Introduction.
By definition, Inference is the reading process
in which the reader figure out something that wasn’t completely in the story or
text. He/she uses clues to make a good guess. For example, if someone (or a
character in a story) is smiling, that is a clue that he/she is happy. If
someone is yawning, that is a clue that he/she is tired.
To make a good inference, a student should make a good
guess by asking him/herself the following three crucial questions:
- What I know: What is known even before reading a text (E.g. I know some parts of my society there is female circumcision)
- What I learned from a text: What have been read from the text (I have also learned from the text that in this society there is female circumcision)
- What I can infer: What can be identified as result of using clues (The girls are circumcised in the story, hence this is the clue that the story has the theme of female genital mutilation)
When Do We Make Inferences?
We mostly infer when we read literary works. When we
infer we ask ourselves several questions, evidences or clues. For example;
- Think about what you see (clues and evidence), and
- Think about what you already know (create a mental picture).
In
a literary text, when we
see a character having dirty and torn clothes, these are the clues or evidences
that this particular character is having a certain situation. Then after
connecting the situation with what we already know, we realize that the
particular character is poor because in our life we know that a person, who has
no basic needs like clothes, is poor.
In ‘Unanswered Cries’, for example, here
are some of the clues or evidences and the themes they imply”
- Olabisi’s wearing of jeans – a modern girl from the city (Modernity)
- Rugiatu and Salay wearing lappa – traditional girls from the village (Traditionalists)
- Yah Posseh’s clothes and jewels – a traditionalist and a sorcerer (Witchcraft and Sorcery)
Thus, as you can see, the mere appearances of the
characters may give the reader clues on what ideas they represent. It is
important because the writer does not directly state them.
The differences between Inferences and Predictions.
Inferences: When you use information in the text and what you
know, you are trying to figure out something about the text that the author did
not tell you.
Predictions: When you use what you know from the text to make a
guess at what will happen or could happen next, then your predicting.
Various Ways of Inferring.
A student can infer in a text by;
- Thinking about his/her own experiences.
- Using clues from the text.
- Thinking about how a character handles conflict.
- Thinking about what he/she already knows.
- Thinking about how a character handles change.
- Thinking about a character’s actions.
- Thinking about what a character says.
- Thinking about how a character feels.
Note: A literary text is easily analysed with the students who have inference
making skills. When they have mastered this skill, they understand easily and
the teacher also teaches them with ease because whenever they meet clues and evidences
in the text, they directly infer what they mean. Thus, they can easily identify
the themes of a particular text.
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(Also: For Literature in English
Subject, Check out my Literature in English Blog. Also check out My Diary for Diary Writing Inspiration and More!
)
- Listening for specific information
- Listening for general information
- Participating in debates, dialogues, interviews, impromptu speeches and discussions Part 1
- Participating in debates, dialogues, interviews, impromptu speeches and discussions Part 2
- Participating in debates, dialogues, interviews, impromptu speeches and discussions Part 3 l
- Reading intensively for comprehension
- Reading extensively
- Identifying and analysing setting, main plot, and characters Identifying themes
- Identifying main features of different genres Part 1
- Identifying main features of different genres Part 2
- Identifying main features of different genres Part 3
- Writing narrative compositions/essays (not less than 200 words) Part 1
- Writing narrative compositions/essays (not less than 200 words) Part 2
- Writing expository compositions/essays (not less than 200 words)
- Writing descriptive compositions/essays (not less than 200 words)
- Writing argumentative compositions/essays (not less than 200 words)
- Creative writing
- Creative Writing (Six stages of teaching how to write poems)
- Writing letters to the editor
- Writing business transaction letters
You may also be interested with the following
related topics:
·
3 IMPORTANT THINGS FOR A
GOOD ESSAY - Form Three & Four REQUIREMENTS & COMMON
MISTAKES ON ESSAY WRITING in Form Three & Four
You can also check the
following useful links for each class below:
FORME ONE
FORM THREE
FORM FOUR
Other Related Useful Links:
Reference
- Conteh, Osman (2002) Unanswered Cries, Macmillan Publishers Limited.
- https://www.slideshare.net/wenfongwangwu/making-inferences-15526722
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