How do you make inferences in social studies, especially in source-based questions? Find out how to make good inferences that will help you score the critical marks in social studies exams!

1. Making
inferences
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2. Making inferences means
to read between the lines
i.e. you can tell
what the source is not saying
Questions can look like this:
• What does this source tell you?
• What is the message of this source?
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3. What does this source tell you about
the girl and the bracelet? Explain
your answer.
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4. Source A –
From a conversation a girl had with her
boyfriend
This bracelet is small and light. The small
diamonds on it make it look very pretty. I think
this bracelet goes well with my dress but I don’t
have cash to pay for it now.
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5. Source A –
From a conversation a girl had with her
boyfriend
• This bracelet is small and light. The small
diamonds on it make it
look very pretty. I think this
bracelet goes well with my dress but I don’t have
cash to pay for it now.
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6. Answer:
• This source tells me that the girl likes the
bracelet.
(This is the inference you made. You describe it
in your own words)
• This is supported by “the small diamonds on it
make it look very pretty.“
(This is the evidence from the source. You copy
from the source word for word)
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7. Source A –
From a conversation a girl had with her
boyfriend
• This bracelet is small and light. The small
diamonds on it make it look very pretty. I think
this bracelet goes well with my dress but I
don’t have cash to pay for
it now.
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8. Answer:
• The source also tells me that the girl hopes
the boyfriend can help her pay for the
bracelet.
• This is supported by “I don’t have cash to pay
for it now.”
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9. Better answer:
• The source tells me that the girl hopes that the
boyfriend would give the bracelet for her as a
present.
• She emphasised that she likes the bracelet but
she doesn’t have cash to buy it on the spot
• Since she said it out loudly for the boyfriend to
hear, she is hoping that the boyfriend would give
it to her as a gift
• This is supported by “this bracelet goes well with
my dress but I don’t have cash to pay for it now.”
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10. Source Aa –
From a conversation a girl had with her
boyfriend
This bracelet is small and light. The small
diamonds on it makes it look very pretty. I think
this bracelet goes well with my dress. The
boyfriend did not respond at all.
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11. What does this source tell you
about men? Explain your answer.
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12. The men don’t get it.
Answer:
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13. What is the message of this
source? Explain your answer.
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14. Source B –
A picture of Dr Koh Poh Koon picking
up a piece of litter from the drain
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15. Answer:
• The message of this source is that Mr Koh Poh
Koon is a hardworking man.
• This is supported by the picture which shows
him bending down and picking up a piece of
litter with his hand from the drain.
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16. A better answer:
• The purpose of this source is to make voters vote
for him in the by-election.
• This is supported by the picture which shows him
picking up a piece of litter from the drain.
• That would make people think that he is
hardworking.
• Since voters in Punggol East would want a good
MP like him,
• they will then be more likely to vote for him after
seeing him do this
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17. NOTE for inference questions:
• Your answer must contain the following:
• (Inference + support) x 1
• (Inference + support) x 1
• Altogether 2 sets for each question
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18. For more information about our
Social Studies classes, contact us
at
9791 1234
info@brainmatter.com.sg
© 2016 Brain Matter
All rights reserved. No part of this PowerPoint may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any
form or by any means.