1. CHAPTER 6
INFERENCE
When we infer, we draw conclusions
based on :
1.
1. the information in front us
2.
2. our background knowledge.
(Video: Inferences)

2. MAKING CONNECTIONS
1. Nouns and Pronouns
„ He, She, It, We, They, Them
„ This, That and Which
2. General Category Substitutes
-Sometimes single words replace single words
3. Substitute by Association
-Sometimes writers use associated words to represent the topic
4.
Inferring the Main Idea
-Sometimes writer expect you to infer the topic or main idea.

3. EXAMPLES
Nouns and Pronouns
General Category Substitutes

4. EXAMPLES
Substitute by Association
Inferring the Main Idea

5. LOGICAL AND ILLOGICAL INFERENCES
„ Inferences must rely heavily on what the author has written.
„ Consider alternatives.
„ You must be careful not to put too much of your own background
knowledge before the author’s actual statements, or you may end up
with an illogical inference.
„ (Video: Car commercial)

6. LOGICAL VS. ILLOGICAL
Logical Inferences
Illogical Inferences
„ 1. are solidly grounded in, or
„ 1. do not follow from the
based on, specific statement.
„ 2. are not contradicted by any
statements made in the passage.
„ 3. rely more heavily on the
author’s words than on the
reader’s background knowledge
or common sense.
author’s actual statements.
„ 2. are contradicted by the
author.
„ 3. rely too heavily on the
reader’s personal experience or
general knowledge rather than
on the author’s words.

7. BRIDGING INFERENCES
„ A bridging inference is an inference that is necessary to connect
sentences (or major/minor details) in a paragraph or multiple
paragraphs.
„ Example:
„ Recently, charter schools have come under criticism. Administrators
have been accused of accepting only the best students in order to make
sure their test scores remain high.

8. GUIDELINES FOR INFERENCES
„ Evidence + Schema = Inference
„ Evidence (What the text tells me.) +
„ Schema (My background knowledge.) =
„ Inference (What I think.)