In readers' workshop, we've been learning about inferences. We discussed how we need to infer in everyday life to understand how our friends are feeling and to deteremine if somebody is joking or serious. We also practiced making inferences while reading so that we understand what the author is really saying.
What is an inference? An inference is using the clues the author (or actor or friend) is giving you to uncover the hidden message. Good authors ask their readers to infer; if the author directly told us everything, we'd be so bored. However, writing a paragraph that asks the reader to infer can be really hard.
We tried our hand at writing inference paragraphs. Check out these samples below. They were written by members of our class. If you can infer when, who, where, why, or what is happening in the paragraph, leave your ideas by clicking the comment link right above this post. Authors love to hear from their audience, so we'd appreciate your kind feedback!
Paragraph 1
I was over 5,000 feet in the air. I jumped and felt the cold wind rush across my face. I looked down and saw that the small dots were getting bigger and bigger. I pulled a string and felt a jolt. Everything slowed down.
-- CS
Paragraph 2
3-2 count, bases loaded, bottom of the ninth—game 7 of the World Series. Ryan Howard’s up. Here’s the pitch. It’s a curveball breaking in. He starts to swing, but stops. Thump! That hurt, but it was worth it.
--BY
Paragraph 3
I was watching. Watching the fans go wild for their competitor. Whether it was “the man in the shades” or the bolt,” everyone had a favorite. All different colors of people, and all different kinds of people watched the runners at the “Bird’s Nest.”
--CS
Paragraph 4
It’s like a small zoo in there. There are feathers and dander flying everywhere. The noises and sights of water going through the pipes, birds chatting, tortoises, fish, and people talking, the little waterfalls, the ponds with the most beautiful koi, and the hamster wheels squealing surround you. If you are quiet, you can occasionally hear the song of a bell and canary doing their thing.
--LL
Paragraph 5
I was high—higher than the house. My friends were cheering me on. “Don’t look down,” one of them said. I smelled the piney wood and went higher. I had reached the top.
--CS
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