TEACHER RESOURCE
Explain the image I
targeted
4
adaptable
Primary
Intermediate
Middle
Senior
4
4
using visual clues to develop informative
explanations of images
Learning outcomes
• understand the basic content of an image
• make plausible interpretations about an image
• gather general information about a historical or contemporary situation or place—
either to expand existing knowledge or to provide a starting point for inquiry into a
new topic
• understand or explain what is happening in the images found on the internet or in
other sources such as newspapers, magazines, textbooks
3
When to use the strategy
• focus observations on details and write an effective summary
• compare situations in the same location in different time periods
• extend, confirm or question what you already know about a topic
How to use the strategy
Prior knowledge
• understand the difference between an observation and an inference
• draw plausible inferences
Ideas to emphasize
• There is more to an image than first meets the eye.
• 5Ws is an effective strategy for uncovering information.
• Use tentative language for inferences if knowledge is limited (eg. “maybe,”
“possibly,” “perhaps”).
• Use other sources of information to confirm the plausibility of the explanation.
Instructional suggestions
• Select an image that creates some mystery about the event depicted.
• Demonstrate the strategy using the video found by searching Investigating Images at
www.tc2.ca.
• Consider using all or part of Inference (Lesson #32) available to subscribers to the
Tools for Thought collection online and in print in The Competencies Toolkit to teach
this concept.
• Isolate parts of the image to focus attention on details.
Explain the image
1
© The Critical Thinking Consortium
Explain the image
• draw plausible inferences from images prior to creating a mindset for reading text
Explain the image I
Student
Guide
using visual clues to develop informative explanations of images
Purpose
This strategy helps me gather and analyze the
details of an image and develop informative
explanations. Explaining what is seen helps
improve understanding of a situation or place.
Instructions
• Explain the image carefully and record direct observations.
• Draw plausible inferences (logical, informed conclusions) about each of the 5Ws.
• Take a second look at the image and notice less obvious details and refine your inferences.
Explain the image
• Decide on the most reasonable inferences.
• Combine these into an extended sentence or short paragraph. Remember to use terms like
“maybe” or “perhaps” if you have little knowledge of the topic.
• Confirm the plausibility of your explanation using additional sources of information.
• Revise your explanation as needed in light of the new information.
3
Criteria
Expla
using
Nam
visual
e:
Accurate, relevant observations: the evidence
accurately describes the relevant details in the image.
ining
clues
to de
the im
velop
age
inform
ative
explan
ations
of im
ages
Activ
ity
Shee
t
Possi
ble pr
ompt
WHO
s
• Wh
is in
at rol
the •
e or oc
What
cupa
imag
status
tion?
e? • If
(ric
WHA
T
are th
e
peop
le
doin
g?
Plausible, imaginative inferences: the inferences go beyond
the very obvious conclusions and are supported with several
pieces of evidence found in the image or based on other
known facts.
Obse
rvatio
severa
h or
po
l
are the people are or)?
y relate
shown
,
d to
each
other?
• Wh
at act
ions?
• Wh
at ob
jects
• Wh
are use
at is
d?
the foc
atten
us of
tion?
the
ns
Possi
ble in
ferenc
es
WHE
RE •
In
does
the • In what country
imag
what
or reg
e take •
settin
ion?
What
g (ru
ral or
is the
place?
urban
terrai
taino
)?
n (fl
us)
?
at / mo
• Ar
une the
re lan
dmark
huma
n)?
s (na
ture
/
histor
3
WHE
N •
What
does
time
the •
of
actio
n take • What time of day?
Wh
ye
place? • Wh at year or de ar?
cad
at
e?
rio
ical pe
Detailed, fully developed explanation: the explanation
includes suggestions with appropriate detail for each of the
5W questions.
e im
es the
broad
sugge
st a pu er context
• Wh
rpose?
at mi
ght ha
ppen
next?
Crea
te
or sh a summar
ort pa
y
ragrap explanat
ion
h.
ain th
ary:
Expl
Summ
age
d?
WHY
is the
• Wh
actio
at rea
n
happ
for the son migh
enin
t the
action
re be
g? • Do
s?
by co
mbini
ng yo
ur m
ost re
ason
able
infere
nces
into
an ex
tend
ed se
nten
ce
Accura
te, rel
evant
obser
Plausi
vation
ble, ima
s: the
with
eviden
severa ginative
ce acc
infere
l pieces
uratel
nce
of evi
y des
Detai
dence s: the infere
cribes
led, ful
found
the rel
nces
each
go
in the
evant
of the ly develo
ped
image beyond the
details
5W qu
or bas
in the
estion explanati
very
ed on
ob
on: the
s.
image.
Explai
other vious con
explan
clusio
n the
known
ation
ns and
imag
facts.
includ
e
are sup
es sug
porte
gestio
d
ns wit
h app
ropria
te det
ail for
Criter
ia
3
©
The
Critic
al Th
inking
Conso
rtium
Explain the image
2
© The Critical Thinking Consortium
Explain the image
Activity
Sheet
using visual clues to develop informative explanations of images
Name:
Possible prompts
• What role or occupation?
• What status (rich or poor)?
• If several people are shown,
are they related to each other?
• What actions?
• What objects are used?
• What is the focus of the
attention?
WHERE
does the
image take
place?
• In what country or region?
• In what setting (rural or urban)?
• What is the terrain (flat / mountainous)?
• Are there landmarks (nature /
human)?
WHEN
does the
action take
place?
•
•
•
•
WHY
is the action
happening?
3
WHAT
are the
people
doing?
Possible inferences
Explain the image
WHO
is in the
image?
Observations
What time of day?
What time of year?
What year or decade?
What historical period?
• What reason might there be
for the actions?
• Does the broader context suggest a purpose?
• What might happen next?
Summary: Create a summary explanation by combining your most reasonable inferences into an extended sentence
or short paragraph.
Criteria
Accurate, relevant observations: the evidence accurately describes the relevant details in the image.
Plausible, imaginative inferences: the inferences go beyond the very obvious conclusions and are supported
with several pieces of evidence found in the image or based on other known facts.
Detailed, fully developed explanation: the explanation includes suggestions with appropriate detail for
each of the 5W questions.
Explain the image
3
© The Critical Thinking Consortium
Assessing the explanation
Rubric
Accurate, relevant observation
Not Yet Able
Excellent
Very Good
Competent
Basic
Identifies many
relevant, accurate details
from the image,
including several less
obvious details.
Identifies many relevant,
accurate details from the
image, and occasionally
recognizes less obvious
details.
Identifies a number of
relevant and accurate,
but obvious, details from
the image.
Identifies only a few of
the most obvious details
from the image, but
not all are relevant or
accurate.
Very Good
Competent
Basic
Provides many plausible
and sometimes
imaginative inferences.
Provides a number of
inferences that are
generally plausible, but
rather obvious.
Evidence:
Explain the image
Plausible, imaginative inferences
Excellent
Provides many varied
and imaginative
inferences that are
highly plausible.
Not Yet Able
Provides a few
plausible but
obvious inferences.
3
Evidence:
Detailed, fully developed explanations
Excellent
Explains the image in
rich detail, providing
insightful conclusions
about each aspect.
Very Good
Explains the image in
some detail, providing
conclusions about
each aspect.
Not Yet Able
Competent
Basic
Explains the most basic
aspects of the image,
but without much
detail.
Explains the image in
general terms that cover
only some aspects
of the image.
Evidence:
Explain the image
4
© The Critical Thinking Consortium