March 2009

You need to be a reading detective

 The clues are there in front of you.

 They are normally in the text, not the

pictures!
Detective skill number 1:
Deduction
 When the detective arrives at the scene of the crime,
he needs to establish the facts.

 Look for the clues in the text. Sometimes the answer

is in front of you!
Detective skill number 1:
Deduction
 Theseus scrambled around in the dark, desperately
looking for a way out of the maze. He was anxiously
searching for ....

 What did Theseus use in the maze to find his way out?
Detective skill number 2: Inference
 If you’re trying to solve a difficult case, the clues might
not be so obvious.

 You need to infer what has happened, work something

out from what you have read in a text even though you
have NOT read it! (Reading between the lines).
Detective skill number 2: Inference
 Theseus sent Ariadne ashore to buy wine and bread.
While she was gone, he set sail and hurried away,
breathing a sigh of relief.

 Why did Theseus set sail without Ariadne?

Detective skill number 3:
Prediction
 If you’re chasing a master criminal you need to try and
predict their next move. Speculate about what is going
to happen.

 Work out/say what you think will happen using your

knowledge of what you have read.
Detective skill number 3:
Prediction
 King Aegeus paced up and down waiting for Theseus to
return. Finally he caught sight of his son’s ship. But
there flying from the ship’s mast was a black flag.
Aegeus stood frozen still, he ...

 What do you think is going to happen next?

Remember to join Mr Walton’s
Detective Agency you need these
key skills:
 Deduction

 Inference

 Prediction