Making Inferences
What is an Inference?
• An inference is something that you conclude
based partly on evidence and partly on your
own knowledge.
• When you make an inference, you read
something, add what you know to it, and draw
a conclusion.
• You put two and two together, or read
between the lines.
A formula for making an inference…
What I
read
What I
already
know
What I
infer
A character
has tears in
her eyes
People who are
sad often cry
and have tears
The
character
must be sad
+
=
Why Is Scooby
Hiding??
Why Is Shaggy
Running??
Did you know that you make inferences everyday in the real world?
You Compare Things
You evaluate situations
You make predictions
Which would you rather
play with?
Is this project going well
or not?
I wonder if the
picnic will be
cancelled?
How do I make inferences when I read?
The school is brightly lit, even though it is already after 7
p.m. Parents rush from the parking lot to the front door.
Student ushers direct them to the Gym. Inside the Gym
there are 100 folding chairs set up in rows. All of the
teachers are seated up front facing the chairs. The
principal stands up at a podium and waits for the crowd
to settle down. There is a large poster that hangs on the
wall that says “Welcome Parents! We are glad you are
here!”
Parents have come to school for : A. An important board meeting B. Back to School night
What I
read
What I
already know
What I
infer
Parents come
to school
My school has a
back to school
open house every
year.
This writing
describes
open
house/back to
school parent
night at a
school
Students
direct them to
the Gym
Signs say
Welcome
Parents
+
They hold it in the
Gym
Many parents
attend
=
The Principal stands in front: A. Because she is ready to speak B. There is no seat for her
What I
read
The principal
is standing at
a podium in
front of
parents
Parents and
students are
sitting in
chairs
+
What I
already
know
What I
infer
On back to
school night my
principal stands
and speaks to
the crowd of
parents and
students who
are assembled
The
Principal is
going to
speak to
parents and
students
=
Oh, I had a balloon
It was round, it was red
Such a lovely balloon
Almost as big as my head
But I heard a loud noise
And I turned my head to see
For I wondered just what
Made that loud noise at me!
What can you infer about the balloon?
What I read
Person has a red
balloon
+
What I already
know
Balloons are fragile and
make loud noises when
they pop
=
What I
infer
The red balloon
popped
Fireworks lit up the night with
splashes of purple, red, and yellow.
People sat of blankets gazing up at the
night sky.
Children played with
sparklers near by. Everyone drank
cold lemonade from the nearby
concession stand. Laughter could be
heard across the field.
What can you infer about the event that is happening in the paragraph?
What I read
Fireworks, sparklers,
night sky, lemonade
and laughter
+
What I already know
We celebrate 4th of July
with fireworks, sparklers,
picnics, and laughter
=
What I
Infer
The story is taking
place at a 4th of July
celebration
Warm sand shifted under my
feet as I walked across the
beach. The soothing sound of
the
waves
calmed
my
thoughts. A soft breeze made
the heat of the day feel like a
warm cozy blanket in the
middle of winter. I hope this
day never ends.
What can you infer about how the character feels about the beach based on the mood
and what the setting infers?
What I read
Warm, soothing,
calming, soft, warm,
hope that the day
never ends
+
What I already know
Many people like to relax at
the beach
=
What I
infer
Character is relaxing
at the beach and
enjoys it there.
Making Inferences Sheet
Everyday after work Paul took his muddy boots off on the steps of the front porch. Alice
would have a fit if the boots made it so far as the welcome mat. He then took off his dusty
overalls and threw them into a plastic garbage bag; Alice left a new garbage bag tied to the
porch railing for him every morning. On his way in the house, he dropped the garbage bag
off at the washing machine and went straight up stairs to the shower as he was instructed.
He would eat dinner with her after he was “presentable,” as Alice had often said.
What kind of work does Paul do? How do you know?
Describe Alice. What in the text supports that description?
What kind of relationship do Paul and Alice have?
What I read
+
What I already know
=
What I
Infer
Making Inferences continued…
Valerie opened up the letter from the military department. She felt the pit of her stomach
drop to the bottom of the earth before she even opened it. She knew it was news about
John. As she read the first line, she thought of all of the lunches she had packed him and
all the nights she tucked him in his bed and warded off the nighttime monsters. The man
carrying the flag put his hand on her shoulder. She thought of the day that John signed up
for the military. Her tears wet the letter. She stopped reading after the first line.
