture. Please
work through this reading talking to the text and inferencing with
a partner. Each person needs to fill out their own sheet. In the
1930s, why did author Zora Neale Hurston choose Eatonville,
Florida, to be the first source for her collection of folklore? I
was glad when somebody told me, You may go and collect Negro
folklore. In a way, it would not be a new experience for me. When I
pitched headforemost into the world I landed in the crib of
Negroism. It was fitting me like a tight chemise. I couldn't see it
for wearing it. It was only when I was off in college, away from my
native surroundings, that I could stand off and look at my garment.
Then I had to have the spy-glass of anthropology to look through. I
was asked where I wanted to work and I said, Florida. Its a place
that draws peopleNegroes from every Southern state and some from
the North and West. So I knew that it was possible for me to get a
cross section of the Negro South in one state. And then I realized
that I felt new myself, so it looked sensible for me to choose
familiar ground. I started in Eatonville, Florida, because I knew
that the town was full of material and that I could get it without
causing any hurt or harm. As early as I could remember, it was the
habit of the men particularly to gather on the store porch in the
evenings and swap stories. Even the women would stop and break a
breath with them at times. As a child when I was sent down to the
store, I'd drag out my leaving to hear more. Folklore is not as
easy to collect as it sounds. The ideal source is where there are
the fewest outside influences, but these people are reluctant at
times to reveal that which the soul lives by. I knew that even I
would have some hindrance among strangers. But here in Eatonville I
knew everybody was going to help me. Based on the information in
the passage, it is most reasonable to conclude that the authors
life experiences caused her to: A.began to hate of her culture.
B.desire to steal materials from Eatonville. C.learn to love
anthropology. D.developed a greater understanding of self and
culture. Step 4: Narrow Down the Choices The last step to making a
correct inference on a multiple- choice question is to narrow down
the answer choices. Skills for Answering Inference Questions Step 4
Complete Graphic Organizer Step 4. Narrow Down the Choices Paired
Practice Answer/ Correct or IncorrectRationale A. B. C. D. How Did
you Do? Based on the information in the passage, it is most
reasonable to conclude that the authors life experiences caused her
to: A. began to hate of her culture. B. desire to steal materials
from Eatonville. C. learn to love anthropology. D. developed a
greater understanding of self and culture. CORRECT USEFUL TOOL:
Turn and talk Is useful for allowing students to discuss new
learning and ideas with one another. It allows student reflect on,
respond to, clarify, and retain what they just learned. It allows
students the opportunity to learn from and teach one another.
USEFUL TOOL: Now Lets Turn and talk Discuss with your partner. How
hunting for clues in the text (step 3) and narrowing down your
choices (step 4) helped you to answer the inference question
correctly. If you didnt get the answer correct, discuss where the
error may have occurred. You have 2 minutes to talk. Final Thoughts
Today we began using reading skills to answer multiple choice
inference questions I noticed... Next, we will continue to practice
this skill with a partner, and then on our own. Unit 2: Making
Inferences Supporting inferences with clues from the text and prior
knowledge I can use talk to the text to hunt for clues in text to
support an inference I can answer inference questions using my
prior knowledge and clues from the text. I can justify the answer
to an inference question Lesson Outcomes: THURSDAY, March 12, 2015
NEW TOOL REVIEW: Inferencing When you read, the author often
expects you to make inferences. An inference is when you combine
what you already know with clues from the text to make assumptions.
Directions With a partner: Read through the text, talk to the text
to make your thinking visible. Your talking should relate to
whether or not the statement supports the correct answer. Underline
the clues in the text that support the correct answer to the
inference question. Then complete your graphic organizer by
providing an explanation for each incorrect answer and a rationale
for the correct answer Please work through this reading talking by
to the text and inferencing with a partner. Each person needs to
fill out their own sheet. In Atlanta, about 200 young demonstrators
sat down in the middle of Peachtree Street, not far from the annual
Martin Luther King's Birthday commemoration at Ebenezer Baptist
Church, and briefly stopped the parade. In St. Louis, a group of
protesters rushed the stage at a prayer service, bringing the event
to a halt until the police arrived. In New York, there was a die-in
outside Bloomingdales, in the heart of an upscale shopping area,
while in Boston, similar die-ins took place on streets between
Boston Common and the Public Garden and then in front of the
Statehouse. The nations celebration of Dr. Kings birthday on Monday
was punctuated by protest, as a new generation of activists,
angered by the deaths of several unarmed African-Americans in
confrontations with the police, demanded that the traditional
holiday rituals of speechmaking, community service and prayer
breakfasts give way to denunciations of injustice and inequality.
The events that have happened have kind of diminished his dream a
little bit, said Aleah Hutchinson, 17, who attended a King event in
Athens, Ala., and won a local essay contest connected to the
holiday. He wanted us all to work together in unity, but when
certain events occur, like the events in Ferguson and the Trayvon
Martin case, it kind of diminishes his dream a little bit because
at that point, were not working together. The passage suggests
that: A.Theres a new generation of activists who have stopped
believing in Dr. Kings dream. B.teens want Dr. Kings birthday
removed as a holiday C.theres a growing sentiment that Dr. Kings
dream isnt being upheld D.protests are violent Please work through
this reading talking by to the text and inferencing with a partner.
