MAP 8th Grade Reading

A comprehensive course designed to prepare 8th graders for the MAP Reading assessment by building advanced reading comprehension, analysis, and real-world literacy skills.

Basic Concepts

Making Inferences

What is an Inference?

An inference is like being a detective! You use clues from the text and your own knowledge to figure out something the author doesn't say directly.

Steps to Make Inferences

  • Look for hints in words, actions, or descriptions.
  • Think about what you already know.
  • Combine both to make a smart guess.

Why Inferences Matter

Authors often want you to read between the lines. Making inferences helps you understand characters, predict what might happen, or figure out the meaning of unknown words.

How It Helps in Real Life

You use inference skills every day—like guessing how a friend feels by their tone, or figuring out what’s happening in a movie when not everything is shown.

Examples

  • If a character is shivering and wearing a coat, you infer that it’s cold outside.

  • If someone says 'I can't wait for summer break!' with a big smile, you infer they’re excited.

In a Nutshell

Inferences are smart guesses based on clues and your own knowledge.