Reading Strategy: Drawing Inferences

1. Drawing Inferences
Presented by:
Tri Ilma Septiana

2. Introduction
• An author does not always tell every detail or give
every bit of information in nonfiction or in fiction
stories. So, readers must make inferences to supply
information that author had provided between lines
through clues (key words/phrases, symbols, picture or
tone/feelings).
You may not always be correct in your inferences,
but they are assumptions that you make based on
the given clues.

3. What is an Inference?
 An assumption that you make about something that you
see, read, or experience. (Keene and Zimmermann, 2007)
 Using clues that the author gives you to answer questions
about story or information. (Hanson, 2000)
 An educated guess that we make based on the information
that is right in front of us, combined with our
experiences. (Kyle Kelso)

4. Example I: Activating Background Knowledge.
If your little brother
or sister runs in the
house holding his/her
knee and crying
You infer that
he/she has
somehow hurt in
his/her knee.
You could infer that
your interlocutor is
agree with your
opinion or suggestion.
When you are talking
with someone, and
he/she nods his/her
head top and down.

5. Example II: Looking For Clues & Asking Questions

7. Example III: Guessing
1.What is this
woman doing?
2. Where do you
think this
woman is?
3. Is she there for
work or
pleasure?

8. Lets look a little bit closer and evaluate your guesses.
What is she doing?
She is on the
telephone.
Where do you think this
woman is?
Based on the furniture and
decorations, she is probably
working at law firm.
Is she there for work or
pleasure?
Based on the her clothing
and the presence of a
laptop and documents, she
is probably there for work.
Example III: Guessing

9. Steps to make inference
1. Activating Background Knowledge: readers use their own personal
experiences (text to self) and prior knowledge (text to text or world).
2. Looking For Clues: readers use details or related information about what
they have read to make an inference.
3. Asking Questions: readers tie together background knowledge and
author’s clues as they think that puzzle them about the text.
4. Drawing Conclusions: readers draw inferences by answering the questions
they have proposed.
The combination of these strategies allow readers
to make a inferences (reasonable guesses)
about information, events or characters in a story

10. Making Inference by Using
Inference Chart
Topic: Muhammadiyah to provide legal aid for Siti
Background Knowledge Questions
Muhamadiyah is one of the largest Islamic
organization and Siti Fadhillah Supari (former
health minister 2004-2009) is one of member of
Aisyiah.
Why does KPK determine Siti Fadhilla Supari as a
suspect in the procurement medical equipment?
Clues From Story Inferences
In March, the KPK announced that it had taken
over the investigation of the graft case
implicating Siti from the National Police.
The police had accused Siti of abusing her
budgetary power during her 2004 - 2009 tenure
as minister in the procurement of medical
equipment in 2005 worth Rp 15.5 billion (US$1.3
million).
Siti Fadhillah Supari was suspected used her
power as a health minister on abusing budgetary
in the procurement of medical equipment in
2005.

11. Conclusion
Inferential thinking occurs when text clues merge with the
reader’s prior knowledge and questions to point toward a
conclusion about an underlying theme or idea in the text.
If readers don’t infer, they will not grasp the deeper
essence of texts they read.
(Harvey and Goudvis)