What You Need to Know

Key Concept Diagram

An inference is a conclusion drawn from evidence in the text plus the reader's prior knowledge

Inference is different from prediction (what will happen) and from summary (what happened)

Clues for inference: word choice, character actions, setting details, dialogue, what is NOT said

Strong inferences are supported by specific textual evidence - not just "gut feeling"

Authors leave gaps deliberately so readers actively engage in constructing meaning

Key Vocabulary

Inference

A logical conclusion drawn from text evidence plus prior knowledge; reading between the lines

Implied

Information that is suggested or hinted at rather than directly stated

Textual Evidence

Specific words, phrases, or details from the text used to support an interpretation

Prior Knowledge

What a reader already knows about a topic, used alongside text clues to make inferences

Knowledge Check

Select the correct answer for each question. Click "Check Answer" to see if you are right.

Question 1

Read this passage: "Jake slammed his locker shut, avoided his friends's eyes in the corridor, and stared at the ground all the way to class." What can you infer?

Jake is upset or troubled about something Jake is very tired and needs sleep Jake is pretending not to see his friends Jake is excited about his next class

Question 2

What is the difference between an inference and a fact?

Inferences are always wrong; facts are always right A fact is directly stated in the text; an inference is a conclusion you draw from clues Inferences are found in fiction; facts only appear in non-fiction They are the same thing

Question 3

Which approach produces the STRONGEST inference?

Guessing what feels right without reading carefully Summarising what the text directly says Drawing a conclusion supported by specific evidence from the text Predicting what will happen next

Making Inferences