CHAPTER 6 INFERENCE When we infer, we draw conclusions based on :

1.  1. the information in front us

2.  2. our background knowledge. (Video: Inferences)

MAKING CONNECTIONS

1. Nouns and Pronouns �  He, She, It, We, They, Them

�  This, That and Which

2. General Category Substitutes

-Sometimes single words replace single words

3. Substitute by Association

-Sometimes writers use associated words to represent the topic

4.  Inferring the Main Idea

-Sometimes writer expect you to infer the topic or main idea.

EXAMPLES

Nouns and Pronouns General Category Substitutes

EXAMPLES

Substitute by Association Inferring the Main Idea

LOGICAL AND ILLOGICAL INFERENCES

�  Inferences must rely heavily on what the author has written.

�  Consider alternatives.

�  You must be careful not to put too much of your own background knowledge before the author’s actual statements, or you may end up with an illogical inference.

�  (Video: Car commercial)

LOGICAL VS. ILLOGICAL

Logical Inferences Illogical Inferences

�  1. are solidly grounded in, or based on, specific statement.

�  2. are not contradicted by any statements made in the passage.

�  3. rely more heavily on the author’s words than on the reader’s background knowledge or common sense.

�  1. do not follow from the author’s actual statements.

�  2. are contradicted by the author.

�  3. rely too heavily on the reader’s personal experience or general knowledge rather than on the author’s words.

BRIDGING INFERENCES

�  A bridging inference is an inference that is necessary to connect sentences (or major/minor details) in a paragraph or multiple paragraphs.

�  Example:

�  Recently, charter schools have come under criticism. Administrators have been accused of accepting only the best students in order to make sure their test scores remain high.

GUIDELINES FOR INFERENCES

�  Evidence + Schema = Inference

�  Evidence (What the text tells me.) + �  Schema (My background knowledge.) =

�  Inference (What I think.)