Lesson · R.1.2

Inferences and conclusions

The difference between an inference and a conclusion, how explicit and implicit evidence combine to support each, and how to reason from text evidence rather than guesswork.

ObjectiveR.1.2Read2 minExam weightKey Ideas and Details ≈ 38% of Reading

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What you will be able to do

Tell an inference apart from a conclusion.
Identify explicit and implicit evidence in a passage.
Support every inference or conclusion with a specific detail from the text.

What the lesson concludes

Explicit evidence is stated directly. Implicit evidence is implied, and you supply the connection.
An inference fills a gap. A conclusion extends the evidence to a broader judgement about purpose or meaning.
Anchor every inference or conclusion to a specific detail in the passage, not to what merely feels plausible.
Reread the relevant sentence before committing to an answer that requires reading between the lines.