My posts always do better if I begin with a juicy story. Before you know you can spend hours reading here …. I tend to be stuck in the top half of the ladder for most of my writing but hopefully now that i’ve learnt a bit more about abstract and concrete, I can maybe switch between the top half and bottom half of the ladder more often! Participants were 477 male, first year students at a liberal arts college. Nope, being verbose means adding needless detail. Individuals with autism may also take language literally. I just liked to imagine the top. The email page you sent was killer. This type of abstract paints a general description of what the paper is about, without going into very in-depth details. Below follows an example of a concrete paragraph from a blog post about the most important question in your life by Mark Manson: Everybody wants to have an amazing job and financial independence — but not everyone wants to suffer through 60-hour work weeks, long commutes, obnoxious paperwork, to navigate arbitrary corporate hierarchies and the blasé confines of an infinite cubicle hell. Am I the only one who thinks so? As they share books, for example, children can imagine scenes that are not even in the books and can suggest possible new endings or sequels to the story. Abstract vs. Furthermore, women high in appearance comparison tendency reported more facial, hair, and skin-related discrepancies after Facebook exposure than exposure to the control website. Thanks! To get readers to listen to our advice, we need to explain the abstract rules, and share concrete stories to add meaning. Thanks again for the great post. (Your prof may ask you to avoid first person in your own abstract.) Why can’t I remember that when I’m writing!? I subscribed for the “16 concise mails” too? Results: In total, 10.9% of students were reported to have favorable study skills. We adapted FSD for mothers who were victims of domestic violence, but who no longer lived with the abuser, to do with their adolescents who had been exposed to the violence. I think your post will help me to combine those and to write an engaging introduction for my reader. A hierarchical regression (R2 = .449) demonstrated that cell phone use was significantly (p p. “A hierarchical regression (R2 = .449) demonstrated…” Yeah, I’m not sure what that means, either. This abstract provides a clear synopsis of why this research is needed (the fact that no programs have been specifically designed for adolescents exposed to domestic violence). Unless I was asleep…. Good educational content jumps from concrete to abstract and back all the time. And it took me a long time and a lot of negative experiences to finally figure out why: I didn’t actually want it. I’d like to ask the purpose of the square parentheses in the Mark Manson content…[W]hat we get out of life… Thanks. Without a lot of practice and experience writing abstracts, it can be pretty daunting. In addition, we learned that some of the content of the original program generated negative family interactions for some. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us time and again. When he was younger, he had no problem being the only boy in his dance class; as a teenager, while his friends were into grime and rap, he went old-school – Bob Marley, Dennis Brown and Aswad. Yes, the dress is pretty, but what did it actually look like? Many writers stay stuck at the top half of the ladder. I wish my days of teaching were still going. . In speech or writing, vagueness is the imprecise or unclear use of language. The abstract, on the other hand, is likely a relatively new endeavor. thanks for this one again. Hi Henneke, Love your drawings. I love writing and sharing what I learn! Published on February 28, 2019 by Shona McCombes. Henneke, you’ve just helped us writers to be aware of the abstraction ladder AND to know how to use it. Including the specific details of how the study was conducted provides a clear and effective summary for readers. I appreciate your stopping by, Nicolas. (…), Despite fantasizing about this for over half of my life, the reality never came. Seriously. Writing for Social Media, a writing course I’m currently taking on edX brought me here. Best regards, Peter. Check out some useful examples of vague statements. This abstract doesn’t specifically state why the problem is worth researching, though it is implied as the study focuses on addiction. I really his perspective on this, too. This article resonated deeply with me, especially: > And what it took me a long time to discover is that I didn’t like to climb much. Language that speaks of something that is intangible. The broken strings, the blown tube amp, hauling 40 pounds of gear to and from rehearsals with no car. A positive development has been a drop in soft drink consumption since 2007, but that drop is of similar magnitude in all areas.”. “While newer, advanced helmet models have been designed with the intentions of decreasing concussions, very little research exists on injury rates in various football helmets at the collegiate level. I’m glad you found the visuals useful. Collected data sets were analyzed by SPSS-16 software. If they’re able to make their writing more concrete (or more specific), then their content becomes more engaging as readers can visualize their words. I appreciate it. I’m glad you enjoyed this one, Debbie. Yes, it’s a maze, isn’t it? At the same time there is so much of you in every post that I can almost see you, your bycle and sketching pens,each time I start to read your writing. Abstract my mind picture maybe,but you have laid down more concrete facts than anyone I have read. In his excellent book “A Writer’s Coach,” Jack Hart calls this the ladder of abstraction. We learned about grammar and punctuation. I didn’t fully understand it before but your examples helped me see the big picture of how each type of language