The Inference Strategy. I nteract with the questions and the passage I nteract with the questions and the passage N ote what you know N ote what you know

The The Inference Inference StrategyStrategy

IInteract with the questions and the passagenteract with the questions and the passage

NNote what you knowote what you know

FFind the cluesind the clues

EExplore any supporting detailsxplore any supporting details

RReturn to the questioneturn to the question

Inference Strategy Cue Card #1

STEPS FOR THE INFERENCE STRATEGY

Inference StrategyInference Strategy Cue Card Cue Card #2#2

PASSAGEPASSAGECell PhonesCell Phones

People are talking on cell phones more and more around the world. In the United States, cell phone usage grew from 340,000 subscribers in 1985 to 158 million in 2005. Today, Americans spend an average of seven hours a month talking on their cell phones. That figure is low compared to some Asian societies. One of the highest rates is in Israel, where 76% of the population has cell phones.

Cell phones have both psychological appeal and practical advantages. They are a status symbol and help people to feel special and important. Cell phones can also improve convenience and safety. In one country, people use them to switch on the heat while they are driving home. A cell phone user can call for help if her car breaks down, especially at night. Travelers and children can phone home to assure their family that they have arrived safely at their destinations.

Cell phones can also cause problems. People who use their cell phones while driving are more likely to have accidents. Ringing cell phones often interrupt movies, church services, lectures, and concerts. People speaking on their cell phones in subways can ruin the peace of mind of other passengers. A questionnaire found that 59% of people would rather visit the dentist than sit next to someone using a cell phone. Rude cell phone users have sometimes been violently attacked, for example, with pepper spray by movie goers or by being rammed with cars.

Questions:Questions:1.1. What is the purpose of this passage?What is the purpose of this passage?2.2. How many hours a month do Americans talk on their cell phones?How many hours a month do Americans talk on their cell phones?3.3. How do the advantages of cell phones compare to theirHow do the advantages of cell phones compare to their

disadvantages?disadvantages?

Inference StrategyInference Strategy Cue Card #3Cue Card #3

TYPES OF QUESTIONSTYPES OF QUESTIONS• • Factual QuestionFactual Question

The answer is right there in the The answer is right there in the passage.passage.

• • Think and Seek QuestionThink and Seek Question

The answer is The answer is notnot in the passage. in the passage.

"Inference Strategy"Inference Strategy Cue Cue Card #4Card #4

"INFER" MEANS..."INFER" MEANS...

Guess the best answer Guess the best answer based on the based on the

information you already information you already knowknow


TYPES OF QUESTIONSTYPES OF QUESTIONS

••Factual QuestionsFactual Questions

• • Think and Seek Think and Seek QuestionsQuestions

• • Big Picture QuestionsBig Picture Questions

• • Predicting QuestionsPredicting Questions

• • Clarifying QuestionsClarifying Questions


FACTUAL QUESTIONSFACTUAL QUESTIONS

••Require finding a fact in the Require finding a fact in the information that you have information that you have read.read.

••The answer is right there in The answer is right there in the passage.the passage.


EXAMPLEEXAMPLE FACTUAL QUESTIONS FACTUAL QUESTIONS

••What color is the boy's hair?What color is the boy's hair?••What is the name of the girl's best What is the name of the girl's best

friend?friend?••How many years have the people lived How many years have the people lived

in their house?in their house?••Where is the train going?Where is the train going?••Who is on the boat with the lady?Who is on the boat with the lady?••When did the man arrive?When did the man arrive?••Which dog bit the child?Which dog bit the child?

Inference StrategyInference Strategy Cue Card Cue Card #8#8 CHARACTERISTICS CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD ANSWERSOF GOOD ANSWERS

••Is a complete thoughtIs a complete thought Has a subjectHas a subject Has a verbHas a verb

• • Is related to informationIs related to informationin the passagein the passage

• • Answers the question Answers the question


BIG PICTURE QUESTIONSBIG PICTURE QUESTIONS ••Require you to figure out the Require you to figure out the main main

ideaidea or big message or or big message or themetheme of the of the passage.passage.

••May ask for the May ask for the purpose purpose of the writer.of the writer.

• • May ask for May ask for summary summary informationinformation settingsetting tonetone


EXAMPLE BIG PICTURE EXAMPLE BIG PICTURE QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

What is the What is the main ideamain idea of this passage? of this passage? What is the author's main message?What is the author's main message? What is the What is the main ideamain idea of the first of the first

paragraph?paragraph? What is the What is the themetheme of this passage? of this passage? What was the author's What was the author's purposepurpose in in

writing this passage?writing this passage? What is the What is the settingsetting of this story? of this story? What is the tone of this passage?What is the tone of this passage? Which of these statements Which of these statements summarizessummarizes

what this passage is about?what this passage is about?

