Learning Goal: you will be able to read closely to determine
what the text says explicitly and inferentially, cite specific textual
evidence, determine a central theme, and participate effectively
in a range of conversations and collaborations
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Today’s Active READING STRATGY is
Making Inferences
REMEMBER - As an active reader, it is
important to recognize an author’s intended
purpose.
• In narrative selections, think about all of the
“pieces” (plot, theme, character) and try to
understand how they relate to one another.
• Examine what the author is saying through
the characters and actions, and figure out
what the author is implying.
Making
Connections
Questioning
Drawing
Conclusions
Background
Knowledge
(schema)
Inference
Predictions
Analysis of Text:
Interpretation/
Judgment
Elkhart Community Schools
Imagination/
Visualization
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Making Inferences
Figuring out what the author is implying will
require you to make inferences.
• To infer requires that you guess the probable
meaning.
• As you read a selection and attempt to draw a
conclusion or make inferences about the meaning,
it is important to examine the work to determine
how all of the information, supporting details,
events, and characters connect to one another.
• A conclusion will be based on the sum of all of
the elements working together in the story.
Making Inferences from a Cartoon
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_______ 2.
_______ 3.
_______ 4.
_______ 5.
The boy doesn’t like monkeys.
The boy has probably never seen animals in a zoo.
The father is angry with the boy.
The boy thinks the monkey is being punished.
The boy and his father go to the zoo often.
_______ 1.
_______ 2.
_______ 3.
_______ 4.
attention.
_______ 5.
The light-haired girl read Silas Marner for a school assignment.
Marcie doesn’t like to read.
The light-haired girl very much enjoyed reading Silas Marner.
The cartoonist suggests that reading for true understanding requires real
Marcie and the other girl are sisters.
Making Inferences from a Book Cover
_______ 1.
_______ 2.
_______ 3.
_______ 4.
_______ 5.
The “three true stories” are about the three women shown.
The women are good friends with one another.
The women’s lives have changed in positive ways.
All the women had parents who were non-readers.
All the women dropped out of school because of reading problems.
_______ 1.
_______ 2.
_______ 3.
_______ 4.
_______ 5.
Gulliver’s Travels is a true story.
The man on the ground recently ate lunch and is taking a nap.
The book has something to do with a journey.
The illustrated large man is likely an important character.
The story in the book takes place in modern times.
Making Inferences from a Poster
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_______ 4.
_______ 5.
The woman has been handcuffed by the police.
The woman is a former addict.
The woman is addicted to food, cigarettes, and alcohol.
Alcohol is more addictive than cigarettes or food.
People who are addicted are not free.
Making Inferences from an Advertisement
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_______ 2.
_______ 3.
_______ 4.
_______ 5.
The boy did not choose to be at the orphanage.
The boy is happy to be at the orphanage.
The people at the orphanage are cruel to the boy.
Not carrying life insurance can harm one’s family.
The insurance company helps support the orphanage.
Mastery Test #1: Making Inferences from a Note
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_______ 7.
_______ 8.
The note was written by Mario’s girlfriend.
The car was not really Mario’s.
Mario had gotten out of work early.
Mario’s car was parked at another woman’s house.
Mario had lied to his girlfriend.
The author of the note will never speak to Mario again.
The author of the note thinks that Mario is cheating on her.
Mario and the author of the note are married.
Mastery Test #2: Making Inferences from a Cartoon
_______ 1.
_______ 2.
_______ 3.
_______ 4.
_______ 5.
_______ 6.
_______ 7.
_______ 8.
The figure on the left does not work out at all.
The figure on the left probably spends lots of time working out.
The two figures do very different things when they work out.
The two figures do not like each other.
Spending time at the library has had no effect on the figure on the right.
Spending time at the library has made the figure on the right mentally strong.
Working out at the library has the same effect as working out at the gym.
Working out at the library involves mental – not physical – effort.
Making Inferences reading passage
Your Task:
Today you are going to practice making interferences. In this part of the practice,
you will read a narrative passage and then determine a theme – the author’s
message; something you learn about life in general. Remember to use the
inference skills you practiced in this lesson.
Independent Practice
REMEMBER - Examine what the author is saying
through the characters and actions, and figure
out what the author is implying.
READ – “Ambush” by Roger Woodward and
put an “I” next to an information you had to infer,
and write what you’re thinking in the margins.
Then, ask yourself what is the author’s message.
Once you have identified a theme, put a “T” next
to the text that exemplifies the theme.
Examples of Universal Themes
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Can you identify a few
A human being’s confrontation with nature
themes present in “Ambush”?
A human being’s lack of humanity
A rebellious human being’s confrontation with society
An individual’s struggle toward understanding, awareness, and/or spiritual enlightenment
An individual’s conflict between passion and responsibility
The human glorification of the past/ rejection of the past
The tension between the ideal and the real
Conflict between human beings and advancements in technology/science
The inevitability of fate
The evil of unchecked ambition
The struggle for equality
The loss of innocence/disillusionment of adulthood
The conflict between parents and children
The making of an artist in a materialistic society
The clash between civilization and the wilderness
The clash between appearance and realities
The pain of love (or what passes for it)
The conflict of good vs. evil
The human’s ability to persevere and survive
Facing prejudice/hatred
The importance of relationships to humans’ happiness/fulfillment
The conflict of making difficult decisions
Exhibiting courage
The individual’s ability to confront fears