Overview

Quote — Paraphrase — Connection — Inference. Students identify key quotes from a text, then work through four columns: the quote itself, a paraphrase in their own words, a connection (text-to-self, text-to-text, text-to-world, or to another part of the text), and finally an inference (a claim about the author's values, character motivation or deeper meaning). This slows down the process of explaining a quote, moving students beyond simple paraphrase to genuine inference.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Review what each column means: Quote (the exact words from the text), Paraphrase (restate in your own words), Connection (link to self, another text, or the world), Inference (what deeper meaning can you draw?).
2. Students select 3–5 key quotes from the text.
3. For each quote, students complete all four columns in order.
4. Emphasise that the inference column is the most important — this is where students move beyond what the text says to what it means.
5. Students share their most interesting inference with a partner or the class.

Tips

• Model the full QPCI process with one example before students work independently.
• Students often struggle with the difference between paraphrase and inference — emphasise that paraphrase restates meaning while inference draws new conclusions.
• This is an excellent preparation activity for analytical essay writing.

More Inferring Activities