2. SDA PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS INFERENCES

3. Sometimes authors don’t tell you everything you need to know. To understand what you’re reading you might need to make an inference…

4. Think of it as: What I Know + What the Author Tells Me = Inference When a reader adds information that he or she already knows to what is stated by the author, the reader is making an inference! INFERENCES

5. SEEING CLUES AROUND US… We use clues everyday to make inferences about the world around us…

6. LET’S PLAY DETECTIVE! Sometimes you will hear or read the term “making inferences” as part of a reading test or assignment. That means you have to figure something out from clues. The story you read will only give you clues, and you will have to play detective.

7. FINDING CLUES IN THE STORY…

8. STORY #1: TOMMY AND SARAH

9. Tommy and Sarah just got off the school bus. Sarah said, “I smell smoke.” Tommy pointed and yelled, “Sarah, look at the smoke coming out of that house!” In a moment they both heard what sounded like a fire engine siren. the passage suggests: A. house is on fire & someone reported it. B. house is on fire & nobody reported it. C. this was a fire drill.

10. Tommy and Sarah just got off the school bus. Sarah said, “I smell smoke.” Tommy pointed and yelled, “Sarah, look at the smoke coming out of that house!” In a moment they both heard what sounded like a fire engine siren. Clues you use to make an inference: Smoke  fire Siren  someone called the fire dept. “A” is the correct answer!

11. STORY #2: THE BOY @ THE STORE

12. You’re at Walmart. As you’re walking down the candy aisle, you notice a little boy crying and pulling on his mom’s skirt as she heads towards the front of the store. The closer she gets to the front of the store, the louder the little boy screams. Lots of things could be wrong with the boy but you can infer that…

13. THE BOY WANTS CANDY!!! Clues you use to make an inference: At the store Candy aisle Boy crying as he walks away

14. STORY #3: YOU’RE @ THE DOCTORS OFFICE…

15. Pretend that you are at the doctor’s office to get a shot. There’s that same little boy from Walmart in the office screaming his head off. What inference can you make? A. He is still angry about not getting candy B. He has an ear ache C. He is scared because he is there for a shot D. He just cries a lot You could be right. To be 100% sure we’ll sometimes need more clues…

16. More clues: The boy you saw at Walmart is in the doctors office screaming his head off just like in the candy aisle. His mom is rocking him in her arms. He keeps pulling at his right ear. What inference can you make? A. He is still angry about not getting candy B. He has an ear ache C. He is scared because he is there for a shot D. He just cries a lot

17. REVIEW: INFERENCES When people talk, they don’t always say exactly what they mean. The listener must figure out what the speaker really means. Inference in reading is when you need to use the clues written in a story AND what you already know. You will not always be right when you make an inference, but the more you try, the more skilled you will become. Being a good word detective is a good thing!