Inference StrategyInference Strategy Cue Card #11ACue Card #11A

KEY WORDS IN BIG PICTURE KEY WORDS IN BIG PICTURE QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

Main Idea definition: The big idea in a paragraph or passage.definition: The big idea in a paragraph or passage. example: This passage is about how people livedexample: This passage is about how people lived

during the Renaissance.during the Renaissance.Purpose

definition: The author's reason for writing thedefinition: The author's reason for writing thepassage.passage.

example: The author wants to convince the readerexample: The author wants to convince the readerto exercise each day.to exercise each day.

Summary definition: A short statement that tells about adefinition: A short statement that tells about a

long passage.long passage. example: The passage is a story about a man whoexample: The passage is a story about a man who

breaks his arm and learns a lesson.breaks his arm and learns a lesson.Message

definition: The author's communication in writingdefinition: The author's communication in writingto the reader. What the author wants the reader toto the reader. What the author wants the reader toknow or understand.know or understand.

example: The author wants us to understand thatexample: The author wants us to understand thatpeople should not say mean things about otherpeople should not say mean things about otherpeoplepeople..

Inference StrategyInference Strategy Cue Card #11B Cue Card #11B

KEY WORDS IN BIG PICTURE KEY WORDS IN BIG PICTURE QUESTIONS (cont.)QUESTIONS (cont.)

ThemeTheme definitiondefinition: Another word for "message" or what: Another word for "message" or what

the author wants the reader to know.the author wants the reader to know. exampleexample: The theme of this passage is that being: The theme of this passage is that being

safe is better than being sorry.safe is better than being sorry.SettingSetting

definitiondefinition: The place in which the story is located.: The place in which the story is located. exampleexample: This takes place in the African jungle.: This takes place in the African jungle.

ToneTone definitiondefinition: The feeling of the passage. The emotions the author : The feeling of the passage. The emotions the author

is expressing through the use of certain words like adjectives is expressing through the use of certain words like adjectives and adverbs. and adverbs.

exampleexample: This passage is an angry passage. The author shows : This passage is an angry passage. The author shows anger through the ways Peter acts by throwing things and anger through the ways Peter acts by throwing things and yelling.yelling.


PURPOSES FOR WRITINGPURPOSES FOR WRITING EntertainEntertain

InformInform

PersuadePersuade


PREDICTING QUESTIONSPREDICTING QUESTIONS

Require you to make aRequire you to make aguess or forecast aboutguess or forecast aboutwhat will happen in thewhat will happen in the

future.future.

Require you to base yourRequire you to base yourforecast on informationforecast on information

you have read.you have read.


EXAMPLE PREDICTING EXAMPLE PREDICTING QUESTIONSQUESTIONS What do you think will happen next?What do you think will happen next?

What is the most likely event to happenWhat is the most likely event to happennext?next?

What will the main character do next?What will the main character do next? What will happen to the boy in the future?What will happen to the boy in the future? Where will the boy hide?Where will the boy hide? Who will help her?Who will help her? When will she be found?When will she be found? Which of his friends will stay over night?Which of his friends will stay over night? If you were to finish this story, how wouldIf you were to finish this story, how would

it end?it end?


KEY WORDS IN PREDICTING KEY WORDS IN PREDICTING QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

NextNextFutureFutureHappenHappen

WillWillDown the roadDown the road

EndEndEndingEndingEffectEffect


CLARIFYING QUESTIONS CLARIFYING QUESTIONS Require you to make sense of Require you to make sense of

somethingsomething

••Explain somethingExplain something

••Give a cause Give a cause

••Give a reasonGive a reason

••Explain feelings Explain feelings

••Compare somethingCompare something

••Contrast somethingContrast something

Inference StrategyInference Strategy Cue Card #17 Cue Card #17

EXAMPLE CLARIFYING EXAMPLE CLARIFYING QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

••What do you think the author What do you think the author meant meant when she when she used the word "satisfied" in Paragraph 1 ?used the word "satisfied" in Paragraph 1 ?

••What was Jason What was Jason tryingtrying to to dodo when he hid the when he hid the money?money?

••How do you think Paula was How do you think Paula was feeling feeling when she went when she went to the store?to the store?

••What What causedcaused Mrs. Jones to give away the puppy? Mrs. Jones to give away the puppy?••What do you think the What do you think the reasonreason was for his angry was for his angry

behavior?behavior?••How does Jim's behavior How does Jim's behavior comparecompare to Pedro's to Pedro's

behavior?behavior?••How does the parade How does the parade contrastcontrast with previous with previous

parades?parades?


Key Words in Clarifying Key Words in Clarifying QuestionsQuestions

MeansMeans MeantMeant CauseCause

ReasonReason CompareCompare ContrastContrast

SameSame DifferentDifferent FeelingFeeling

IFIF

Documents

The Inference Strategy. I nteract with the questions and the passage I nteract with the questions and the passage N ote what you know N ote what you know