• Unit 3: What Comes Next? Active Reading with Inference

    This unit will show you how to "read between the lines", or make inferences about what you're reading. Making inferences means you pull together what the writer is telling you to come to a conclusion about a reading. In this unit you will learn why it is important to make inferences about what you read. Finally, you'll practice taking notes on a reading and organizing those notes to better understand what you read. 

    Completing this unit should take you approximately 2 hours.

    • Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

      • apply active reading skills by making inferences.

    • 3.1: Reading "Between the Lines"

      • Making Inferences Page

        The English idiom "read between the lines" is often used when talking about making inferences. When we make an inference, we take the information we already know and apply it to what we read, see, or hear. Combining what you already know with what you want to know helps you better understand what you read. Read this page for strategies on "reading between the lines" to make inferences.

      • Types of Inference Page

        Watch this video on inferencing to learn how to identify what a text is implying rather than directly stating.

    • 3.2: Combining Ideas

      • Putting Ideas Together Page

        When you make inferences, you think about what the writer says about a topic, what you already know about it, and what ideas we can add. This strategy is called "It Says, I Say, And So".

        It Says – What an article says

        I say – What you think or already know about the reading's topic.

        And So – Your ideas from combining the reading and your own knowledge

        Thinking about what you already know and adding it to what you read helps you to better comprehend, or understand, the points the writer makes. Taking notes as you read is a strategy to help do this. Review this page for information on how to combine your ideas with a reading and take notes to keep everything organized.

    • Unit 3 Assessment

      • Unit 3 Assessment Quiz
        Receive a grade

        Take this assessment to see how well you understood this unit.

        • This assessment does not count towards your grade. It is just for practice!
        • You will see the correct answers when you submit your answers. Use this to help you study for the final exam!
        • You can take this assessment as many times as you want, whenever you want.