Inferring and predicting

1. Predicting and
Inferring
Reading
Strategies

2. What is predicting?
A prediction is what you
think will happen based
upon the text, the author,
and background
knowledge.
Prediction is an educated
guess as to what will
happen.

3. What is inferring?
Inference is reading all of the
clues and making your best
guess.
Inference is similar to
prediction but they are not
the same.
When inferring, you are using
all clues to draw conclusions
about what is being read.

4. What is the difference between
prediction and inference?
 When you make predictions, your prediction will
be proven by the end of the story. When
inferring, you may or may not know the answer to
your question by the end of the story.
 When predicting, you are focusing on what will
happen in the story. When inferring, you are
making a guess about what a character will do,
how a character feels, and other judgments.
 Prediction = answered by the end of the story
 Inference = may or may not be answered by the
end of the story

5. When do you make
predictions?
As a reader, you can make
predictions a text BEFORE
reading.
As a reader, you can make
predictions a text DURING
reading.
In other words, make
predictions before and during
reading.

6. When do you make
inferences?
As a reader, you can make
inferences DURING reading.
As a reader, you need to ask
yourself questions as you read
and make inferences based
on what you have read. These
inferences may not be about
what will happen next.

7. How do you make
predictions?
Ask yourself what is going to
happen next in the story.
Ask yourself what else could
happen in the story.
To make predictions before
and during reading, you
must question yourself.

8. How do you make inferences?
Inferences are made by
questioning during the story.
Ask yourself about why a
character does something,
how a character feels, etc.
To make an inference during
reading, you must question
yourself.

9. Questions to predicting in a
text?
What is happening in the
story?
What will happen next?
What clues have led you to
think that?
What else could happen
next?

10. Questions to inferring in a text?
 What will happen next and why?
 What clues have led you to think
that?
 Why did that character do that?
 How does that character feel?
 Why did the author write this
story?
 Inference allows for many more
questions than prediction.

11. Now your turn to predict/make
inferences about the text.
 Turn to a partner and discuss the
text.
 Be sure to make a prediction
about what will happen next.
 Be sure to make an inference
about why a character may
have done something.
 Remember, predicting and
inferring are ways to make sure
you understand a text.

12. Conclusion
 Inferring requires the reader to ask
questions during reading. Predicting
requires the reader to ask questions before
and during reading.
 Making inferences/predictions are a way
to check for understanding.
 Making inferences/predictions require the
use of additional strategies to ensure
comprehension.
 Your prediction will be proven/disproved
by the end of the reading. Your inference
may or may not be proven.