1. Green Words and Thesis Development
Abstraction Ladder Introduction and Practice

2. Abstraction Ladder
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

4. Abstraction Ladder Activity
Each table will have a zip lock bag with three sets of different colored cards. Each color set represents one abstraction ladder example.
In pairs, take one of the colors and try to re-create the abstraction ladder, going from abstract to concrete (level 4 to level 1). Compare and discuss as a table when you think you are done.

5. Turn to “I Have A Dream” Table 1: Up till “But we refuse”
Table 2: Up till “But there is something”
Table 3: Up till “There are those who”
Table 4: Up till “And so even though”
Table 5: Up till “I have a dream today” (1st time)
Table 6: Up till the end

6. Highlight your section for the top, middle, and bottom of the abstraction ladder
Top of the ladder: Green
Middle: Blue
Bottom: Pink
Hint: Green and pink are easiest; blues are the ones that aren’t really specific, but aren’t umbrella terms either

7. Annotations and Summary
Add annotations based on the example. Where do you see “green” concepts implicitly present?
Write green words that “encompass” the section in the margins. An example from a song analysis is on the next slide.

8. Get Out Your Song

9. Thesis development Summarize your section in your notes.
After you have summarized the speech, locate your notes on the Abstraction Ladder.
Write the title of the section in your notes, then DEVELOP A COHESIVE THESIS STATEMENT expressing what MLK Jr. is trying to convey. Write this thesis down. Use the same piece of paper to take notes on this PowerPoint--you will turn it in later

10. The Abstraction Ladder in your section– Big ideas
On a sheet of paper at your table, write down ALL the green words from your section. Make them LARGE and LEGIBLE
Class check for abstract/ general concepts
DO NOT ERASE. Put the sheet down for now
Set the speech aside

11. From Abstract Concept to “GREEN Words”: a note
We have talked about abstract concepts and highlighted them in green, BUT that does not mean that all of them will make the cut for what we will not identify as “GREEN WORDS.”
So, what does it take to be GREEN?

12. What is a “GREEN” word? A “GREEN” word is AN ABSTRACT NOUN
HIGHLY CONNOTATIVE
VALUE-DRIVEN

13. EXAMPLE: "Wealth" Is "wealth" an abstract idea?
Does wealth have connotative significance?
Does your definition of "wealth" say anything about what you value?

14. YOUR TURN
Go through the words on your white board. For each, ask yourselves
1. Is this an abstract NOUN?
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

15. STILL YOUR TURN
Put the words from your board in your notes. Make a list of 5 additional words that represent "green" concepts. Each time, ask yourself
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?

16. So how does this help me write a better thesis?
Your thesis should be driven by a combination of strong green words
Because of their connotative, value-driven nature, a “green” word based thesis will automatically drive your paper toward persuasion

17. Try this:
Look at your list of green words. Create a sentence utilizing three of these words. It can be about anything (school appropriate, of course!).

18. STOP! Did you just write a three-prong thesis?
If you did CROSS IT OUT!

19. Round 2:
Write another sentence using three of your green words, BUT this time follow this formula:
Create an “although” statement using ONE green word in the dependent clause (at the beginning) 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 drive them to become successful people.

20. Rewind
Go back to your section of MLK Jr.’s speech and look at the thesis you wrote at the beginning of class
Use three strong green concepts from the song to REWRITE your original thesis on the following:
DEVELOP A COHESIVE THESIS STATEMENT ON what the speaker was trying to convey in this speech. Use your green words and “Although…”formula this time.

21. Homework
Highlight and annotate “Life in 999” the same way you did “I Have a Dream”.
Green = top of the ladder - abstract
Yellow = middle – somewhat concrete
Pink = concrete details
Add annotations based on the example. Where do you see “green” concepts implicitly present?
Write green words that “encompass” the section in the margins.
Write an “Although…” green word thesis statement for “Life in 999.”