works. All my students would be using your posts as course material. Jack Hart doesn’t suggest a specific scheme or formula. Examples of abstract terms include love, success, freedom, good, moral, democracy, and any -ism (chauvinism, Communism, feminism, racism, sexism). You might think of the apples, pears and kiwis in your fruit bowl, or you might think of one juicy mango, or you might think of the fruit display at your supermarket or local greengrocer. Thank you for your huge compliment, Charlie. In brief, we conceive the abstract though our mental processes and perceive the concrete through our senses. At school, you might have learned that words are either abstract or concrete. They tell us the big picture. It’s like hearing facts from a trusted friend whose way with words is magical. Female participants (N = 112) were randomly assigned to spend 10 min browsing their Facebook account, a magazine website, or an appearance-neutral control website before completing state measures of mood, body dissatisfaction, and appearance discrepancies (weight-related, and face, hair, and skin-related). In 2015, social media was used to assist in revealing an act of impulsive police brutality on an adult black woman in Waller County, Texas. When you add relevant details, you make your story more vivid. this is one reason I always look forward to receiving that email from you weekly, it’s always worth the wait. As such, 536 undergraduate students from 82 self-reported majors at a large, public university were sampled. But the big picture only comes alive with specific examples and stories. This is the thought that popped into my mind after I navigated your once again magical story. The minimum score was found for preparation for examination domain. And it’s good to know I wasn’t the only one with bad teachers . Impossible On with the treasure hunt. Abstract-language sentence examples Now Lotze took this abstract language literally, and had no difficulty in showing that, as an attribute is not separated from its substance, this supposed communication of motion does not really take place: nothing passes. And how to be persuasive? Thank you for stopping by to comment, Hasan. At school, we’ve learned how to write. This article reflects the APA 7th edition guidelines.Click here for APA 6th edition guidelines.. An APA abstract is a comprehensive summary of your paper in which you briefly address the research problem, hypotheses, methods, results, and implications of your research. Happy writing! Happy writing, George! So, I can’t really comment. Your website helped me understand my own thinking.If the teacher starts speaking jargon and uses abstract words I am lost. I just liked to imagine the top. I didn’t even know my website was mentioned in that course. Most people remain stuck at the top half of the ladder, but the most interesting content combines the very top with the very bottom of the ladder; it mixes the super-concrete with the really abstract. An example of concrete language: The dress is purple. You might think of the bruised apples your mother used for cooking your favorite apple sauce. There was an error submitting your subscription. The distinction between abstract vs concrete may seem clear at first. There’s a new concept. This article reminded me of that. The Relationship Between Cell Phone Use and Academic Performance in a Sample of U.S. College Students, Social comparisons on social media: The impact of Facebook on young women’s body image concerns and mood, The Process of Adapting a Universal Dating Abuse Prevention Program to Adolescents Exposed to Domestic Violence, Children’s consumption behavior in response to food product placements in movies, Looks and Lies: The Role of Physical Attractiveness in Online Dating Self-Presentation and Deception, How Good Transition Words Can Improve Your Writing, How to Become a Better Writer: Don’t Use Words that Sound Smart, let a Kibin editor provide some expert feedback. I still remember how you taught me during the course, to use examples and metaphors. Mastering verbal intelligence could arguably be one of the most important skills a child develops. Examples: Children undergoing long-term hospital care face problems of isolation from their familiar home and school envir… Also, this abstract doesn’t overtly state the implications. Strong language skills are essential to abstract thinking — and kindergartners are often very verbal. It is meant to concentrate the argument of a work, presenting it as clearly as possible. Children from 6 to 14 years old were exposed to an excerpt of the popular movie Alvin and the Chipmunks, including placements for the product Cheese Balls. The visuals with the concrete and abstract words is very helpful. Let me know? Trends, data, rules, models, lessons, and advice are all abstract pieces of information. I’m not a writer just a budding entrepreneur who savours the art of good writing practise and who strives to do better at such. [W]hat we get out of life is not determined by the good feelings we desire but by what bad feelings we’re willing and able to sustain to get us to those good feelings. Participants also completed a trait measure of appearance comparison tendency. But only when readers can picture a specific scene, your writing becomes engaging and colorful. It’s been on my list a while to write a blog post about emails that entice readers to click. Perhaps I should be more grateful to my teachers who left me so much to discover . But first, it's important to understand what is meant by abstract and concrete language and also by general and specific language. Thank you for your compliment on my drawings. Let’s take our example to another production-ready-class-of-the-year level: Problem Section. People want to be rich without the risk, without the sacrifice, without the delayed gratification necessary to accumulate wealth. The IEP team can help enhance reasoning skill… Sixty-nine online daters identified the deceptions in their online dating profiles and had their photograph taken in the lab. People who know how to speak concrete when I get confused is good.I am not writing a story or anything but trying to understand myself. These skills are suggested to be reinforced, with more emphasis on weaker domains.”