Objective: Students will learn how to make inferences based on textual evidence, understanding how to read between the lines to draw conclusions about characters, events, and themes. __________________________________________________________________ Part 1: What is an Inference? Explanation: An inference is a conclusion you reach based on evidence and reasoning. When reading a story or passage, the author may not tell you everything directly. Instead, they provide clues, and you have to make an inference to understand deeper meanings or predict what might happen. Example of an Inference: • Text: "Even though Sam said he wasn’t tired, he kept yawning throughout the meeting." • Inference: Sam is probably tired, even if he denies it. Exercise 1: Identifying Inferences Objective: Identify the inferences in the following short excerpts. Write down what you think can be inferred based on the clues in the text. Excerpt 1: "Mia quickly glanced at the clock, then at her shoes. Her hands trembled as she checked her phone again. She had missed the bus." • Inference: __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ Excerpt 2: "Tom stared out the window, lost in thought. He didn't respond when his friend asked if he wanted to go out. The room felt heavy with silence." • Inference: __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

Question

Objective: Students will learn how to make inferences based on textual evidence, understanding how to read between the lines to draw conclusions about characters, events, and themes. __________________________________________________________________ Part 1: What is an Inference? Explanation: An inference is a conclusion you reach based on evidence and reasoning. When reading a story or passage, the author may not  tell you everything directly. Instead,  they provide clues, and you have to make an inference to understand deeper meanings or predict what might happen. Example of an Inference: • Text: "Even though Sam said he wasn’t tired, he kept yawning throughout the meeting." • Inference: Sam is probably tired, even if he denies it. Exercise 1: Identifying Inferences Objective:  Identify  the  inferences  in  the  following  short  excerpts.  Write  down  what  you think can be inferred based on the clues in the text. Excerpt 1: "Mia quickly glanced at the clock, then at her shoes. Her hands trembled as she checked her phone again. She had missed the bus." • Inference: __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ Excerpt 2: "Tom stared out the window, lost in thought. He didn't respond when his friend asked if he wanted to go out. The room felt heavy with silence." • Inference: __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ 
 Mia is likely feeling anxious or rushed because she realizes she is late and has missed her bus, which may indicate she has somewhere important to be.

Tom is probably preoccupied or upset about something, which is causing him to ignore his friend's invitation and creating a tense atmosphere in the room.

Excerpt 3: "Jason didn’t speak a word as he stared at the invitation. He sat there, eyes wide, his hands clutching the paper tightly as if he were afraid it might slip away." • Inference: __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ Part 2: Making Inferences About Character Motivation Objective:  Draw  inferences  about  characters'  motivations,  feelings,  and  thoughts  based on their actions or words. __________________________________________________________________ Instructions: Read the following passage, then answer the questions about the character’s motivations. Passage: "Lena  had  spent  hours  preparing  for  her  big  presentation.  When  she  finally  stepped  in front  of  the  group,  she  hesitated,  adjusting  her  notes  several  times  before  starting.  Her voice  was  shaky  at  first,  but  as  she  continued,  she  gained  more  confidence,  eventually speaking clearly and firmly."

GPT-4o mini · Answer

**Part 1: Identifying Inferences** **Excerpt 1:** "Mia quickly glanced at the clock, then at her shoes. Her hands trembled as she checked her phone again. She had missed the bus." **Inference:** Mia is likely feeling anxious or rushed because she realizes she is late and has missed her bus, which may indicate she has somewhere important to be. **Excerpt 2:** "Tom stared out the window, lost in thought. He didn't respond when his friend asked if he wanted to go out. The room felt heavy with silence." **Inference:** Tom is probably preoccupied or upset about something, which is causing him to ignore his friend's invitation and creating a tense atmosphere in the room. **Excerpt 3:** "Jason didn’t speak a word as he stared at the invitation. He sat there, eyes wide, his hands clutching the paper tightly as if he were afraid it might slip away." **Inference:** Jason is likely feeling a mix of fear and excitement about the invitation, perhaps because it represents an opportunity or event he is deeply invested in, which is causing him to grip it tightly. --- **Part 2: Making Inferences About Character Motivation** 1. **What can be inferred about Lena's feelings before her presentation?** **Inference:** Lena is likely feeling nervous or anxious about her presentation, evidenced by her hesitation and the adjustments to her notes before she starts speaking. 2. **What does Lena's progression during the presentation suggest about her character?** **Inference:** Lena's initial shakiness followed by a gain in confidence suggests she is determined and capable, showing that although she may struggle with anxiety, she can overcome it with preparation and perseverance. This indicates a resilient character who strives to succeed despite her fears.