Inference and Prediction

INFERENCE

1) What is inference?

• Inference is reading all of the clues and making your best guess
• Inference is similar to prediction but they are not the same
• When inferring, you are using all clues to draw conclusions about what is being read

2) When do you make inferences?

• As a reader, you can make inferences during reading
• As a reader, you need to ask yourself questions as you read and make inferences based on what you have read. 
• These inferences may not be about what will happen next

3) How do you make inferences?

• Inferences are made by questioning during the story
• Ask yourself about why a character does something, how a character feels, etc
• To make an inference during reading, you must question yourself

4) Questions to inferring in a text?

• What will happen next and why?
• What clues have led you to think that?
• Why did that character do that?
• How does the character feel?
• Why did the author write this story?

PREDICTION

1) What is prediction?

• A prediction is what you think will happen based upon the text, the author, and background knowledge
• Prediction is an educated guess as to what will happen

2) When do you make predictions?

• As a reader, you can make predictions a text during reading
• In other words, make predictions before and during reading

3) How do you make predictions?

• Ask yourself what is going to happen next in the story
• Ask yourself what else could happen in the story
• To make predictions before and during reading, you must question yourself

4) Questions to predict in a text?

• What is happening in the story?
• What will happen next?
• What clues have led you to think that?
• What else could happen next?

What is the difference between prediction and inference?

• When you make predictions, your prediction will be proven by the end of the story. When inferring, you may or may not know the answer to your question by the end of the story
• When predicting, you are focusing on what will happen in the story. When inferring, you are making a guess about what a character will do, how a character feels, and other judgments.
• Prediction     = answered by the end of the story
• Inference       = may or may not be answered by the end of the story