Making Inferences

Learning Objectives

  • Use analytical thinking to make inferences

Let’s start by talking about what an inference is.

Key Takeaway: Inference

Inference is the process of drawing a conclusion based on evidence and reasoning rather than direct statements. Sometimes we need to infer the main idea of a passage, or figure out an implied thesis by carefully “reading between the lines.”

Inferring the main idea may be necessary when a passage does not state it explicitly, begins with a question without a direct answer, presents comparisons or contrasts, or uses satire. Satire, a form of humorous writing that relies on exaggeration, requires readers to recognize the specific details being scrutinized by the writer. This means that the reader will need to read analytically and pay close attention to specific parts of the text.

Some thesis statements are explicit—stated directly in the text itself. Others are implicit—implied by the content but not written in one distinct sentence.

Watch It

The following video describes the terms implicit and explicit and introduces the excellent idea of the reading voice and the thinking voice that strong readers use as they work through a text.

You can view the transcript for “explicit v implicit” here (download).

When you are left to make inferences, you can check whether your inference is logical or not by asking these questions:

  • Is it based on words and sentences in the text?
  • Is it based more on the author’s words than on your point of view?
  • Does it manage to avoid contradicting other statements made in the text?
  • Does it align with the author’s attitude or tone about the topic?
  • Could it function as the thesis or topic sentence?

Watch It

The video below offers several examples that show how we make inferences in different situations based on the available evidence. Pay close attention to the details that might lead us to a particular interpretation of meanings that are not directly stated. Also be sure to answer the two multiple choice questions that accompany the examples, and to listen carefully to the explanation for how we can arrive at an accurate understanding based on inference.

You can view the transcript for “Inferencing” here (opens in new window).

GLOSSARY

implicit: a perspective that is implied without being stated directly in a single sentence

explicit: a perspective that is directly stated in a single locatable sentence