Making an inference about a passage means reaching a conclusion that isn't directly stated by the author, but is strongly supported by the details and information provided in the text.
Understanding Inference in Reading
Based on the provided definition, an inference is when you:
- Draw evidence from a text.
- Use this evidence to reach a conclusion.
- This conclusion is "not absolutely just out there," meaning it's not explicitly written word-for-word.
- The text or evidence helps you draw this conclusion, providing a basis for your understanding.
In simple terms, it's like being a detective while reading. You look for clues (the evidence in the text) and combine them with what you already know to figure out something the author implies but doesn't say directly. You are reading between the lines.
Why Inferencing is Important
Inferring is a crucial reading skill because it allows readers to:
- Gain a deeper understanding of the text.
- Figure out character motivations, themes, or unstated relationships.
- Connect different parts of the passage.
- Make predictions and understand implications.
How to Make an Inference from a Passage
To make a valid inference about a passage, you typically follow these steps:
- Read Carefully: Pay close attention to the details, descriptions, dialogue, and events in the text.
- Identify Evidence: Find specific words, phrases, or sentences that hint at something not explicitly stated. These are your clues.
- Connect Clues: Look for patterns or relationships between the pieces of evidence you found.
- Use Prior Knowledge: Think about what you already know about the world, people, or situations similar to those described in the passage. (While the inference must be supported by the text, your background knowledge helps you interpret the evidence).
- Draw a Conclusion: Based on the evidence from the text and potentially your prior knowledge, form a conclusion that makes sense.
- Verify: Check back with the passage to ensure your conclusion is logically supported by the text evidence and doesn't contradict anything stated directly.
Example of Making an Inference
Consider this short passage:
"The old house stood dark and silent on the hill. Its windows were boarded up, and the garden was overgrown with weeds. A single, rusted swing set stood motionless in the yard, creaking softly in the wind."
From this text, we can make several inferences:
- Inference: The house is likely abandoned or uninhabited.
- Evidence from Text: "stood dark and silent," "windows were boarded up," "garden was overgrown." These details suggest neglect and no current occupants.
The text doesn't say "This house is abandoned," but the evidence strongly supports that conclusion, which is an inference we draw.
Making an inference about a passage is an active reading process where you use textual evidence to construct meaning beyond what is explicitly stated.
