short lesson on what an inference is

1. InferenceInference

2. What is an Inference?What is an Inference?
 It is based on all of the informationIt is based on all of the information
that you have available at that time.that you have available at that time.
 It is not necessarily a correct guess,It is not necessarily a correct guess,
but it is an educated one.but it is an educated one.
An inference is an assumption that you make
about something that you see, read, or
experience.

3. EverydayEveryday
InferencesInferencesHere are some inferences that you
probably make on a daily basis.
If a teacher writes information
on the board during a lesson
You infer that it is important
information that you may
need later.
If a child runs in the house
holding their knee and
crying
You infer that they
have somehow hurt
their knee.
You may not always be correct in your inferences,
but they are assumptions that you make based on
the given clues.

4. InferencesInferences
1. What is this
woman doing?
2. Where do you
think this woman
is?
3. Is she there for
work or
pleasure?

5. InferencesInferences
Let's look a little bit closer and evaluate your guesses.
What is she doing?
She is on the
telephone.
Where do you think
this woman is?
Based on the
furniture and
decorations, she
is probably in a
hotel room.
Is she there for work
or pleasure?
Based on her
clothing and the
presence of a fax
machine, she is
probably there for
work.

6. 1. What season is it
in this picture?
2. What is the
person doing?
3. What socio-
economic group
does she belong
to? Lower Class?
Middle class?
Upper Class?
InferencesInferences
{Click mouse to continue}

7. InferencesInferences
Lets look a little bit closer and evaluate your assumptions.
The Santa hat and
Ornament reveal
that it is winter.
She is holding the
Ornament. We
could infer further
that she is
decorating a
Christmas tree.
Based on the
quality of the
clothing and
ornament, we
can rule out
lower class.
Based on the
known
information any
further inference
would be a
stretch.
{Click mouse to continue}

8. Lesson ObjectivesLesson Objectives
 Understand how to make inferences aboutUnderstand how to make inferences about
a texta text

9. ““Explain” questionsExplain” questions
 You may be asked to explain somethingYou may be asked to explain something
about a text which requires you to readabout a text which requires you to read
between the linesbetween the lines
 The question will often be in two parts:The question will often be in two parts:
whatwhat… and then… and then why…why…. The. The whywhy partpart
is where the inference comes inis where the inference comes in

10.  When reading the text you need toWhen reading the text you need to
consider what the question is asking you.consider what the question is asking you.
What did the writer’s children enjoy aboutWhat did the writer’s children enjoy about
the visit to Warwick Castle? Why did theythe visit to Warwick Castle? Why did they
enjoy it?enjoy it?
What are the key words in the question?What are the key words in the question?

11.  You need to make sensible inferencesYou need to make sensible inferences
about why they might have enjoyedabout why they might have enjoyed
themselves.themselves.
 The text will suggest what they enjoyedThe text will suggest what they enjoyed
but won’t directly tell you. Working it outbut won’t directly tell you. Working it out
is where theis where the inferenceinference comes incomes in

12.  The best way is to give a detail (‘what’) and thenThe best way is to give a detail (‘what’) and then
offer a comment alongside it (‘why’).offer a comment alongside it (‘why’).
 Stay in sequence and track the text carefully.Stay in sequence and track the text carefully.
Highlight or underline key details. Use these forHighlight or underline key details. Use these for
the ‘what’ part.the ‘what’ part.
 As you go along, link the above with a ‘why’ orAs you go along, link the above with a ‘why’ or
‘how’ comment.‘how’ comment.

13. Writing your answer…Writing your answer…
The first thing the children enjoyed was aThe first thing the children enjoyed was a
trip to the dungeon and torture chamber,trip to the dungeon and torture chamber,
which they would have enjoyed becausewhich they would have enjoyed because
children would always be excited to see achildren would always be excited to see a
real dungeon and the darkness would havereal dungeon and the darkness would have
made it realistic and spooky…made it realistic and spooky…

14. Answer 1Answer 1
The writer’s children enjoyed the dungeons andThe writer’s children enjoyed the dungeons and
torture chambertorture chamber √√ and Amy would have likedand Amy would have liked
the way the guide said that the Winnie the Poohthe way the guide said that the Winnie the Pooh
character would be scared.character would be scared. √√
When they went into the armoury they could enjoyWhen they went into the armoury they could enjoy
the interactive displays that included woodenthe interactive displays that included wooden
chests which asked questions and then had to bechests which asked questions and then had to be
opened to find the answers.opened to find the answers. √√ Also they liked theAlso they liked the
experience of holding a real medieval swordexperience of holding a real medieval sword √√
and trying on the medieval and Victorianand trying on the medieval and Victorian
costumes.costumes. √√ In the kingmaker exhibition whichIn the kingmaker exhibition which
had wax models of royalty and peasants, the waxhad wax models of royalty and peasants, the wax
models were so life-like it was almost scary, somodels were so life-like it was almost scary, so
they enjoyed that.they enjoyed that. √√

15. Answer 2Answer 2
 The article states that the children wanted to goThe article states that the children wanted to go
straight to the dungeonstraight to the dungeon √√ and they would haveand they would have
enjoyed it until the guide told them horribleenjoyed it until the guide told them horrible
stories of what happened there. I think theystories of what happened there. I think they
enjoyed the dungeons because children from thisenjoyed the dungeons because children from this
day and age will only have read about methodsday and age will only have read about methods
of torturing so will have been fascinated byof torturing so will have been fascinated by
seeing the real thing.seeing the real thing. √√ The article also says thatThe article also says that
the girls are “amazed” when they are shown thethe girls are “amazed” when they are shown the
swordsword √√ and told about it. I think they enjoyedand told about it. I think they enjoyed
being allowed to hold a weapon from so longbeing allowed to hold a weapon from so long
ago and it might have been used in a real battle.ago and it might have been used in a real battle.
√√

16.  We are told that Amy was “fascinated” byWe are told that Amy was “fascinated” by
some of the displays of gunssome of the displays of guns √√ and Oliviaand Olivia
wanted to try on a soldier’s helmet,wanted to try on a soldier’s helmet, √√ soso
they must have enjoyed both of thesethey must have enjoyed both of these
things. Lastly we are told the girls enjoyedthings. Lastly we are told the girls enjoyed
dressing up in all the Victorian costumes.dressing up in all the Victorian costumes. √√
I think this is because they were a lotI think this is because they were a lot
different from the clothes worn today.different from the clothes worn today. √√

17. Inference QuestionsInference Questions
 Questions which say “what” and thenQuestions which say “what” and then
“why”.“why”.
 Answer in continuous prose (not as a list)Answer in continuous prose (not as a list)
 Make one point for “what” and thenMake one point for “what” and then
explain that point as a “why”.explain that point as a “why”.
 There should be five points for “what” andThere should be five points for “what” and
five explanations.five explanations.