Inference

=**Topic or Focus:**= Inference

Subject:
English Language Arts

Level:
High School

Key Standard(s): (from the Common Core State Standards, English Language Arts)
RL.9-10.1. Cite strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.

Text/Resources to be Used (Optional):
Any grade level text

//Rationale://
//When responding to literature, students often use superficial evidence to support their answers, indicating an inability to infer meaning and go beyond a literal interpretation of the text. They also fail to distinguish between strong and weak evidence.//

//Directions://
Read the attached article or story, then use the graphic organizer to organize your thoughts before responding.

Now use the information from your graphic organizer to compose a three-sentence response to the following prediction question (e.g., "What will probably happen next?"). Use the TEE mnemonic to help you organize your response:
 * T= Topic sentence: restate the question and answer
 * E = Provide evidence to support your answer
 * E = Explain how your evidence supports your answer.

//[Editor's Note: Prior to this assessment, the teacher has modeled the use of the organizer, has provided time for a shared practice with a simple story, then advanced practice using a more complex text.]//

//Scoring://
//10 pts://
 * //1 pt for each space on the organizer (6 total)//
 * //2 pts for the topic sentence/answer//
 * //1 pt for evidence//
 * //1 pt for explanation//

//Analysis://
//This assessment will distinguish among the following://
 * //Students who can find text evidence related to a topic or character.//
 * //Students who can deduce a pattern in topic, plot or character from the evidence.//
 * //Students who can draw a logical conclusion or predict a consequence based on a pattern of evidence in the text.//
 * //Students who can synthesize a response to a question based on information in a graphic organizer.//

//Contributor://
//Heather Cole, Language Lab Teacher, Bullard-Havens Technical High School, Bridgeport, CT// //Ann Grasson, English Teacher, Bullard-Havens Technical High School, Bridgeport, CT// //Editor: Kim M. Bennett, Consultant, Northside Consulting, Hartford, CT//