Student Unit T1
Observation & Inference
Unit T1 Focus Words
compare
verb – to examine two or more things to tell how they are the same and how they are different
In English class, we compared the main characters by using a Venn diagram.
contrast
verb – to compare two or more things, focusing only on the differences
The essay question on the quiz asked us to contrast the two poems: one was a happy, upbeat poem and the other was a sad, somber poem.
noun – the difference between two or more things
Miguel thought the quiz was really easy; in contrast, Shayla thought the quiz was impossible!
substance
noun – a physical material that you can see and touch, like a powder or a gel
One of the most common substances that detectives collect at crime scenes is blood because it contains DNA.
inference
noun – a conclusion based on evidence
Sven made an inference that his friends were home because he could see lights on in their apartment window.
qualitative
adjective – describes observations that do not have numbers; for example: size, color, shape
In science class, my partner Javon collected qualitative data by writing down the color and texture of the three different substances.
quantitative
adjective – describes observations that use numbers; for example: weight, time, height, volume
I collected quantitative data by measuring the volume and weight of the three different substances.