Drawing Inferences
When we draw inferences, we use the information that is given in a text, along with our own background knowledge, to make educated guesses about what is not explicitly stated. It involves reading between the lines and using context clues to understand the underlying meaning of a text.
How to Draw Inferences:
- Pay attention to details: Look for clues in the text that can help you make an inference. This could be character actions, dialogue, or descriptive language.
- Use prior knowledge: Think about what you already know about the topic or situation and use that information to make an inference.
- Consider the context: Pay attention to the setting, time period, and any other relevant details that can provide insight into the text.
- Make logical connections: Connect the clues in the text with your prior knowledge to form a reasonable inference.
Example:
Consider the following passage:
"The sky darkened, and the wind began to howl. The leaves rustled and danced in the air, and the trees swayed back and forth."
From this passage, we can infer that a storm is approaching. The darkening sky, howling wind, and rustling leaves are all clues that suggest an impending storm.
Study Guide:
Here are some tips for improving your inference skills:
- Practice reading between the lines in everyday situations. Look for subtle cues and make educated guesses about people's thoughts or intentions.
- Read a variety of texts, including fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and news articles, and practice making inferences based on the information provided.
- Discuss your inferences with others to gain different perspectives and insights.
- Use graphic organizers or mind maps to visually represent the clues and inferences in a text.
- Pay attention to the author's tone and mood to help you infer the emotional context of the text.
[Drawing Inferences] Related Worksheets and Study Guides:
.◂English Language Arts Worksheets and Study Guides Sixth Grade. Drawing Inferences
Study Guide
Drawing Inferences 
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Drawing Inferences Worksheet/Answer key
Drawing Inferences Worksheet/Answer key
Drawing Inferences Worksheet/Answer key
Crystal Ball Predictions
Worksheet/Answer keyWorksheet/Answer keyWorksheet/Answer keyWorksheet/Answer keyThe resources above cover the following skills:
Students apply a wide range of strategies to comprehend, interpret, evaluate, and appreciate texts. They draw on their prior experience, their interactions with other readers and writers, their knowledge of word meaning and of other texts, their word identification strategies, and their understanding of textual features (e.g., sound-letter correspondence, sentence structure, context, graphics). (NCTE)
Students apply knowledge of language structure, language conventions (e.g., spelling and punctuation), media techniques, figurative language, and genre to create, critique, and discuss print and nonprint texts. (NCTE)