MAKING INFERENCES,

DRAWING
CONCLUSIONS, MAKING
PREDICTIONS
MAKING INFERENCES:
Involves making educated guesses (like
making a hypothesis in science)

Supported inferences: are based directly on evidence

from a passage.
DRAWING CONCLUSIONS

Being able to draw a conclusion

depends upon your ability to make
inferences.

Conclusions are made ONLY when you have

pieced together the small guesses that you made
along the way (inferences).
MAKING PREDICTIONS:
As you read a story, get
into the habit of guessing
about what will happen
next.

 Making predictions, just like

inferencing, involves looking for
clues that the writer gives.
READ THE FOLLOWING PASSAGE IN
WHICH THE TOPIC MUST BE
INFERRED BY THE READER.
IDENTIFY CLUES THAT HELP US
DRAW AN INFERENCE.
“Now that you’ve built up your arm and leg
strength, you are ready to go. Before you begin,
you need to remember that the sport requires more
than a board and water. First, you need a great
deal of balance. The waves are always changing
and moving. The rider’s feet must be positioned
and repositioned on the board to avoid falling.
Second, you need good vision. It is important to
observe how your wave is changing and make
adjustments.”
WHAT WAS THE TOPIC OF
THE PREVIOUS PASSAGE?
Diving
Skiing
Surfing
Swimming
DID YOU NOTICE THESE
CLUES?
Now that you’ve built up your arm and leg strength, you
are ready to go. Before you begin, you need to remember
that the sport requires more than a board and water. First,
you need a great deal of balance. The waves are always
changing and moving. The rider’s feet must be
positioned and repositioned on the board to avoid falling.
Second, you need good vision. It is important to observe
how your wave is changing and make adjustments.”
DRAWING CONCLUSIONS IS A COMMON
TYPE OF INFERENCING SKILL. WHEN
YOU DRAW A CONCLUSION, YOU FORM
A JUDGEMENT OR OPINION BASED ON
DETAILS IN THE PASSAGE AS WELL AS
YOUR PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE AND
EXPERIENCE.
What conclusion can you draw from the following
passage?

“Maria has studied all week for her algebra test. She
spent three hours every night working on the review
exercises in her textbook. Last night, she could not
sleep very well because she was afraid she would
sleep through her alarm.”
WHAT’S THE BEST
CONCLUSION?
A. Maria will pass her test.
B. Maria is nervous about her algebra test.
C. Maria gets nervous before big tests.
D. Maria enjoys taking tests.
EXPLANATION:

A- not a conclusion but a prediction

B- logical conclusion—we know that she’s
nervous because of her actions.
C- not a conclusion, but a generalization—we
only know how she reacts to algebra tests, not all
tests
D- not a conclusion—passage says nothing about
Maria enjoying test.
 PRACTICE:
“Want Ad”
Cheerful person to work at dentistry office. Some computer skills are
necessary. You will help brighten our patients’ days. Uniform provided.
Apply at Flower Power, 7777 Forest Lane, Dallas, TX.

The person who takes this job will probably work as a:

A. Nurse B. receptionist C. salesperson D. Custodian
“Sleeping”
Some people think they don’t move at all while they
sleep. They believe they go to bed and never change
position. Not true. Studies show that everybody
makes at least eight to twelve major posture shifts a
night. Insomniacs may double or triple that.
What is a valid conclusion?
A. Insomniacs shift positions less often than regular
sleepers.
B. Insomniacs shift positions more often than regular
sleepers.
C. Insomniacs shift positions as much as regular
sleepers.
D. Insomniacs do not shift positions at all.
Two dogs were kept in the fenced yard of the red brick house. They were locked
in because they liked to run away. They were friendly dogs, but they barked
a lot. When Susan walked by the house every day on the way to school, she
heard the dogs barking. Even though the dogs were locked in, she always
walked on the other side of the street.
What detail would support the conclusion that Susan was afraid of dogs?
A. They were locked in because they liked to run away.
B. They were friendly dogs, but they barked a lot.
C. Two dogs were kept in the fenced yard of the red brick house.
D. Even though the dogs were locked in, she always walked on the other side
of the street.