NOTE: Making an inference and drawing a conclusion are very similar skills. Each requires the
reader to fill in blanks left out by the author. An author may not include information for several
reasons: they may think you already know it, it may not seem important to them, or they may
want you to find the result.
How to make an inference or draw a conclusion
Observe all the facts, arguments, and information given by the author
Consider what you already know from your own experiences
When faced with multiple choice answers, determine whether each is true or false based
on the information in the passage
The woman waited nervously in line. When the counter was empty, she carefully
unloaded her items from her cart. Lines creased her forehead as if to show the
calculations ringing up in her head. Finally, the cashier began ringing up the
items as the woman clutched her purse.
Inference/conclusion: The woman may not have enough money to cover the cost of her groceries.
Think about the facts of the passage and what may result from them
Think about causes and effects
The writer may only provide a list of effects, so you have to figure out the cause.
The child stood on the sidewalk clenching her ice cream cone. Beads of sweat collected on her little nose as she furiously licked at the ice cream dripping down her hand.
Inference/conclusion: It must me a hot day because her ice cream is melting, and she is sweating.
Try saying “If …then”
If the girl is sweating, then it may be warm outside.
Remember
Most writing suggests more than it says
By making inferences, you get more from the story
Conclusions may be missing from the things you read, so you have to draw your own
reader to fill in blanks left out by the author. An author may not include information for several
reasons: they may think you already know it, it may not seem important to them, or they may
want you to find the result.
How to make an inference or draw a conclusion
Observe all the facts, arguments, and information given by the author
Consider what you already know from your own experiences
When faced with multiple choice answers, determine whether each is true or false based
on the information in the passage
The woman waited nervously in line. When the counter was empty, she carefully
unloaded her items from her cart. Lines creased her forehead as if to show the
calculations ringing up in her head. Finally, the cashier began ringing up the
items as the woman clutched her purse.
Inference/conclusion: The woman may not have enough money to cover the cost of her groceries.
Think about the facts of the passage and what may result from them
Think about causes and effects
The writer may only provide a list of effects, so you have to figure out the cause.
The child stood on the sidewalk clenching her ice cream cone. Beads of sweat collected on her little nose as she furiously licked at the ice cream dripping down her hand.
Inference/conclusion: It must me a hot day because her ice cream is melting, and she is sweating.
Try saying “If …then”
If the girl is sweating, then it may be warm outside.
Remember
Most writing suggests more than it says
By making inferences, you get more from the story
Conclusions may be missing from the things you read, so you have to draw your own
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