Crime Scene Directions Around the room, you will find: –6 Evidence cones which mark important things in the crime scene. You will have 1 minute to examine the evidence at each cone and jot down any observations you can about each clue. –Be objective – just write down the facts! (Ex: “Tape on window” instead of “Broken Window” Do not fill out the “Conclusions” side of your notes yet. At the end of the minute, go to the next cone and take notes on the next piece of evidence. –Be thorough with each piece of evidence so you can put all of the pieces together in the end and figure out what happened at Frost last night!

Putting all the pieces together Based on the clues you found and what you know, what are 5 conclusions can you draw about the crime?

You just made inferences! Inference Definition: –Drawing conclusions or assuming something based on clues in the text. –Reading “between the lines” and figuring out more than what the words reveal. Other words that mean the same thing as making inferences: –Deduct –Interpret –Hypothesize

How do I make an inference ? To use this reading strategy you just have to remember to use A- E-C! –A  Assertion –E  Evidence from the Text –C  Commentary

A  Assertion First, you state your inference as an ASSERTION, or a statement of fact. Example: –Text: He was over 5,000 feet in the air. He jumped and felt the cold wind rush across his face. He looked down and saw that the small dots were getting bigger and bigger. He pulled a string and felt a jolt. Everything slowed down. –Assertion: I can infer that the man is skydiving.

E  Evidence from the text Next, you read and look for at least two pieces of EVIDENCE in the text that will support your assertion. Reminders: –Find evidence that is relevant, or important, to your assertion. –Copy the words directly from the text – don’t paraphrase. –Put quotation marks around your text evidence to avoid plagiarizing. –Use a sentence starter like “In the text it states” or “According to the text”. Example: –Text: He was over 5,000 feet in the air. He jumped and felt the cold wind rush across his face. He looked down and saw that the small dots were getting bigger and bigger. HE pulled a string and felt a jolt. Everything slowed down. –Text Evidence: The text states, “He was over 5,000 feet in the air.” According to the text, “ He pulled a string and felt a jolt.”

C  Commentary Last, you make your own COMMENTARY to explain how both pieces of text evidence support your assertion. Reminders: –Avoid using 1 st person point of view – no “I” statements. –Commentary should be about 3 sentences long. –Format: 1 st Sentence: Explain or translate your first piece of text evidence in YOUR OWN WORDS. 2 nd Sentence: Explain or translate your second piece of text evidence IN YOUR OWN WORDS. 3 rd sentence (possibly longer): Explain how both pieces of text evidence support your assertion.

C  Commentary Example: –Text Evidence: The text states, “He was over 5,000 feet in the air.” According to the text, “He pulled a string and felt a jolt.” –Commentary: The first piece of text evidence shows that the man is very high up in the air. The second piece of text evidence shows that he is using something with a string that you pull and then it jolts you. When people go sky diving they are high up in the air because they are in an airplane. They also wear a backpack which has a string that is pulled to release the parachute.

A-e-C  Putting it all together! Example: –Text: I was over 5,000 feet in the air. I jumped and felt the cold wind rush across my face. I looked down and saw that the small dots were getting bigger and bigger. I pulled a string and felt a jolt. Everything slowed down. –Fully Written AEC I can infer that the man is sky diving. The text states, “He was over 5,000 feet in the air.” Also, according to the text, “ He pulled a string and felt a jolt.” The first piece of text evidence shows that the man is very high up in the air. The second piece of text evidence shows that he is using something with a string that you pull and then it jolts you. When people go sky diving they are high up in the air because they are in an airplane. They also wear a backpack which has a string that is pulled to release the parachute. –Underline the Assertion. –Highlight the Evidence from the Text. –Draw a Box around the Commentary.

Another Example Passage: Terri was waiting near the front door when he said, “I think I see Sam’s car driving up the street. Hurry up! Close the curtains, turn off the lights, and hide! He’s never going to expect all of you to be here for his birthday.” Everyone followed Terry’s directions well.

You Try! Passage: You and your best friend decide to go see a movie at Streets of Woodfield. After paying for your ticket and getting your popcorn, you pass people who have just seen the movie that you are about to see. Almost all of them are silent and have serious expressions. Some even look like they were crying. You grab extra napkins and head in to the show.

You try! Passage: It was her duplicity that caused him to break up with her. Had she been honest, he wouldn't have felt the need. However, honesty was never her strong point. Now they were over for good.

You try! Passage: The first rays of the rising sun streak across the gym floor. The only sounds are the whir of the rope cutting the air and light rhythmic thump of his feet. He counts each time the rope passes before his eyes. He’s determined to be in shape when he steps into the ring.

Independent Practice You will practice with AEC even more when we read the story “Seventh Grade”.

AEC Rubric ASSERTION Answer restates the question and gives an appropriate response Response is appropriate, but does not restate the question Attempt was made, but answer does not demonstrate an appropriate response 210 EVIDENCE/ EXAMPLE  Two pieces of relevant and sufficient evidence cited to support answer  Text evidence uses a lead in (e.g. “In the text it states…” or “The text says…”)  Only one piece of relevant and sufficient evidence cited to support answer OR evidence was irrelevant or insufficient  Text evidence does not use a lead in Irrelevant evidence cited to support answer 3210 COMMENTA RY  Explanation clearly proves how both pieces of text evidence connect to the assertion, demonstrating a thorough understanding of text  Explanation does not simply restate the text evidence  No personal connections included  Third person ONLY is used  Three or more sentences  Explanation clearly proves how one piece of text evidence connects to the assertion OR explanation was attempted but does not fully connect assertion and evidence  Explanation does not simply restate the text evidence  No personal connections included  Two or more sentences  Explanation was attempted but does not connect assertion and evidence clearly  May have mostly restated text evidence  May have included personal connections  May have written in first person  Two or more sentences  Explanation was attempted, but only restates text evidence or commentary is irrelevant  Less than two sentences