What does it mean to infer An inference
- Slides: 6
What does it mean to infer?
An inference is the process of reaching a conclusion about something from known facts. To infer is to come to a conclusion based on known facts. Synonyms conclude, decide, deduce, derive, extrapolate, gather, judge, make out, reason, understand Related Words assume, suppose, guess, speculate, surmise; construe, interpret, read; contemplate, think; ascertain, find out Phrases draw a conclusion
Making inferences involves using personal experience or background knowledge / schema, along with the information from the text, to make assumptions about what is not written. Inferential thinking is often referred to as “reading between and beyond the lines. ” Inferring is required when part of the knowledge to understand a passage is found in the text but some is not.
Language for Drawing Inferences Why do you think _____? How did you know _____? What probably caused ______? Can you infer ______? What clues led you to believe _____? How might _____ feel _____? I predict _____. My guess is _____. I think that _____.
Let’s infer! Your mom is on the phone. She is excited and happy. Her tone of voice cheerful. All of a sudden, you hear your name and she says, “I am so proud!” What was she talking about? Who was she talking to? Why was she so proud?
Read these phone conversations and try to infer what they are talking about.
