Abstraction Ladder

Abstraction Ladder: Day One

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

Level 4: AbstractionsLevel 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:oABSTRACT (broad)oHIGHLY CONNOTATIVE (multiple

meanings/interpretations)oVALUE-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 TURNFor 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.

• Create 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).

• Due Wednesday 08/20. *Remember, highlighting alone does not

count as annotating.