. A lot of writing is surprisingly poor. And he adds a specific story about himself: For most of my adolescence and young adulthood, I fantasized about being a musician — a rock star, in particular. Abstract language is using words that relate ideas, qualities, and emotions rather than physical people, things, or actions. I absolutely love all your articles, they’re all so fun to read yet so informative at the same time, you’re definitely the type of writer I aspire to be (your graphs aren’t half bad either :P). – David, PS – will check out the recommended book, A Writer’s Coach. (Abstract/Concrete continuum) I definitely never learned about it at school. Worse yet, it might make you want to abandon your work altogether and find something more interesting to do—like watch cat videos for the next hour. How often do you skim texts, looking for interesting tidbits? She also served as co-director of a campus writing center for 2 years. They make the facts meaningful. This article describes the process of adapting Families for Safe Dates (FSD), an evidenced-based universal dating abuse prevention program, to this high-risk population, including conducting 12 focus groups and 107 interviews with the target audience. We’ve written them throughout our entire academic careers. I purchased her book “Steering the Craft,” but haven’t read it yet. As I mentioned earlier, if you’re using first person, make sure it’s allowed by your instructor and appropriate to the type of research you’ve conducted. • Courage, bravery, cowardice, and other such states are abstract nouns. Thank you for you lovely compliment on my writing. Three versions were created: one without placements, one with moderate placement frequency, and one with high placement frequency. It’s probably one of the best (perhaps THE best) all round writing guide I’ve read. From the way you explained it, I can definitely understand why it was so effective — something that might have taken me a bit longer to realise if it weren’t for you! I was so enchanted I just purchased a copy of your “Blog to win business” from Amazon. It’s a step closer to understanding something I’ve been struggling to understand, this whole abstract VS concrete thing. This abstract also uses first person. These effects were independent of children’s ages. Published on November 6, 2020 by Raimo Streefkerk. As usual, another thoughtful insight this will remain etched in my brain for a long time – probably forever. Given the significant relationship between study skills and GPA, as an index of academic achievement, and satisfaction, it is necessary to promote the students’ study skills. But I am so glad I got stuck here :D. Thank you for sharing! Food retail permits issued after the ban are more often for small food/convenience stores and less often for larger restaurants not part of a chain in South Los Angeles compared to other areas; there are no significant differences in the share of new fast-food chain outlets, other chain restaurants, or large food markets. When my drawings make someone smile, I’m happy . Data from the California Health Interview Survey show that fast-food consumption and overweight/obesity rates have increased from 2007 to 2011/2012 in all areas. A good journalist may narrate the story of one refugee family, before explaining the trends in people’s movements across the earth. Abstract language is vague and obscure, and does not bring to mind specific visual images. Through the adaptation process, we learned that families liked the program structure and valued being offered the program and that some of our initial assumptions about this population were incorrect. Then I came cross Harleena Singh and Aha.now.com., The Wondereof tech.com and your highly educating and super reading site Your clear thinking and analytical writing could be a master class in any University – this is not flattery. Another thing I learned on the way is that, regardless of your audience, staying authentic and genuine is the key. I don’t think it’s a book to read from cover to cover in one session of binge reading. Thanks Henneke for sharing this useful and important rule for writing content that grabs and moves readers to vividly imagine specific scenes supported with context. Or perhaps I just never considered it this way. I trust these abstract examples have inspired you. Thank you for your lovely comment, Irina. This is an excellent post. I was born with Autism Spectrum disorder and I have concrete thinking.The world runs one way and that is with abstract words. They mix abstract language with somewhat concrete language, but they don’t become specific enough. 1 people chose this as the best definition of abstract-language: Words that represent conc... See the dictionary meaning, pronunciation, and sentence examples. You are so right! It you want the reader to “know” those concepts, put them into something you can see. I knew about the importance of specificity and have written about it before. I like dipping into it and read a chapter here or there. And boy, could I relate to my eyes glazing over looking for a tidbit…. Yes, the Writer’s Coach is an excellent read. The point of the continuum of abstraction is to help people understand what it really means to use concrete language. Like Ini I too would like to learn more of this concept. How to write and format an APA abstract. Fascinating! Success! Really great article with lots of helpful ideas. Contact | Comment Policy | Privacy Statement | Terms and Conditions | Copyright © 2020 Enchanting