One of the most important reading skills for us to develop is the art of inference and deduction. In other words, we do not wait for the writer to show us everything, but can come to our own conclusions based on the EVIDENCE we have found.

Inference and deduction

Before we begin developing our reading skills further, we are going to practice our inference skills on a series of images.

On the next slide there will be two images. You will have two minutes to discuss with your partner what you think is depicted in each image and why.

We will then need to write our responses in our exercise books.

Applying Inferences One

One Two

One Two

On the next slide the images have been cropped. At first we will only see a very small section of the image; the rest of the image will be revealed gradually.

When you think you know what is being shown within the picture, put your hand up. You MUST be prepared to explain HOW you came to this conclusion.

Applying Inferences Two

Balloons, Babies and Broekhart

Airman by Eoin Colfer

Objective: TBAT understand how to make inferences based on textual evidence, explore different layers of meaning and explore these meanings in detail. (AF3)

Mini Plenary:Thinking about our thinking

Think back over the activity we have just completed.

How does this relate to the way in which we can approach a piece of writing – especially when reading it for the first time? How can we apply these ideas to a text?

Write your response in full sentences in your exercise books.

The teacher is going to read the

prologue

As your teacher is reading through the prologue YOU will need to listen out for any useful information. In particular there are four key sections we will be thinking about:

- What inferences we can make about the setting.

- What inferences we can make about Conor.

- What inferences we can make about the other characters.

- Any other useful inferences or deductions.

The setting of the Novel

What we can tell about Connor

What we can tell about the key characters

Any other important

details

Copy the diagram below into your exercise books.As you are listening to the prologue, add any key details

to this diagram.

Mini Plenary:Thinking about our thinking

Look back over your notes.

We are going to bring together all of this information and briefly answer the following question (a few sentences is fine at this stage.)

What do you think this book is going to be about and what kind of things do you

think will happen?

Bringing this all Together

We are now going to begin constructing a more full and thorough essay, where we will combine out initial observations and inferences with further textual evidence.

On the next slide there are fourteen pieces of evidence from the prologue. We will need to choose our evidence wisely in order to answer the following question:

What inferences can make about Airman so far?

In order to answer this question we will need to construct at least three PEE paragraphs.

PE

E

Point – One of your inferences

Evidence – The evidence that backs it up

Explanation – How the evidence backs up the

conclusion you have come to.

Bringing this all Together

Further Evidence

• Conor Broekhart was born to fly.• Little wonder he became what he became.• The Saltee Islands were little more than gull-infested rocks.• The famous Saltee walls held fast against cannon, shot and ram.• The Saltee prison was packed to bursting with the foulest dregs of

humanity.• A sentence on Little Saltee was a death sentence.• Good King Nick as he became to be known in an increasing number of

households.• The King lived as plainly as one could do in a stately palace.• Nick was determined to use the power he had to improve the lives of

others.• King Nicholas returned the bow then punched Declan on the shoulder.• He reared back “such an alert baby!”• “He has the Broekhart chin, too. Stubborn to a fault. Your brow,

though, Catherine. Perhaps a scientist?”• “You go, Declan. Keep him safe. The country needs Good King Nick.”• “Your father, the hero.”

Plenary:The Inferences of Others

We are now going to spend three minutes moving around the room and listening to as many essays as possible.

When we return to our seats, we need to select one more inference – the most convincing and thorough case you heard. We will then feedback our thinking to the rest of the class.