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 Example
Passage:
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
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!”
Commentary
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
The text also said,
birthday and his friends are trying to
“He’s never going
hide from him, this shows that they
to expect all of you
want to surprise him while gathering
to be here for his
at a party.
birthday.”
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 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.
The text also states,
“Some even look like
they were crying.”
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
*Write your own commentary.
only sounds are the whir *Remember:
of the rope cutting the
• Explain both pieces of text
air and the light rhythmic
evidence and how they
thump of his feet.”
support the assertion.
• This should be at least 3
The text also says, “He’s
sentences long.
determined to be in
• Avoid using 1st person point
shape when he steps in
of view – no “I” statements.
to the ring.”
• Avoid personal connections
Independent Practice
• You will practice with AEC even
more when we read the story
“Seventh Grade”.
AEC Rubric
1
Answer restates the question and
ASSERTION gives an appropriate response

EVIDENCE/
EXAMPLE

2
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…”)
0.5
0
Response is appropriate, but
does not restate the question
Attempt was made, but answer does not demonstrate
an appropriate response



COMMENTA
RY




3
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




1
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
2
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
0
Irrelevant evidence cited to support answer





1
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
0
Explanation was
attempted, but
only restates text
evidence or
commentary is
irrelevant
Less than two
sentences