The evidence trail: retrieval and inference
A careful reader separates what a text states from what it suggests. In this mystery extract, every inference must leave an evidence trail.
Part of your national curriculum
- Reading: Understand increasingly challenging texts, making inferences and referring to evidence in the text
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Understand increasingly challenging texts, making inferences and referring to evidence in the text
Key learning points
- • Read the extract
- • Retrieve before you infer
- • Build an evidence chain
- • Check alternative readings
This lesson at a glance
- 28 minutes
- 20 parts to scroll through
- 3 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 20
Watch first
The evidence trail: retrieval and inference
Follow each inference back to the exact evidence that supports it.
In a nutshell
Understand increasingly challenging texts, making inferences and referring to evidence in the text
Learning cycle
Part 2 of 20
Learning cycle 1 of 2
Part 1 · Read the extract
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 20
Learn
Read the extract
At 6:12, Mara found the wildlife centre's side gate open. The padlock hung unbroken from its chain. Beyond it, one line of muddy boot prints led towards the empty medicine store. Luna, usually silent around staff, flattened her ears and growled at the dark green jacket caught on the fence. Mara checked the rain gauge: it had filled only after midnight.
Reset break
Part 4 of 20
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Explore the idea
Part 5 of 20
Learn
Retrieve before you infer
Retrieval uses information stated directly: the gate was open and the padlock was unbroken. Inference combines details with reasoning: whoever entered may have had a key, because there is no sign that the lock was forced.
Quick check
Part 6 of 20
Quick check
Part 7 of 20
Reset break
Part 8 of 20
Pause
That's sitting 2 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Learning cycle
Part 9 of 20
Learning cycle 2 of 2
Part 2 · Build an evidence chain
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 10 of 20
Learn
Build an evidence chain
Use three parts: inference, short quotation, explanation. For example: the visitor probably arrived after midnight; the boot prints are ‘muddy’ and the gauge shows rain began after midnight, so the prints must be recent.
Explore the idea
Part 11 of 20
Learn
Check alternative readings
Good inferences are probable, not certain. The green jacket might belong to an intruder, but it could have been caught there earlier. Ask which interpretation explains the most details with the fewest unsupported guesses.
Reset break
Part 12 of 20
Pause
That's sitting 3 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Quick check
Part 13 of 20
Explore the idea
Part 14 of 20
Worked example
Model inference
Mara suspects someone familiar with the centre because the ‘padlock hung unbroken’. This suggests the gate was opened normally rather than forced, so the visitor may have had authorised access or a copied key.
Challenge round
Part 15 of 20
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Reset break
Part 16 of 20
Pause
That's sitting 4 of 5 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Challenge round
Part 17 of 20
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
Good ____ are probable, not certain.
Challenge round
Part 18 of 20
Game · Recall cards
A character 'folded the letter twice and put it in her coat pocket without reading it'. What can you infer?
Card 1 of 4
Mastery quiz
Part 19 of 20
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: The evidence trail: retrieval and inference
4 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. A character 'folded the letter twice and put it in her coat pocket without reading it'. What can you infer?
2. Which of these is the strongest use of evidence in an answer about a text?
3. 'Mob' rather than 'crowd' suggests the writer thinks the group is…
4. The first question to ask of any source is…
Lesson round-up
Part 20 of 20
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
Quiz score
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Points this lesson
0
Best run
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Luna: 0 out of 3 on the practice checks. Only if you feel up to it — one more?
Ask LunaPart 1 of 20 · Watch & discover
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Understand increasingly challenging texts, making inferences and referring to evidence in the text