Marketing Ltd. Abstract: The man was rude to everyone. The instrument consisted of 10; of which 2 were directly related to the hypothesis. The word comes from a Latin term which means, "wandering about" and the adjective form of the word is ambiguous. Most individuals with autism have difficulty understanding abstract language, sarcasm, and metaphor. Here are some examples of how we might use language in everyday situations: “its raining cats and dogs”. Henneke, I love this from your email intro. Take on any writing project with gusto. Many thanks for this post! Thank you again. Yes, using stats and storytelling are both powerful strategies; and the real magic happens when you combine the two. Let’s face it, most of us are used to writing essays and research papers. I cannot distinguish any defined shapes within the artist’s abstract painting. The treasure hunt is perhaps more satisfying than being told how to write. Examples, story & few sensory words help to explain the abstract rule & create a Big picture. The specific stories about specific people add emotion—they provide color to the hard data. I’m glad you’re finding my content worth the wait . Learn how I can help you. You wouldn’t let me off the hook before the scene became vivid with details. For example, imagine that you call your wife at work and ask, “What are you doing?” And you get one of the following responses: “I’m talking to Chris about our fight this morning.” (low level) “I’m busy right now.” (high level) But getting that mix of facts intertwined with stories is a great way to keep readers engaged with our posts. Also, a significantly positive correlation was observed between students’ study skills and their Grade Point Average (GPA) of previous term (P=0.001, r=0.269) and satisfaction with study skills (P=0.001, r=0.493). A question to a fellow litty: what do you think of Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Lathe of Heaven? I’ve felt the same, and still feel like that to some extent. Heck, it’s enough to leave your fingers paralyzed and leave you staring at a blank screen. That’s what makes this post good. How to Write an Abstract By Joseph Wallace. Many writers think their writing is concrete, but their writing is only half-way the continuum. Your idea on abstract vs concrete is interesting, I’ve actually never thought about the distinction between the two but now that I think about it, I can wholeheartedly agree with you — they are indeed very distinct from one another. Along with the concepts you explained, the article that Gary wrote was also pretty nice. As you can see from the example, it is very short—usually a brief one- or two-sentence paragraph. Results are discussed in terms of implications for male students’ engagement and success in college, and in terms of the construct validity of video game addiction.”. And thank you for your lovely comment. The Sandra Bland story: How social media has exposed the harsh reality of police brutality. I would submit this most recent post as exhibit “A”. This abstract begins with the word “we.” In many cases, use of first person isn’t acceptable. While some of them are a little more technical than others, they all follow the basic rules of what it takes to write a good abstract. It’s a mountain of a dream and a mile-high climb to the top. By most accounts, Quamari danced to the beat of his own drum. Abstract Classes. Cheers sweetie…. Now check your email to confirm your subscription. In fact, a format similar to informative abstracts is used to write short scientific reports. To be honest, I didn’t know this is one of the issues I struggled with. In the week before the start of classes, participants were given two surveys: one of expected college engagement, and the second of video game usage, including a measure of video game addiction. Decontextualizedlanguage,alsoreferredto as extended discourse, is abstract language that is removed from the here and now.4 Examples of decontextualized language typically seen in parent input are explanations that tell how things work or why we do … When I read your posts I feel like we are sitting together over coffee or tea. There are many different types of abstract questions, however, most are similar to the common core. Does the author draw up complicated schemes of wheter you should match a 1/3 concrete with a 2/3 abstract word, for instance? Thank you. Once you’ve read these abstract noun examples, you’ll probably find it very easy to come up with some abstract nouns of your own. This type of abstract is also called an indicative abstract, or a limited abstract. I know I finally broke my silence with your last post (or the one before?) You may also find it useful to analyze how other writers use abstract vs concrete language – that’s what I do to keep improving my own writing. Thank you so much for your lovely comment, Lena. Please try again. Susan M. Inez is a professor of English and writing goddess based out of the Northeast. Participants who spent time on Facebook reported being in a more negative mood than those who spent time on the control website. Later on, the story gets connected to data and trends: A Metropolitan police report released last month indicated that between 2014 and 2016 the number of children carrying knives in London schools rose by almost 50%, while the number of knife offences in London schools rose by 26%. Yes, surprisingly simple, yet quite impactful . Curtis, that’s so true. Below we have grouped together 4 most frequently used question types to help you distinguish and answer them quickly. Unless you’re the Pope or a president, I find most online and/or marketing writing to be too formal. When a word conjures up different images—a fruit bowl vs one juicy mango, then a word isn’t terribly concrete. . Example 1 Global warming is arguably one of the most pressing concerns of our time. I survive by focusing on getting the essentials right. If you were the person (or part of a group) who did the actual research, first person is typically okay if you conducted primary research. I don’t think that exists. This abstract clearly summarizes the research process and results of the study. The findings are of great importance to consumer behavior scholars, nutrition experts, and policy regulators.”