Making
Inference
Definition
• Making inference:
to draw or guess information or ideas
which are not specifically stated by the
author in the reading material. It is a
reasonable and logical guess based on
what the author says.
Examples
• E.g.
• The climbing team planned to begin the
ascent on the 14 May if the weather was fine.
They didn’t begin until June.
Function
• Making inference while reading could
help readers understand the content more
thoroughly and catch the author’s
purpose and attitude more efficiently.
Examples
• 1. I saw by the clock of the city jail that it
was past eleven, so I decided to go to the
newspaper immediately. Outside the editor’s
door I stopped to make sure my pages were in
the right order; I smoothed them out carefully,
stuck them back in my pocket, and knocked. I
could hear my heart thumping as I walked in.
Examples
• a). The teller of this story has just left the city jail.
b). He has been carrying his papers in his pocket.
c). We know that the storyteller is a newspaper
writer by profession.
d). We might infer that the storyteller is going to
show his paper to the editor.
e). The meeting is important for the storyteller.
Examples
• 2. This organization may succeed marvelously at
what it wants to do, but what it wants to do may not be
that important.
a). The organization is marvelous.
b). The organization may succeed.
c). Although the organization may reach its goals, the
goals might not be important.
d). What the organization wants is marvelous.
e). The author questions the goals of the organization.
How to Make Reasonable Inference
• 1. Understand the literal meaning of the
material. Only in this way can you go
beyond the literal meaning and make
reasonable inferences.
How to Make Reasonable Inference
• 2. Ask yourself the following questions:
--- What is the author trying to suggest from the
stated information?
--- What do all the facts and ideas point toward
or seem to add up to?
--- For what purpose does the author include
these facts and details?
How to Make Reasonable Inference
• 3. Verify your inference to check if it is accurate.
You may look back at the stated information to
be sure that there is sufficient evidence to
support your inference.
Some points in making inference
• 1. Noticing the author’s choice of words,
sentence structures, and the stating tone.
• ---I believe that smoking cigarettes is harmful.
---It is believed that smoking cigarettes is
harmful.
---Smoking cigarettes is harmful.
• The young man quickly answered, “Yes, sir.”
Some points in making inference
• 2. Mind the accuracy of your inference
Base your inference on the information
given; do not take your own opinion as the
author’s
• The old man staggered along the side walk. He
grabbed the picket fence to keep from falling.
His torn grey overcoat flapped open in the
winter wind.
Classification of questions
•
1. inferring some information from certain
details or the understanding of a detail.
•
2. inferring the author’s purpose in writing
the passage.
Classification of questions
•
3. inferring the content preceding or
following the given passage.
•
4. inferring the author’s tone or
attitude