by Stephanie Harvey Inferential thinking is the bedrock of understanding. Inferring involves drawing a conclusion or making an interpretation based on information that is not explicitly stated in the text. Inferential thinking helps readers make predictions, surface themes, or draw conclusions. When reading nonfiction, readers infer from the text, but they also infer from illustrations, photographs, and graphic features such as color and design. Readers … Continue reading Inferring in Nonfiction: Going Beyond the Text