Week Seven

 I need to unload the clutter in my mind. 

I need to reflect on my teaching online activities and issues that surround me.

I want to document my online teaching activities here.

This week is already the 7th week of the semester. 

Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions

 Don't we do this all the time?

When you come across this blog, you are already making inferences when you read the topic. Most likely, you are here because you are one of my students from my English for Critical Academic Reading class from my degree courses. Or perhaps, you are here because you are searching for the skills on making inferences and drawing conclusions. You might be thinking why I said that we have been doing this all the time. Well, don't we read all the time? Of course the reading materials vary. It also depends on your purpose and levels of education. 

My focus here is on academic reading.

What is the logical inference that you can draw based on the evidence and information that you have?

Based on that the author has stated, what is presumed to be true?

In order to remember the points for making inferences and drawing  conclusion, I'd like to share a chant created by Professor Kathleen Riley, Polk Community College (Winter Haven, Florida). 

Please read aloud repeatedly.

"Making inferences is one name;

Drawing conclusions means the same.

Details are things that authors write.

Inferences are out of sight.

Details: underline  in ink.

Inferences: you've got to think.

Inferences make you a star.

Don't pick a choice that goes too far!

Base inferences on what you've read.

Not on the ideas in your head!

Source: Exercise Your College Reading Skills (p223)J.Elder

What is an  inference?

"Inference is a logical conclusion that is based on what an author has stated."

What is a definition of conclusion?

     "Conclusion is defined as a decision reached upon careful consideration of materials  that you have read.

What is the logical inference the author aims to convey?

Inferences and conclusions exceeds what is stated in the paragraph by the author.

What are the differences between imply and infer?

Imply means to hint while infer refers to understand a message that has been implied.

A simple example to give better comprehension is when you receive a message through your smartphone now, imply is given by the sender of the message while infer is done by the receiver of the message.

Got it?

Short Story Outline

The students have limited time to write the full short story. Although I had the tendency to give comments and to correct all the grammatical errors, I've decided to restrain myself from doing so. I keep reminding myself that this is not a grammar class and I should focus on the contents of the story. 

However, frequent grammatical errors can be distracting and hinders the enjoyment of reading. I'm glad that I did not have to use my red pen in correcting or commenting the hardcopy of the outlines. Using red pens will make the process of marking slower as I tend to automatically underline or circle the errors. 

Well, in online version, I highlighted and typed the comments to the outlines that were submitted earlier before the deadline. There weren't many. Only 5 of them. The rest submitted just before the due date.