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Hi there! I'm Studyfin, your learning partner. Today, we will learn how to read between the lines and make smart inferences!
An inference is a logical guess. You make it by combining what you read in a text with what you already know from life.
Think of making an inference like a simple math equation. You take the author's clues, add your own background knowledge, and get a deeper understanding.
To support your inference, you must always point back to specific text evidence. If you cannot find a clue in the story to back up your guess, your inference might just be a wild guess.
Read this short passage and infer what is happening: "Maya pulled her thick wool scarf tight around her neck. She stepped outside, took a deep breath, and watched her breath turn into a white cloud in the air." What is the weather like, and what is your evidence?
- Identify the text clues: The passage mentions a 'thick wool scarf' and her breath turning into a 'white cloud'.
- Recall your background knowledge: You know that people wear thick wool scarves when it is cold. You also know that breath only condenses into a visible cloud when the air temperature is freezing.
- Combine the clues with your knowledge: Scarves + visible breath = very cold weather.
- State your inference clearly: The weather is extremely cold or freezing.
- Support it with text evidence: We know this because Maya wears a wool scarf and her breath turns into a cloud.
