Making Inferences: The Detective Work of Reading

Khan Academy

This educational video introduces the concept of making inferences in reading comprehension through a playful, noir-detective theme. The narrator, adopting a "detective voice" due to a cold, defines an inference as a conclusion drawn from evidence in a text combined with the reader's own background knowledge. He emphasizes that inferring is the "detective work of reading," requiring active engagement to uncover meanings that are implied rather than explicitly stated. The video explores key themes of critical thinking, close reading, and the use of textual evidence. It distinguishes between making a supported inference and simply guessing, highlighting that valid inferences must always be rooted in clues found within the passage. Two distinct examples are analyzed: a simple scenario involving snow forts and hot chocolate to infer the season, and a biographical passage about ballerina Michaela DePrince to infer character traits like talent and perseverance. For educators, this video serves as an engaging introduction to a difficult reading standard. It provides a memorable visual metaphor—the reader as a detective (