Key Takeaways
- Inference = Text Evidence + Prior Knowledge
- Inferences are educated guesses based on clues
- Conclusions are final judgments based on all evidence
- Good conclusions must be supported by text evidence
- Help students ask "How do you know?" to identify evidence
Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions
Making inferences means reading between the lines—understanding what is implied but not directly stated. Drawing conclusions involves combining text evidence with prior knowledge to reach a logical understanding.
What Is an Inference?
An inference is an educated guess based on clues in the text and your own knowledge.
Formula: Text Evidence + Prior Knowledge = Inference
Example of Inference
Maria grabbed her umbrella and raincoat before leaving the house. She looked out the window at the dark clouds.
What can we infer?
- It's probably going to rain (or is raining)
- Maria is preparing for bad weather
The text doesn't say "It's going to rain," but we can infer it from the clues.
Types of Inferences
| Type | What It Involves | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Character inference | Understanding personality/motivation | "He slammed the door" → He's angry |
| Setting inference | Determining time/place | "Snow covered the ground" → Winter |
| Cause-effect inference | Understanding why something happened | "She studied all night" → She had an exam |
| Prediction | Guessing what will happen next | Based on story clues |
Drawing Conclusions
A conclusion is a final judgment or decision based on all available evidence.
Steps to Draw Conclusions:
- Gather evidence - What does the text say?
- Consider what you know - What relevant knowledge do you have?
- Analyze the evidence - What patterns or connections exist?
- Form a conclusion - What logical statement can you make?
Supporting Your Conclusions
Good conclusions are:
- Based on evidence - Can be supported with text examples
- Logical - Make sense given the information
- Reasonable - Not extreme or unsupported jumps
Common Inference Questions on ParaPro
| Question Stem | What It's Asking |
|---|---|
| "The author suggests..." | What is implied? |
| "It can be inferred that..." | What can you conclude? |
| "The passage implies..." | What is the hidden meaning? |
| "Based on the passage..." | What conclusion is supported? |
| "The reader can conclude..." | What follows logically? |
Practice Example
James checked his watch again. He tapped his foot nervously and kept glancing at the door. His coffee had grown cold hours ago.
Inferences we can make:
- James is waiting for someone
- He has been waiting a long time
- He is anxious or impatient
- The person he's waiting for is late
Classroom Application
Help students make inferences by:
- Asking "How do you know?" to encourage text evidence
- Using think-alouds to model inference strategies
- Creating inference charts (What I Read + What I Know = Inference)
- Discussing clues that led to conclusions
- Asking students to support predictions with evidence
Read: "The children huddled together, their breath visible in the cold air. They rubbed their hands and stomped their feet." What can you infer?
What is the difference between an inference and a conclusion?