Each person needs to fill out their own sheet. In Atlanta, about
200 young demonstrators sat down in the middle of Peachtree Street,
not far from the annual Martin Luther King's Birthday commemoration
at Ebenezer Baptist Church, and briefly stopped the parade. In St.
Louis, a group of protesters rushed the stage at a prayer service,
bringing the event to a halt until the police arrived. In New York,
there was a die-in outside Bloomingdales, in the heart of an
upscale shopping area, while in Boston, similar die-ins took place
on streets between Boston Common and the Public Garden and then in
front of the Statehouse. The nations celebration of Dr. Kings
birthday on Monday was punctuated by protest, as a new generation
of activists, angered by the deaths of several unarmed
African-Americans in confrontations with the police, demanded that
the traditional holiday rituals of speechmaking, community service
and prayer breakfasts give way to denunciations of injustice and
inequality. The events that have happened have kind of diminished
his dream a little bit, said Aleah Hutchinson, 17, who attended a
King event in Athens, Ala., and won a local essay contest connected
to the holiday. He wanted us all to work together in unity, but
when certain events occur, like the events in Ferguson and the
Trayvon Martin case, it kind of diminishes his dream a little bit
because at that point, were not working together. The passage
suggests that: A.Theres a new generation of activists who have
stopped believing in Dr. Kings dream. B.teens want Dr. Kings
birthday removed as a holiday C.theres a growing sentiment that Dr.
Kings dream isnt being upheld D.protests are violent Step 4: Narrow
Down the Choices The last step to making a correct inference on a
multiple- choice question is to narrow down the answer choices.
Skills for Answering Inference Questions Graphic Organizer Step 4.
Narrow Down the Choices Paired Practice Answer/ Correct or
IncorrectRationale A. B. C. D. How Did You Do? The passage suggests
that: A. theres a new generation of activists who have stopped
believing in Dr. Kings dream. B. teens want Dr. Kings birthday
removed as a holiday. C. theres a growing sentiment that Dr. Kings
dream isnt being upheld.(CORRECT) D. protests are violent. Please
work through this reading talking by to the text and inferencing A
young couple entered the restaurant in Andys view. They were
holding hands. Andy sat back down in his chair. He felt sick. He
turned and faced his father, who was eating xi. Whats the matter,
son? asked his father. I thought you were going to the birthday
party. Its too late. Are you sure? Andy nodded. He looked at the
plate of xi. He wanted to bury his face in it. Hi, Andy. A voice
came from behind. Andy looked up. He recognized the beautiful face,
and he refused to meet her eyes. Hi, Jennifer, muttered Andy,
looking at the floor. You didnt miss much, Andy. The party was
dead. I was looking for you, hoping you could give me a ride home.
Then I met Tim, and he was bored like me. And he said hed take me
home. Andy, do you want to eat with us? Ill introduce you to Tim.
Andy said, No, Im eating xi with my father. Well, Ill see you in
school then, okay? Yeah. And Andy watched her socks move away from
his view. Andy grabbed a chunk of xi. The rice and beans stuck to
his fingernails. He placed the chunk in his mouth and pulled it
away from his fingers with his teeth. There was a dry bitter taste.
But nothing could be as bitter as he was, so he chewed some more.
The bitterness faded as the xi became softer in his mouth, but it
was still tasteless. He could hear the young couple talk and
giggle. Their words and laughter and the sounds of his own chewing
mixed into a sticky mess. The words were bitter and the laughter
was tasteless, and once he began to understand this, he tasted the
sweetness of xi. Andy enjoyed swallowing the sticky mess down. Andy
swallowed everything down sweetness and bitterness and nothingness
and what he thought was love. Based on the information in the
passage, it can be most reasonably inferred that Andys eating xi:
A.helps distract him from his disappointment. B.is something that
he does not enjoy. C.is the only thing that matters to him on this
night. D.makes him happy to see Tim and Jennifer. Step 4: Narrow
Down the Choices The last step to making a correct inference on a
multiple- choice question is to narrow down the answer choices.
Skills for Answering Inference Questions Graphic Organizer Step 4.
Narrow Down the Choices Paired Practice Answer/ Correct or
IncorrectRationale A. B. C. D. How Did You Do? Based on the
information in the passage, it can be most reasonably inferred that
Andys eating xi: A. helps distract him from his disappointment.
(CORRECT) B. is something that he does not enjoy. C. is the only
thing that matters to him on this night. D. makes him happy to see
Tim and Jennifer. USEFUL TOOL: Now Lets Turn and talk Explain your
completed graphic organizer to a partner. You have 2 minutes to
talk (1 min each). Final Thoughts Today we began used steps 3-5 to
answer multiple choice inference questions I noticed... Next week,
we will continue to practice this skill with a partner, and then on
our own.