Crime Scene Directions• Around the room, you will find:

– 6 Evidence cones which mark important things in the crime scene.

• You will have 1 minute to examine the evidence at each cone and jot down any observations you can about each clue.– Be objective – just write down the facts! (Ex:

“Tape on window” instead of “Broken Window”• Do not fill out the “Conclusions” side of your notes

yet.• At the end of the minute, go to the next cone and

take notes on the next piece of evidence.– Be thorough with each piece of evidence so you

can put all of the pieces together in the end and figure out what happened at Frost last night!

Putting all the pieces together

• Based on the clues you found and what you know, what are 5 conclusions can you draw about the crime?

You just made inferences!• Inference Definition:

– Drawing conclusions or assuming something based on clues in the text.

– Reading “between the lines” and figuring out more than what the words reveal.

• Other words that mean the same thing as making inferences:–Deduct– Interpret–Hypothesize

How do I make an inference?• To use this reading strategy

you just have to remember to use A-E-C!–A Assertion–E Evidence from the Text–C Commentary

A Assertion• First, you state your inference as an

ASSERTION, or a statement of fact.

• Example: – Text: He was over 5,000 feet in the air. He

jumped and felt the cold wind rush across his face. He looked down and saw that the small dots were getting bigger and bigger. He pulled a string and felt a jolt. Everything slowed down.

– Assertion: I can infer that the man is skydiving.

E Evidence from the text• Next, you read and look for at least two pieces of EVIDENCE in

the text that will support your assertion.

• Reminders:– Find evidence that is relevant, or important, to your

assertion.– Copy the words directly from the text – don’t paraphrase.– Put quotation marks around your text evidence to avoid

plagiarizing. – Use a sentence starter like “In the text it states” or

“According to the text”.

• Example: – Text: He was over 5,000 feet in the air. He jumped and felt

the cold wind rush across his face. He looked down and saw that the small dots were getting bigger and bigger. HE pulled a string and felt a jolt. Everything slowed down.

– Text Evidence: • The text states, “He was over 5,000 feet in the air.”• According to the text, “ He pulled a string and felt a

jolt.”

C Commentary• Last, you make your own COMMENTARY to

explain how both pieces of text evidence support your assertion.

• Reminders:– Avoid using 1st person point of view – no “I”

statements.– Commentary should be about 3 sentences

long.– Format:• 1st Sentence: Explain or translate your first

piece of text evidence in YOUR OWN WORDS.• 2nd Sentence: Explain or translate your

second piece of text evidence IN YOUR OWN WORDS.

• 3rd sentence (possibly longer): Explain how both pieces of text evidence support your assertion.

C Commentary• Example: – Text Evidence: • The text states, “He was over 5,000 feet in

the air.”• According to the text, “He pulled a string

and felt a jolt.”– Commentary:• The first piece of text evidence shows that

the man is very high up in the air. The second piece of text evidence shows that he is using something with a string that you pull and then it jolts you. When people go sky diving they are high up in the air because they are in an airplane. They also wear a backpack which has a string that is pulled to release the parachute.

A-e-C Putting it all together!• Example:

– Text: I was over 5,000 feet in the air. I jumped and felt the cold wind rush across my face. I looked down and saw that the small dots were getting bigger and bigger. I pulled a string and felt a jolt. Everything slowed down.

– Fully Written AEC• I can infer that the man is sky diving. The text states,

“He was over 5,000 feet in the air.” Also, according to the text, “ He pulled a string and felt a jolt.” The first piece of text evidence shows that the man is very high up in the air. The second piece of text evidence shows that he is using something with a string that you pull and then it jolts you. When people go sky diving they are high up in the air because they are in an airplane. They also wear a backpack which has a string that is pulled to release the parachute.

– Underline the Assertion.– Highlight the Evidence from the Text.– Draw a Box around the Commentary.

Another ExamplePassage:Terri was waiting near the front door when he said, “I think I see Sam’s car driving up the street. Hurry up! Close the curtains, turn off the lights, and hide! He’s never going to expect all of you to be here for his birthday.” Everyone followed Terry’s directions well.Assertion

Evidence Commentary

Sam’s friends are throwing him a surprise party for his birthday.

In the text it stated, “Close the curtains, turn off the lights, and hide!”

The text also said, “He’s never going to expect all of you to be here for his birthday.”

The first piece of text evidence shows that the people are trying to hide from Sam. The second piece of text evidence shows that Sam doesn’t expect to see his friends there for his birthday. If it’s Sam’s birthday and his friends are trying to hide from him, this shows that they want to surprise him while gathering at a party.

You Try!Passage:You and your best friend decide to go see a movie at Streets of Woodfield. After paying for your ticket and getting your popcorn, you pass people who have just seen the movie that you are about to see. Almost all of them are silent and have serious expressions. Some even look like they were crying. You grab extra napkins and head in to the show.Assertion

Evidence Commentary

*What can we infer about the movie they saw?

In the story it says, “after paying for your ticket and getting your popcorn, you pass people who have just seen the movie that you are about to see.”

The text also states, “Some even look like they were crying.”

The first piece of text evidence shows that the person is at a movie theater right before seeing a movie. The second piece of text evidence shows that the people appear to have sad expressions on their faces. To me this shows that the movie they saw caused them to feel sad.

You try!Passage:It was her duplicity that caused him to break up with her. Had she been honest, he wouldn't have felt the need. However, honesty was never her strong point. Now they were over for good.

Assertion Evidence Commentary

*What can we infer the word “duplicity” means?

*Highlight two pieces of text evidence that support your assertion.

*Teacher will model

You try!Passage:The first rays of the rising sun streak across the gym floor. The only sounds are the whir of the rope cutting the air and light rhythmic thump of his feet. He counts each time the rope passes before his eyes. He’s determined to be in shape when he steps into the ring.

Assertion

Evidence Commentary

The man is jumping rope to get ready for a boxing match.

The text states, “The only sounds are the whir of the rope cutting the air and the light rhythmic thump of his feet.”

The text also says, “He’s determined to be in shape when he steps in to the ring.”

*Write your own commentary. *Remember:• Explain both pieces of

text evidence and how they support the assertion.

• This should be at least 3 sentences long.

• Avoid using 1st person point of view – no “I” statements.

• Avoid personal connections

Independent Practice• You will practice with AEC even

more when we read the story “Seventh Grade”.

AEC Rubric1 0.5 0

 ASSERTION

Answer restates the question and gives an appropriate response

Response is appropriate, but does not restate the question

Attempt was made, but answer does not demonstrate an appropriate response

  2 1 0

 EVIDENCE/EXAMPLE

Two pieces of relevant and sufficient evidence cited to support answer

Text evidence uses a lead in (e.g. “In the text it states…” or “The text says…”)

Only one piece of relevant and sufficient evidence cited to support answer OR evidence was irrelevant or insufficient

Text evidence does not use a lead in

Irrelevant evidence cited to support answer

  3 2 1 0

 COMMENTA

RY

Explanation clearly proves how both pieces of text evidence connect to the assertion, demonstrating a thorough understanding of text

Explanation does not simply restate the text evidence

No personal connections included

Third person ONLY is used Three or more sentences

Explanation clearly proves how one piece of text evidence connects to the assertion OR explanation was attempted but does not fully connect assertion and evidence

Explanation does not simply restate the text evidence

No personal connections included

Two or more sentences

Explanation was attempted but does not connect assertion and evidence clearly

May have mostly restated text evidence

May have included personal connections

May have written in first person

Two or more sentences

Explanation was attempted, but only restates text evidence or commentary is irrelevant

Less than two sentences