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Making Inferences from a Narrative Text

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Basics on the topic Making Inferences from a Narrative Text

Join Ari and Zayd and find out what happens to them during their mini golf adventure with Elora the Wizard.

Transcript Making Inferences from a Narrative Text

Making inferences from a narrative text. When writing a story, authors don't always tell their readers exactly what they mean in the text. Readers can discover meaning in a text by making an inference about what actions and words reveal about characters, the events of a story and the message an author is trying to send. To make an inference, you use what you already know and what you read in the text to make an educated guess. Let's use this text about Ari and Zayd's mini golf tournament and make inferences about the story. Ari, Zayd and Elora the Wizard are on the ninth hole. Ari got a hole-in-one, Elora got a par eight and Zayd got a par three. "That puts me in the lead, Zayd in second and there's only one hole left!" Ari exclaimed. "Hmmmm," Elora grumbled. Let's pause here and paraphrase, or rephrase, what we read. Ari, Zayd and Elora the wizard are competing in a mini-golf tournament. Ari is in the lead, and Elora grumbled. Now, let's think about what we know and record it here. Sometimes what we know may be different because we've all learnt different things and have had different experiences, and that's okay! For this inference we can say since there is one more hole, Zayd and Elora have one last chance to beat Ari. We know that Elora is a wizard, she is thinking of an idea when she says "hmmm" and she made an unhappy grumble. Now, let's draw an inference! What do the actions and words reveal about the characters, the events of a story and the message an author is trying to send? We can infer that Elora is not happy about being in last place and may be planning to use her powers since she is a wizard. Let's read on. Zayd's up first, and his ball is heading straight for the hole. Suddenly, there was a huge gust of wind that thrust his ball into the pond! "What! The weather has been completely calm!" Zayd yelled. Elora smirked and shrugged. It's Ari's turn next. As their ball went towards the hole, another gust came surging through, once again pushing the ball into the water. Last, Elora stepped up and smiled as she lightly tapped her ball, scoring a hole-in-one. "Better luck next time!" Elora sneered. Let's pause here and paraphrase what we have read. Ari and Zayd's ball got pushed into the pond, Elora smiled, shrugged and got a hole-in-one. Now let's record what we know. We know that when the weather is calm, it doesn't make sense for strong gusts of wind to happen randomly. We also know that when someone smirks and shrugs when something unfortunate happens, they may have bad intentions. And during Elora's turn, there was no wind blowing. What do the actions and words reveal about the characters, the events of a story and the message an author is trying to send? We can infer that Elora probably had something to do with the wind and cheated her way into first place. Before we see what happens in the end, let's summarise. Remember, readers can discover meaning in a text by making an inference about what actions and words reveal about characters, the events of a story and the message an author is trying to send. To make an inference, you use what you already know and what you read in the text to make an educated guess. Right after Elora's ball went in, a strong gust of wind pushed it right out of the hole. "I guess it's just a windy day!" Zayd declared. "Yes! How weird!" Ari replied.

Making Inferences from a Narrative Text exercise

Would you like to apply the knowledge you’ve learnt? You can review and practice it with the tasks for the video Making Inferences from a Narrative Text.
  • Use clues to infer information.

    Hints

    Elora is a wizard. This reminds us that she has the ability to use magic.

    Ari is in the lead and Elora grumbles.

    This suggests Elora may not be happy about Ari winning so far.

    Elora does not seem happy, but there is no evidence that she is extremely angry or furious either.

    There is only one correct choice.

    Solution

    Using the information from the text we know that:

    • Ari is beating Elora and Zayd in the game right now
    • Elora is a wizard and can use magic
    • Elora grumbles unhappily
    And we can infer that Elora is not happy and may use her powers.

  • Pair inferences with evidence.

    Hints

    Smirking and sneering are expressions people make, usually when they feel anger, jealousy or happiness at someone else's misfortune.

    The words another or once again indicate something is happening the same way a second time.

    Solution

    We can use information in the text to form inferences.

    • "'What! The weather has been completely calm!' Zayd yelled" indicates that when the weather is calm, it doesn't make sense for strong gusts of wind to happen randomly.
    • "Elora smirked, Elora sneered" shows us that maybe Elora has bad intentions.
    • "It's Ari's turn next. As their ball went towards the hole, another gust came surging through, once again pushing the ball into the water." shows us that strange wind happened twice, to both Ari and Zayd.
    • "Last, Elora stepped up and smiled as she lightly tapped her ball, scoring a hole-in-one." indicates that no one is interfering with Elora's turn.

  • Make inferences from the text.

    Hints

    Think about the text, "Ari quietly raised their hand and a strange light sparkled around it." Is this something that can be done naturally/normally?

    Think about the text, "Right after Elora's ball went in, a strong gust of wind pushed it right out of the hole!". Is natural wind normally strong enough to do this?

    Think about the text, "I guess it's just a windy day," Zayd declared. "Yes, how weird," Ari replied."
    Remember that Zayd was standing right next to Ari. Does he mention anything he has noticed?

    Solution

    Here we can see the correct answers. You may have put them in a slightly different order which is fine if it still makes sense as inferences can be subjective.

    "While Elora was concentrating on her putt, Ari quietly raised their hand and a strange light sparkled around it."

    From this we can infer that Ari can also use magic.

    "Right after Elora's ball went in, a strong gust of wind pushed it right out of the hole!"

    From this we can infer that the wind is not natural.

    "I guess it's just a windy day," Zayd declared. "Yes, how weird," Ari replied."

    From this we can infer that Zayd will not tell Elora Ari's secret.

    Using the inferences gathered, we can infer that Ari used magic to change the wind and that Ari and Zayd did not like Elora's cheating.

  • Pair inferences with evidence.

    Hints

    Find common themes from the text and inferences. Are there two about Ari waking up?

    If someone says "Phew!" after feeling scared, how are they now feeling?

    Solution
    • It was night time and Ari was sleeping soundly. They had had a full on day so were now enjoying a rest. Ari had been very busy so was happy to be getting some sleep.
    • Suddenly, Ari awoke startled! Something had suddenly woken Ari up.
    • Ari took a deep breath and nervously opened the door. Ari was worried about what could be behind the door.
    • "Phew!" Ari sighed. Ari was relieved.
    • Ari guided Zayd back to bed and then returned to their own bed smiling to themselves! Ari is used to this happening and is a kind friend to Zayd.
  • Use evidence to make an inference.

    Hints

    Remember there was wind for Zayd and Ari, but not for Elora.

    Elora is a wizard, so she can use magic.

    Solution

    Using the evidence:

    • The wind came out of nowhere
    • Maybe Elora has bad intentions
    • No wind during Elora's turn
    We can infer that Elora used her magic on the wind.
    Since there was wind for Zayd and Ari, but not for Elora, we can rule out that it was windy and Elora was lucky.

  • Support inferences with evidence.

    Hints

    If Harry's kit is getting dirty what does this mean about the field?

    If you are unable to see, are you more likely to score a goal or miss it?

    Solution
    • From the text, "his kit was getting dirty" we can infer that the field is muddy.
    • From the text, "he soon forgot all about it" and *"smiling, he jogged back out to the middle of the field" we can infer that Harry is enjoying the game.
    • From the text, "he was blinded by a flash of light" we can infer that Harry cannot see where he is aiming.
    • Because Harry does not remember it is slippery and Harry cannot see where he is aiming we can infer that Harry will slip and miss his penalty shot.