Inference and Drawing Conclusions: Reading Between the Lines
Welcome! In this chapter, we are going to explore one of the most important "superpowers" you can have as a reader: the ability to understand things that aren't actually written on the page. In the IB MYP, this is a core part of Criterion B: Reading.
Think of yourself as a detective. When you read a text, the author doesn't always tell you everything directly. Sometimes, they leave "clues," and it is your job to put those clues together to understand the full story. This is what we call Inference and Drawing Conclusions.
What is Inference?
An inference is an educated guess based on evidence. It is when you use what you see in the text combined with what you already know about the world to understand a hidden meaning.
To help you remember, you can use this simple "formula":
Textual Clues + My Background Knowledge = Inference
Example: If you read a sentence that says, "Sarah came inside and immediately grabbed a towel to dry her hair," the text doesn't say "It is raining." However, because you know that people use towels when they are wet and people get wet in the rain, you can infer that it is raining outside.
What is Drawing Conclusions?
While an inference is a small guess about a specific detail, drawing a conclusion is like looking at the "big picture." It is the final decision or opinion you reach after looking at all the evidence in a text.
Key Difference:
- Inference: "Sarah is wet, so it might be raining." (A quick observation)
- Drawing a Conclusion: "Based on Sarah’s wet hair, the dark clouds in the illustrations, and the fact that she cancelled her picnic, I can conclude that the storm ruined her outdoor plans." (A final judgment based on many clues)
Quick Review: Why does this matter for Criterion B?
In your MYP Reading assessments, you won't just be asked "What happened?" (Facts). You will often be asked "Why do you think this happened?" or "What does the author imply?" These questions are testing your ability to infer.
The Proficiency Ladder: How much do I need to do?
Depending on which Phase you are in, the IB expects you to handle inferences in different ways:
- Emergent Level (Phases 1-2): You focus on identifying basic facts and messages. You might start making simple personal responses to what you read.
- Capable Level (Phases 3-4): You are expected to draw conclusions from the information and main ideas provided in the text.
- Proficient Level (Phases 5-6): You must analyse and draw conclusions. This means explaining how the author used specific words or images to lead you to a certain conclusion.
Step-by-Step: How to Infer and Conclude
Don't worry if this seems tricky! You can follow these four steps every time you read a multimodal text (a text with words and images):
- Look for the "What": Identify the literal facts. What is actually happening in the words or the picture?
- Search for Clues: Look for word choice or visual features. Does the character have a "scowl" on their face? Is the background of the advertisement dark and gloomy?
- Connect to Life: Ask yourself, "Where have I seen this before?" Use your own life experiences to make sense of the clues.
- Make the Leap: State your conclusion clearly. "I think [Conclusion] because the text says [Clue] and I know that [Background Knowledge]."
Did you know? In Criterion B, "spatial aspects" (where things are placed on a page) are clues too! If a character is placed far away from everyone else in a photo, you can infer they feel lonely or left out.
Multimodal Texts: Inference isn't just for words!
In the MYP, you will often work with multimodal texts. This means you need to draw conclusions by looking at how written text and visual images work together.
Example: An article about climate change might have a picture of a cracked, dry desert.
- The Text says: "Temperatures are rising globally."
- The Image shows: A dry, dead plant.
- Your Conclusion: The author wants to show that rising temperatures are destroying nature and making it hard for life to survive.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Don't "Over-Infer": Make sure your conclusion is actually supported by the text. If a character is crying, you can infer they are sad. You cannot conclude their dog died unless there is a clue about a dog!
2. Don't ignore the visuals: Students often only look at the words. In Criterion B, the images, layout, and captions are just as important for drawing conclusions.
3. Don't just repeat the facts: If a question asks you to draw a conclusion, don't just copy a sentence from the text. Use your own words to explain the meaning behind those facts.
Key Takeaways
Summary Checklist:
- Inference is reading between the lines using clues + knowledge.
- Conclusions are big-picture judgments based on all the evidence.
- Criterion B requires you to use both words and images to find these hidden meanings.
- Evidence is king! Always be ready to point to a specific word or part of a picture to prove your conclusion.
Note: For more information on identifying literal details, see the chapter "Identifying facts, main ideas and supporting details." To understand why an author writes in a certain way, see "Conventions: format, style and author's purpose."