InferenceInference

What is an What is an Inference?Inference?

It is based on all of the It is based on all of the information that you have information that you have available at that time.available at that time.

It is not necessarily a correct It is not necessarily a correct guess, but it is an educated one.guess, but it is an educated one.

An inference is an assumption that you make about something that you see, read, or

experience.

Everyday Everyday InferencesInferences

Here are some inferences that you probably make on a daily basis.

If a teacher writes information on the board during a lesson

You infer that it is important information that you may

need later.

If a child runs in the house holding their knee and

crying

You infer that they have somehow hurt

their knee.

You may not always be correct in your inferences, but they are assumptions that you make based on

the given clues.

InferencesInferences

1. What is this woman doing?

2. Where do you think this woman is?

3. Is she there for work or pleasure?

InferencesInferencesLet's look a little bit closer and evaluate your guesses.

What is she doing?

She is on the telephone.

Where do you think this woman is?

Based on the furniture and decorations, she is probably in a hotel room.

Is she there for work or pleasure?

Based on her clothing and the presence of a fax machine, she is probably there for work.

1. What season is it in this picture?

2. What is the person doing?

3. What socio-economic group does she belong to? Lower Class? Middle class? Upper Class?

InferencesInferences

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InferencesInferencesLets look a little bit closer and evaluate your assumptions.

The Santa hat and Ornament reveal that it is winter.

She is holding the Ornament. We

could infer further that she is

decorating a Christmas tree.

Based on the quality of the clothing and ornament, we can rule out lower class.

Based on the known

information any further inference

would be a stretch.

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Lesson ObjectivesLesson Objectives

Understand how to make inferences Understand how to make inferences about a textabout a text

““Explain” questionsExplain” questions

You may be asked to explain You may be asked to explain something about a text which something about a text which requires you to read between the requires you to read between the lineslines

The question will often be in two The question will often be in two parts: parts: whatwhat… and then … and then why…why…. The . The whywhy part is where the inference part is where the inference comes incomes in

When reading the text you need to When reading the text you need to consider what the question is asking consider what the question is asking you.you.

What did the writer’s children enjoy What did the writer’s children enjoy about the visit to Warwick Castle? Why about the visit to Warwick Castle? Why did they enjoy it?did they enjoy it?

What are the key words in the question?What are the key words in the question?

You need to make sensible You need to make sensible inferences about why they might inferences about why they might have enjoyed themselves.have enjoyed themselves.

The text will suggest what they The text will suggest what they enjoyed but won’t directly tell you. enjoyed but won’t directly tell you. Working it out is where the Working it out is where the inferenceinference comes incomes in

The best way is to give a detail (‘what’) The best way is to give a detail (‘what’) and then offer a comment alongside it and then offer a comment alongside it (‘why’).(‘why’).

Stay in sequence and track the text Stay in sequence and track the text carefully. Highlight or underline key carefully. Highlight or underline key details. Use these for the ‘what’ part.details. Use these for the ‘what’ part.

As you go along, link the above with a As you go along, link the above with a ‘why’ or ‘how’ comment. ‘why’ or ‘how’ comment.

Writing your answer…Writing your answer…

The first thing the children enjoyed The first thing the children enjoyed was a trip to the dungeon and torture was a trip to the dungeon and torture chamber, which they would have chamber, which they would have enjoyed because children would enjoyed because children would always be excited to see a real always be excited to see a real dungeon and the darkness would dungeon and the darkness would have made it realistic and spooky…have made it realistic and spooky…

Answer 1Answer 1

The writer’s children enjoyed the dungeons The writer’s children enjoyed the dungeons and torture chamber and torture chamber √√ and Amy would have and Amy would have liked the way the guide said that the Winnie liked the way the guide said that the Winnie the Pooh character would be scared. the Pooh character would be scared. √√

When they went into the armoury they could When they went into the armoury they could enjoy the interactive displays that included enjoy the interactive displays that included wooden chests which asked questions and wooden chests which asked questions and then had to be opened to find the answers. then had to be opened to find the answers. √√ Also they liked the experience of holding a Also they liked the experience of holding a real medieval sword real medieval sword √√ and trying on the and trying on the medieval and Victorian costumes. medieval and Victorian costumes. √√ In the In the kingmaker exhibition which had wax models kingmaker exhibition which had wax models of royalty and peasants, the wax models of royalty and peasants, the wax models were so life-like it was almost scary, so they were so life-like it was almost scary, so they enjoyed that. enjoyed that. √√

Answer 2Answer 2 The article states that the children wanted The article states that the children wanted

to go straight to the dungeon to go straight to the dungeon √√ and they and they would have enjoyed it until the guide told would have enjoyed it until the guide told them horrible stories of what happened them horrible stories of what happened there. I think they enjoyed the dungeons there. I think they enjoyed the dungeons because children from this day and age will because children from this day and age will only have read about methods of torturing only have read about methods of torturing so will have been fascinated by seeing the so will have been fascinated by seeing the real thing. real thing. √√ The article also says that the The article also says that the girls are “amazed” when they are shown girls are “amazed” when they are shown the sword the sword √√ and told about it. I think they and told about it. I think they enjoyed being allowed to hold a weapon enjoyed being allowed to hold a weapon from so long ago and it might have been from so long ago and it might have been used in a real battle. used in a real battle. √√

We are told that Amy was “fascinated” We are told that Amy was “fascinated” by some of the displays of guns by some of the displays of guns √√ and and Olivia wanted to try on a soldier’s Olivia wanted to try on a soldier’s helmet, helmet, √√ so they must have enjoyed so they must have enjoyed both of these things. Lastly we are both of these things. Lastly we are told the girls enjoyed dressing up in all told the girls enjoyed dressing up in all the Victorian costumes. the Victorian costumes. √√ I think this is I think this is because they were a lot different from because they were a lot different from the clothes worn today. the clothes worn today. √√

Inference QuestionsInference Questions

Questions which say “what” and then Questions which say “what” and then “why”.“why”.

Answer in continuous prose (not as a Answer in continuous prose (not as a list)list)

Make one point for “what” and then Make one point for “what” and then explain that point as a “why”. explain that point as a “why”.

There should be five points for There should be five points for “what” and five explanations.“what” and five explanations.