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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

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.

Elkhart Community Schools 3

InferenceInference

BackgroundKnowledge(schema)

BackgroundKnowledge(schema)

Making Connections

Making Connections

QuestioningQuestioning

PredictionsPredictions

Imagination/VisualizationImagination/Visualization

Analysis of Text: Interpretation/

Judgment

Analysis of Text: Interpretation/

Judgment

Drawing Conclusions

Drawing Conclusions

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.

_______ 1. The boy doesn’t like monkeys._______ 2. The boy has probably never seen animals in a zoo._______ 3. The father is angry with the boy._______ 4. The boy thinks the monkey is being punished._______ 5. The boy and his father go to the zoo often.

Making Inferences from a Cartoon

_______ 1. The light-haired girl read Silas Marner for a school assignment._______ 2. Marcie doesn’t like to read._______ 3. The light-haired girl very much enjoyed reading Silas Marner._______ 4. The cartoonist suggests that reading for true understanding requires real attention._______ 5. Marcie and the other girl are sisters.

_______ 1. The “three true stories” are about the three women shown._______ 2. The women are good friends with one another._______ 3. The women’s lives have changed in positive ways._______ 4. All the women had parents who were non-readers._______ 5. All the women dropped out of school because of reading problems.

Making Inferences from a Book Cover

_______ 1. Gulliver’s Travels is a true story._______ 2. The man on the ground recently ate lunch and is taking a nap._______ 3. The book has something to do with a journey._______ 4. The illustrated large man is likely an important character. _______ 5. The story in the book takes place in modern times.

_______ 1. The woman has been handcuffed by the police._______ 2. The woman is a former addict._______ 3. The woman is addicted to food, cigarettes, and alcohol._______ 4. Alcohol is more addictive than cigarettes or food._______ 5. People who are addicted are not free.

Making Inferences from a Poster

_______ 1. The boy did not choose to be at the orphanage._______ 2. The boy is happy to be at the orphanage._______ 3. The people at the orphanage are cruel to the boy._______ 4. Not carrying life insurance can harm one’s family._______ 5. The insurance company helps support the orphanage.

Making Inferences from an Advertisement

_______ 1. The note was written by Mario’s girlfriend._______ 2. The car was not really Mario’s._______ 3. Mario had gotten out of work early._______ 4. Mario’s car was parked at another woman’s house._______ 5. Mario had lied to his girlfriend._______ 6. The author of the note will never speak to Mario again._______ 7. The author of the note thinks that Mario is cheating on her._______ 8. Mario and the author of the note are married.

Mastery Test #1: Making Inferences from a Note

_______ 1. The figure on the left does not work out at all._______ 2. The figure on the left probably spends lots of time working out._______ 3. The two figures do very different things when they work out._______ 4. The two figures do not like each other._______ 5. Spending time at the library has had no effect on the figure on the right._______ 6. Spending time at the library has made the figure on the right mentally strong._______ 7. Working out at the library has the same effect as working out at the gym._______ 8. Working out at the library involves mental – not physical – effort.

Mastery Test #2: Making Inferences from a Cartoon

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 Themes1. A human being’s confrontation with nature2. A human being’s lack of humanity3. A rebellious human being’s confrontation with society4. An individual’s struggle toward understanding, awareness, and/or spiritual enlightenment5. An individual’s conflict between passion and responsibility6. The human glorification of the past/ rejection of the past7. The tension between the ideal and the real8. Conflict between human beings and advancements in technology/science9. The inevitability of fate10. The evil of unchecked ambition11. The struggle for equality12. The loss of innocence/disillusionment of adulthood13. The conflict between parents and children14. The making of an artist in a materialistic society15. The clash between civilization and the wilderness16. The clash between appearance and realities17. The pain of love (or what passes for it)18. The conflict of good vs. evil19. The human’s ability to persevere and survive20. Facing prejudice/hatred21. The importance of relationships to humans’ happiness/fulfillment22. The conflict of making difficult decisions23. Exhibiting courage24. The individual’s ability to confront fears

Can you identify a few themes present in “Ambush”?