What does the letter say?
What is Valerie’s Relationship to John?
What I read
+
What I already know
=
What I
Infer
Making Inferences continued…
“Tommy!” Mom called out as she walked in the front door. “Tommy,” she continued
shouting, “I sure could use some help with these groceries. There was still no reply. Mom
walked into the kitchen to put the grocery bags down on the counter when she noticed
shattered glass from the picture window all over the living room floor and a baseball not
far from there. “I’m going to kill you, Tommy!” Mom yelled to herself as she realized that
Tommy’s shoes were gone.
What happened to the window?
Why did Tommy Leave?
What I read
+
What I already know
=
What I
Infer
Making Inferences continued…
Ruby sat on the bed she shared with her husband holding a hairclip. There was something
mysterious and powerful about the cheaply manufactured neon clip that she was fondling
in her newly suspicious palms. She didn’t recognize the hairclip. It was too big to be their
daughter’s, and Ruby was sure that it wasn’t hers. She hadn’t had friends over in weeks
but here was this hairclip, little and green with a few long black hair strands caught in it.
Ruby ran her fingers through her own blonde hair. She had just been vacuuming when she
noticed this small, bright green object under the bed. Now their life would never be the
same. She would wait here until Mike returned home.
Why is Ruby so affected by the hairclip?
How has the hairclip affected Ruby’s relationship?
Where did the clip most likely come from?
What I read
+
What I already know
=
What I
Infer
Making Inferences continued…
Kyle ran into his house and slammed the door behind him. He paused with his back to the
wall and tried to catch his breath. The puppy in his coat struggled to get out. Kyle looked
out the window worriedly, but he saw that nobody was coming. Then he let the puppy out
of his jacket. The puppy yelped while Kyle took the collar off of him. He threw the collar in
an old soup can in the trash, carefully flipping over the can. The dog looked around
nervously.
Why is Kyle out of breath?
Why is the puppy nervous?
Why did Kyle put the puppy’s collar in a soup can?
What I read
+
What I already know
=
What I
Infer
Making Inferences continued…
Anastasia sat by the fountain in the park with her head in her palms. She was weeping
mournfully and wearing all black. In between gasps and sobs, Anastasia cried out a name:
“Oh... John…” And then her cell phone beeped. Her hand ran into her purse and her heart
fluttered. The text message was from John. She opened up the message and read the few
bare words, “I need to get my jacket back from you.” Anastasia threw her head into her
arms and continued sobbing.
What relationship do Anastasia and John have?
Why is Anastasia sad?
What I read
+
What I already know
=
What I
Infer
Making Inferences continued…
Cassie rolled over in her bed as she felt the sunlight hit her face. The beams were warming
the back of her neck when she slowly realized that it was a Thursday, and she felt a little
too good for a Thursday. Struggling to open her eyes, she looked up at the clock. “9:48,”
she shouted, “Holy cow!” Cassie jumped out of bed, threw on the first outfit that she
grabbed, brushed her teeth in two swipes, threw her books into her backpack, and then
ran out the door.
What problem is Cassie having?
Where is Cassie going?
What I read
+
What I already know
=
What I
Infer
Making Inferences continued…
Kelvin was waiting in front of the corner store at 3:56. His muscles were tense and he was
sweating a bit more than usual. The other kids gathered in front of the little storefront
were much more relaxed, even playful. They joked back and forth lightly to each other but
for Kelvin, time slowed. 3:57. “Don’t worry, Kelvin. He ain’t even gonna show up.” Kelvin
hoped that he wouldn’t. A black four-door Camry with tinted windows pulled up and
parked across the street. Kelvin gulped. 3:58. A group of teenagers piled out of the car.
James was in the front. “Hi-ya, Kelvin. Glad you could make it,” James said. Kelvin felt
smaller.
Why is Kelvin waiting at the corner store?
Are James and Kelvin friends?
Why is Kelvin so nervous?
What I read
+
What I already know
=
What I
Infer