MAKING INFERENCES

Nonfiction Reading Power

You make INFERENCES all the time.

How do you know . . .your teacher doesn’t approve of something

you are doing?

there is an accident ahead on the road?

there is a fight in the hall?

You INFER when you use

facial expressionsbehavior

tone of voice – sound

clues or evidence

text

hand·ker·chief

a small piece of thin cloth, usually square and used to wipe the nose, face, neck, or hands, or worn as a decoration in a pocket

EVIDENCE

feelings

opinionsimPLAUSIBLE guesses

facts and EVIDENCE

+your PRIOR knowledge

asking questions

Activity

Row 1

Row 2 Row 3

“core it”“draw it off”“preserve it”

Three step plan for making INFERENCES.

step 1Look for the clues.

Ask yourself, “What do I know from the clues?”

Use the clues plus your prior knowledge to figure out a plausible answer.

Begin your inference with “I think…” or “Maybe…”

step 2

step 3

Clues in the text+

prior knowledgeinference

PLAUSIBLE

End of Part 1

He plunked down $12.00 at the window. She tried to give him $6.00, but he refused to take it. So when they got inside, she bought him a large bag of popcorn and a soft drink.

Where did he plunk the $12.00?

How much was the entrance fee for each person?

Why wouldn’t he take the $6.00?

Does he like popcorn?

How old are these people?

Why does she try to pay her own way?