Making an Inference

Sometimes when we read, the author leaves gaps for our brain to fill in. Our brain will naturally fill in these gaps when we’re watching a movie or reading a novel. When we encounter more demanding or difficult information, we will have to do a little bit more work to fill in these gaps. Keep reading to learn more about how to use logic and your reading comprehension skills to draw conclusions and make inferences.

Why is it important to be able to draw conclusions?

As you grow in strength as a reader, it is important to be able to understand what the author isn’t telling you and be able to appropriately make judgements about that information after you’ve read it. These judgements or conclusions are called inferences. Making inferences is an essential skill because it allows individuals to read between the lines, uncover deeper meanings, and connect ideas that are not explicitly stated. This skill is crucial for understanding complex texts, interpreting subtle social cues, and solving problems in everyday situations. For example, in reading, making inferences helps a person grasp the author’s underlying message or the emotions of characters without being directly told. Similarly, in conversations, it enables individuals to pick up on unspoken feelings or implied meanings, improving communication and relationships. Additionally, inferences are vital in critical thinking and decision-making, as they allow people to draw conclusions from limited information, evaluate situations, and anticipate outcomes. Developing this skill enhances comprehension, empathy, and the ability to think analytically across various contexts.

What is the process for drawing a conclusion?

The process of making an inference has 3 basic steps that can be applied to many different types of information.  First, you have to make observations. You need to explore and understand the information you’ve been given. The easiest way to do this is to use the 5-W’s: Who? What? When? Where? Why? Using your skills of observation to understand the information, whether it’s reading an essay or a novel, or looking at a photo or a graph, will help you make stronger inferences.

Step two will usually happen naturally if you are a critical thinker. Step two is to mix what you observe with your own ideas, sound logic, experiences, and knowledge base. Most of us will naturally make associations with the information we are given. We will interpret that information based on our own experiences and base of knowledge.

The third step is to actually draw conclusions. Many times, you will do this by answering questions that ask you to fill in the gaps. The author or creator of the information won’t tell you everything. They will count on you to fill in the gaps. You can also make inferences by taking something you observe in the information and attempting to tell the story behind it. Continue reading to see how you can apply this to the different types of information you will encounter. 

Here is a simplified version of the steps we’ve just learned:

1. Make observations using the 5-W’s: Who? What? When? Where? Why?

2. Mix what you observe with your own experiences, your knowledge base, and sound logic.

3. Draw conclusions to answer questions or to explain the information you’ve been given.

Using the Process to Make an Inference

Sophia is in the kitchen cleaning up. She loves to bake. Earlier this morning she decided to try a new recipe. She mixed all the ingredients and put the cake in the oven. Just as she realizes the cake should be done, she starts to smell smoke.

Step 1: Make observations. Who? What? When? Where? Why? (Are there any other clues we need to pay attention to)? 

Step 2: Mix these observations with your logic and what you already know about baking. The more you know about baking, the easier it will be for you to make an inference. 

Step 3: Make an inference by answering a question: Why does Sophia smell smoke?

The best inference we can make is that the cake is burning. This is because it is logical and it relies directly on what we observed in the sentences. 

We could also guess that the smoke smell is a volcano erupting outside her house. But why is this a weak or illogical inference? Because there is no evidence to suggest there is a volcano. Also, because it is illogical to assume a smoke smell in a kitchen is something so extreme and rare. 

An inference is more than a guess: wild guesses are not inferences. While there may not be any evidence that it is NOT a volcano, it just isn’t logical to infer that as the source of the smell. The best inference is that the cake is burning because it aligns with the information we are given, our knowledge of cooking, and the application of logic. 

Attributions

Strengthening Reading and Comprehension by Audrey Cross and Katherine Sorenson is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International