Making Inferences and Drawing
Conclusions
A text does not contain a meaning
Readers construct meaning by what they
take the words to mean and how they
process sentences to find meaning. Readers
draw on their knowledge of the language and
of conventions of social communication.
They infer unstated meanings based on
social conventions, shared knowledge,
shared experience, or shared values. They
make sense of remarks by recognizing
implications and drawing conclusions.
Readers read ideas more than words,
and infer, rather than find, meaning
Inferences
are
evidence-based
guesses. They are the conclusions a reader
draws about the unsaid based on what is
actually said. Inferences drawn while reading
are much like inferences drawn in everyday
life. If your best friend comes in from a blind
date and looks utterly miserable, you would
probably infer the date was not a success.
Reading Tips:
• 1. Make sure your inferences rely mainly on the
author’s words rather than your own feelings or
experience. Your goal is to read the author’s mind,
not invent your own message.
• 2. Check to see if your inference is contradicted by
any statements in the paragraph. If it is, it is not an
appropriate or useful inference.
• 3. If the passage is a tough one, check to see if you
can actually identify the statements that led you to
your conclusion. This kind of close reading is a good
comprehension check. It will also help you
remember the material.
Consider the following statement:
“The Senator admitted owning the gun that
killed his wife.”
What does it mean?
a.
b.
c.
d.
What about this?
A man and his son are driving in a car. The car
crashes into a tree, killing the father and
seriously injuring his son. At the hospital, the boy
needs to have surgery. Upon looking at the boy,
the doctor says (telling the truth), "I cannot
operate on him. He is my son.“
How can this be? Decide on your answer before
reading further.
Implications For Reading
All reading is an active, reflective, problem-solving
process. We do not simply read words; we read ideas,
thoughts that spring from the relationships of various
assertions. The notion of inference equations is particularly
powerful in this regard. Readers can use the notion of
inference equations to test whether or not the ingredients
for a given inferences are indeed present.
To show lying, for instance, a text must show that
someone made a statement that they knew was incorrect
and that they made that assertion with the specific
purpose of deception. If they did not know it was wrong at
the time, it’s an error, not a lie. If they did not make the
statement for the specific purpose of deception, we have a
misstatement, not lying.
Interpreting what you read
Because writers don't always say things directly,
sometimes it is difficult to figure out what a writer
really means or what he or she is really trying to say.
You need to learn to "read between the lines" - to take
the information the writer gives you and figure things
out for yourself.
You will also need to learn to distinguish
between fact and opinion. As you read an author's
views, you should ask yourself if the author is
presenting you with an established fact or with a
personal opinion.
facts
• can be verified in reference books, official
records, and so forth.
• are expressed in concrete language or specific
numbers.
• once verified, are generally agreed upon by
people.
opinions
• are often expressed as comparisons (more,
strongest, less, most, least efficient or but)
• are often expressed by adjectives (brilliant,
vindictive, fair, trustworthy):
• often involve evaluations:
• are often introduced by verbs and adverbs
that suggest some doubt in the writer's mind.
(seems, appears, probably)