Inferences & Conclusions

What is an INFERENCE?

• An idea

• An educated guess

• A fact

Johnny had soccer practice and then swimming lessons. It was late when he got home so he went straight to bed without studying for his math test the next day. You can INFER that...

• Johnny will get a good grade

• Johnny will probably fail his test

• Johnny will study during the test

The sandwich you left on the table is gone. Crumbs lead to your dog's bed and a piece of meat hangs out of her mouth. You can INFER that......

• Your mom ate your sandwich

• You ate the sandwich and forgot about it

• Your gerbil ate the sandwich

• Your dog ate the sandwich

To make a good inference, you need to...

• pay attention to details

• look up unfamiliar words

• ask your teacher for the answer

• pick your nose

What is a CONCLUSION?

• A fact

• Your opinion

• A final guess

Justin was really nervous about asking Gloria on a date. He kept fiddling with his pencil and couldn't sit still all day. He was going to ask her out for ice cream later on in the day. When he got home later, he immediately went to his room and slammed the door. What CONCLUSION can you make about Gloria's answer?

• Gloria said no

• Gloria said yes

• Gloria is allergic to dairy

• He didn't have a chance to ask before school was over

Read the excerpt from "Charlotte’s Web" By E. B. White

Where's Papa going with that ax?" said Fern to her mother as they were setting the table for breakfast.

"Out to the hog house," replied Mrs.Arable. "Some pigs were born last night."

"I don't see why he needs an ax," continued Fern, who was only eight.

"Well," said her mother, "one of the pigs is a runt. It's very small and weak, and it will never amount to anything. So your father has decided to do away with it."

"Do away with it?" shrieked Fern."You mean kill it? Just because it's smaller than the others?"

Mrs. Arable put a pitcher of cream on the table. "Don't yell, Fern!" she said. "Your father is right. The pig would probably die anyway."

Fern pushed a chair out of the way and ran outdoors. The grass was wet and the earth smelled of springtime. Fern's sneakers were sopping by the time she caught up with her father. "Please don't kill it!" she sobbed. "It's unfair."

What conclusion can be drawn about Fern? She is -

• optimistic

• pleasant

• kind-hearted

• confident

Read the excerpt from "The Outsiders" By S. E. Hinton

When I stepped out into the bright sunlight from the darkness of the movie house, I had only two things on my mind: Paul Newman and a ride home. I was wishing I looked like Paul Newman--- he looks tough and I don't--- but I guess my own looks aren't so bad. I have light-brown, almost-red hair and greenish-gray eyes. I wish they were more gray, because I hate most guys that have green eyes, but I have to be content with what I have. My hair is longer than a lot of boys wear theirs, squared off in back and long at the front and sides, but I am a greaser and most of my neighborhood rarely bothers to get a haircut. Besides, I look better with long hair.

What conclusion can be drawn about the narrator?

• He is in high school

• He does not have much money

• He lives alone

• He's obsessed with his looks

Why is drawing conclusions an important skill to develop?

• It's not really that important

• Everyone should have skills in drawing

• In life, you will need to put clues together to figure some things out that are not given to you

• It's a good skill to know so that I can do well on drawing conclusions on the SOL