MAKING INFERENCES




Making an inference is often referred to as reading between the lines. It is the process of making a guess about something you don’t know for sure, based on the information available.

For example, you see Aidan bite into a piece of fruit and give a delighted smile. From this observation, we can infer that Aidan is enjoying the taste of the fruit. 

When we read something, we also make inferences. We use previous knowledge acquired, along with information from the text to draw conclusions, make judgements and interpret the text.Much of the information we obtain from reading comes from what is implied as opposed to a direct statement of the information. By making inferences, we are tapping into what we already know from the world around us or from earlier in the text. We then combine this previous knowledge with what we are reading, and the two work in harmony to support us in having a deeper understanding of the text. We are able to infer that which is not outrightly stated.

According to research by Andersen and Pearson (1984), those who are proficient in reading use their prior knowledge as well as textual information to draw conclusions, make critical judgements and form interpretations from the text read. They found that inferences can take the form of conclusions, predictions or new ideas.

When do we make inferences?

As readers, we make lots of inferences as we digest a text. In some cases, we make inferences about specific details. This often involves arriving logically at a theory based on previous or surrounding evidence.

In other cases, we make inferences about the main idea of a piece of text. We may need to infer the main idea of a text if the main idea is not clearly stated. Other instances in which we need to infer the main idea are if:

  1. The text starts with a question
  2. The text compares or contrasts two or more things
  3. Every sentence in the piece of text contains equally specific information
  4. The text is a satirical piece, or the author uses an ironic tone of voice
To get the information we need to make an inference, we can follow five simple steps.
  1. Read the text
  2. Read the comprehension question
  3. List details relevant to the question being asked
  4. Put the details together
  5. Decide what these details indicate

In her book, Chart Sense, Roz Linder uses the silhouette below to depict this process. The details stated outright in the text that is relevant to the question are written outside the silhouette. These details are then pieced together to form inferences which are written inside the silhouette.

Two types of inference

There are two kinds of inferences we can make: logical inferences and reason-based inferences.

  1. Logical inference

When we use logical inference, we reach conclusions by going from something specific to something general. We often begin with an observation and then expand this into a general theory or conclusion.

For example, your dog hides as soon as the fireworks begin on Bonfire Night. It does so again on New Year’s Eve when the fireworks start, and then again when the fireworks start on Diwali and Chinese New Year.

From these specific observations, it would be logical to infer the general theory that your dog is afraid of the sound of fireworks going off.

    2. Reason-based inference

Reason-based inferences work the other way around. A reason-based inference starts with a general theory or hypothesis. It then focuses on something specifically observed or stated to prove this theory.

An example of this is, you might have a general theory that the scheduled fireworks display for your neighbourhood will be postponed due to the rain forecast. This is based on your specific knowledge that fireworks can’t perform when it is raining. You have made an inference and come to a conclusion based on reason.

There are common mistakes made when making inferences which can lead to key ideas being lost or the wrong meaning being inferred.

1. Not actively reading the text

Reading can be active or passive. With passive reading, you are letting the information fall into your hands. To be able to infer effectively, particularly for the purposes of moving learning along, reading needs to be active. Making annotations and noting any questions as you read can help with this.

2. Not reading out loud when you haven’t understood something

Reading a text out loud (or mouthing it to yourself if you are in a situation that requires silence) can help us to engage with and understand parts of the text we may have missed if we had just let it ‘stay on the page’. Reading aloud can help hone inferences and lead to a more in depth understanding. Performing a text heightens engagement with the events in the text which leads to a more insightful inference.

3. Failing to summarise texts

Summarising a text allows us to consider the text as a whole, as well as specific aspects of the text. In summarising, we are deciding what information is relevant and why. This process forces us to infer information from the text. When making a summary, it is important that we don’t just write or say everything that has happened. We need to engage with the text and infer the key message or meaning.



Komentar

Posting Komentar

Postingan populer dari blog ini

PREVIEWING

Gambar
      Previewing   Previewing is a reading technique that involves understanding what is in a particular work without reading the contents of the text. Previewing simply means looking over your reading material in order to become familiar with its content before you actually begin reading it. In this way, you begin thinking about any experiences you may have had with the subject. By previewing you can provide a general overview and find parts that need to be read, as well as parts that don't. Previewing a text as a reading strategy has the goal of providing you with a quick overview, a rough idea of what you should expect from the book or text at hand, and a foundation for the upcoming learning curve. By previewing a text as a reading strategy, you familiarize yourself with the content, roughly analyzing what you already know about the subject. Previewing a text is similar to watching a movie preview. Think of previewing a text as similar to...
Baca selengkapnya

SKIMMING

Gambar
  Skimming is a strategic, selective reading method in which you focus on the main ideas of a text. When skimming, deliberately skip text that provides details, stories, data, or other elaboration. Instead of closely reading every word, focus on the introduction, chapter summaries, first and last sentences of paragraphs, bold words, and text features. Skimming is extracting the essence of the author’s main messages rather than the finer points. Skimming is the other technique of fast reading. Skimming is the act of glancing through a text for gathering a basic idea about that text. For instance, if you want to read an interesting article on the newspaper and you do not have enough time to read more than one article, you will skim through most of the article to decide exactly which article you want to read. Skimming will also save a great amount of your valuable time if you know how to skim a text efficiently.  Purposes of Skimming To see what is in the news on a website o...
Baca selengkapnya

USING CONTEXT CLUES

Gambar
Using context clues means figuring out the meaning of an unfamiliar word by examining the words and sentences around it. Context clues help you make an educated guess about the word’s meaning based on how it is used within the text. This is a valuable skill because it allows you to understand new words without always having to look them up in a dictionary. There are several types of context clues you can use: 1. Definition or Explanation Clues Sometimes the meaning of the word is directly explained in the sentence or the following sentence. Example: “The city was placed under quarantine, which means that no one could enter or leave until the virus was contained.” • The phrase “which means that no one could enter or leave” explains the meaning of “quarantine.” 2. Synonym Clues The text may use a synonym, a word with a similar meaning, to help clarify the unfamiliar word. Example: “She was known for her benevolence, or kindness, toward the poor in her community.” • The word “kind...
Baca selengkapnya