Chapter 5 Making Inferences Regardless of what your

Chapter 5: Making Inferences Regardless of what your situation is, there is always the possibility of improvement. © 2005 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers

In this chapter you will learn how to: ¬Make inferences from facts and written material. ¬Analyze the process of making inferences. © 2005 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers

What is an inference? An inference is a reasoned guess based on the facts on hand. © 2005 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers

How to Make Inferences ¬Understand the literal meaning. ¬Notice details. ¬Add up the facts. ¬Be alert to clues. ¬Consider the author’s purpose. ¬Verify your inference. © 2005 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers

Examples of Inferences ¬When you figure out why someone doesn’t want to go out with you. ¬When your mom uses that “tone of voice” with you, you know how she’s feeling. ¬When someone gives you that “look” and you understand what they mean. © 2005 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers

Understand the Literal Meaning Step 1: Find the: ¬topic ¬main idea ¬pattern of organization © 2005 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers

Notice Details Step 2: Notice clues: ¬What is unusual or striking about this piece of information? ¬Why is it included here? © 2005 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers

Add Up the Facts ¬Step 3: Notice facts (details): ¬What is the writer trying to suggest from this set of facts? ¬What do all these facts and ideas seem to point toward or add up to? ¬Why did the author include © 2005 Pearson Education Inc. , these facts and details? publishing as Longman Publishers

Be Alert to Clues ¬Word choices ¬Details included and omitted ¬Ideas emphasized ¬Direct commentary © 2005 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers

Consider the Author’s Purpose Step 4: Ask why the author wrote this: . Knowledge of the author’s purpose helps the reader make inferences © 2005 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers

Verify Your Inference Step 5: Verify inferences: ¬Check accuracy of inferences. ¬Check stated facts for sufficient evidence. ¬Check for overlooked inferences. © 2005 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers

Practices ¬Practice #4 p. 105 (#1 -3) ¬Practice #5 pp. 105 -107 (#1 -3) © 2005 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers

U-Review – p. 1 ¬What is the first step to making inferences? ¬What questions should you ask when looking at the details? ¬What kind of “clues” should you look for in the details? ¬ ¬ © 2005 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers ¬

U-Review p. 2 ¬Which of these will help you to make valid inferences? ¬a. vocabulary in context ¬b. author’s purpose ¬c. recognizing opinions ¬What should you do when you think you have made a correct inference? ¬ © 2005 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers

U-Review p. 3 ¬What is the difference between an inference and an assumption? ¬What is an invalid inference? © 2005 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers

Visit the Companion Website http: //www. ablongman. com/mcwhorter © 2005 Pearson Education Inc. , publishing as Longman Publishers