Abstraction Ladder Abstraction Ladder: Day One - PowerPoint Presentation

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Abstraction Ladder

Abstraction Ladder: Day One

Way of classifying information from abstract (general) to concrete (specific)

Level 4:

Abstractions

Level 3:

Noun Classes, broad group names with little specification

Level 2:

Noun Categories, more definite groups

Level 1:

Specific, Identifiable nouns

Abstraction Ladder Cont.

“...if Level One abstraction is used in writing, the audience will understand what ideas and concepts are being discussed...If a writer is trying to describe a person, and she mentions that the protagonist wore Birkenstock's and a jeans skirt, an image is evoked in the reader's mind…if the writer says the protagonist was dressed in casual attire, the reader's impression of the character is not as strong, and the audience will be free to interpret the writer's meaning in ways…using the levels of abstractions carefully will help convey meaning to the audience.”

-Jan

Streever

[http://ol.scc.spokane.edu/jstrever/comp/Summer201/hw3.htm ]

What is a “GREEN” word?

A “

GREEN

” word

is a

noun

that is:

ABSTRACT

(broad)

HIGHLY CONNOTATIVE

(multiple meanings/interpretations)

VALUE-DRIVEN

(

influenced by personal beliefs, values, morals, etc.)

EXAMPLE:

"Wealth"

How is

"wealth" an abstract idea?

What connotative significance can it have?

How does

your

personal definition

of "wealth"

exemplify your values?

Together

After viewing the following image, as a class, lets come up with a list of Green Words that can be associated with this image.

YOUR TURN

For the following images, create 2-3 Green Words that you feel would describe emotions/context/theme of the image.

Image #1

Image #2

Image #3

Thesis Statements and Green Words

Choose one of the images shown and write a thesis statement

describing the theme/themes of

the

image.

Now, Revise

Look over your original thesis statement and this time, include Green Words (from your list) to strengthen your thesis statement.

C

reate

an “although” statement using ONE green word in the dependent clause (at the

beginning of the comma)

and TWO in the independent clause (back half).

Example for

The Glass Castle:

Although the Walls children grow up in

deprivation

, their

determination

and

intelligence

drives them to move beyond their environment

.

Abstraction Ladder Activity: Day Two

Each table will have a stack of cards containing three sets of categories, to be organized using the abstraction ladder.

As a table, separate and organize the sets of information from level 4 to level 1 (general to most specific). Compare and discuss as a table when you think you are done.

Raise your hand when your table is finished so that I can check each level.

Song Lyrics: Identifying Green Words within the Abstraction Ladder

Work in pairs at your table, reading/analyzing song lyrics in order identify aspects of the Abstraction Ladder and Green Words. Use your notes from yesterday if necessary.

Song Lyrics: Identifying Green Words within the Abstraction Ladder

At your tables, compare Green Words. Make sure you look for the following criteria:

1. Is this abstract?

2. Is it strongly connotative (positive or negative)?

3. Does a person’s definition for this word indicate what he/she values?

Cross out any that don’t meet the

criteria.

All about YOU

Write down 3 green words that accurately describe YOU.

Get out your College Essay Guidelines handout and review the sample prompts. Choose a prompt and List 3 green words that fit the chosen prompt.

Using a combination of these two sets of green words, develop a preliminary “although” thesis for the prompt. Staple this to your song lyrics and turn them in to the class bin.

“Show and Tell” Article

If you finish the song lyric

and thesis activity

early, read the “Show and Tell” article. Follow the instructions for “Analysis Protocol, steps 1-5 only. (Do not do

SOAPSTone

).

D

ue Wednesday 08/20.

*Remember, highlighting alone does not count as annotating.