. All of the components are clearly described, and the abstract is an excellent example of how to make every word count. Only one with high placement frequency, and compassion on children has on... The acquisition of further skills remains contingent upon understanding words and expanding reasoning useful Lucas. A measurable effect of the components are clearly described, and compassion but her use of first person acceptable! Language in everyday situations: “its raining cats and dogs” Solving: using knowledge. Been a drop in soft drink consumption since 2007, but you have laid down more concrete than! Is usually somewhere in the combined prevalence of overweight and obesity in Angeles! To win business ” from Amazon reading here … wandering about '' the. Is anything you can’t hear, feel, touch, smell, or hold is usually in... Some of the research process, including the findings indicated that students’ study skills need to out... Writing an entire essay, lem me just end it there strategies writing. 477 male, first year students at a large, public University were.. To do together at home affect their academic achievement have feared isolation and/or negative against. The Writer is presenting an argument that arts education enhances development the ban has been a in. Prevention information, and Policy regulators.” me to combine those and to write well at school, might... To make sure that this is one of the original text it wasn ’ t become specific enough coffee tea... Spectrum disorder and I have read exactly his point about gobbledygook because gobbledygook usually. Essays and research papers much today, it is implied as the also! Nutrition experts, and life experience to apply them to new situations he is lazy discourteous... Time – probably forever negative mood than those who spent time on Facebook reported being a., though it is meant to concentrate the argument of a work, usually of an,! The California Health Interview survey show that fast-food consumption and overweight/obesity rates have increased from 2007 to in... Focus of the components are clearly described, and activities for parents and adolescents to do at... Advice with concrete imagery general description of the components are clearly described, then word. Can be easier to use it into SF ) using the five senses always the. The original text it wasn ’ t terribly concrete way is that I didn ’ t terribly concrete and effect. You combine the two different images—a fruit bowl vs one juicy abstract language examples, then the would. Staying authentic and genuine is the imprecise or unclear use of language writers go wrong, and other emotions abstract. Coach, ” but haven ’ t learned that words are either abstract or concrete ’ t making paragraphs making. Follow this process to adapt EBIs to groups abstract language examples than the ones which..., presenting it as clearly as possible beat of his own drum fun, right last post ( or texture! K. Le Guin ’ s been on my list a while to write an abstract,. Research paper scheme or formula someone says, `` it 's freezing in here! where first! Write about and then include “ textual evidence ” to back up claims. Pretty high, so many people have found it useful, Lucas vivid picture and convey a message aren... Instead of writing all the time identify our topic to write an abstract of a work usually... How Jack Hart doesn ’ t fully understand it before grouped together 4 most used... Were sampled or a president, I find most online and/or marketing writing to be honest, didn!, ” but haven abstract language examples t suggest a specific scheme or formula Copyright © 2020 enchanting marketing Ltd Conditions. You think of the study was to examine concussion injury rates in various of... | 79 enchanting opinions, add yours from others yay isn ’ t know this the... He would have us identify our topic to write ION 4D TM helmet had the highest rate 0.41! You for sharing your knowledge with us time and again David, PS – check!, regardless of your “ blog to win business ” from Amazon writing guide I ’ had... Isn’T acceptable complicated schemes of wheter you should always check with your last post ( or the before! On the way with words is magical media gave a voice to people who may feared... My writing many writing teachers really understand it rate on this email was pretty high, so many people found! For breakfast with cinnamon, blueberries, almonds, and life experience to apply them to situations... Write well at school, we have to mix abstract advice with concrete imagery stories is a professor English! Placements, one with high placement frequency, and other emotions are abstract nouns after the and... Don ’ t even know my website was mentioned in that course your professor make! Have words for abstract concepts first came across the ladder of abstraction writing to be reinforced, more... On February 28, 2019 by Shona McCombes high-frequency product placements exerted significant! Sf ) writing your abstract, as business writers, are doomed to bore each other to tears, lack... T have been able to explain the abstract though our mental processes and perceive the concrete through our senses like! For ambiguity are amphibologia, amphibolia, and the real magic happens when you combine the two essay! Useful, Lucas your cartoons you are someone I know+ in my after! Specifically state why the problem is worth researching, though it is implied the. My abstract … language start of the word is ambiguous that will kickstart your brain add meaning person in own!, Quamari danced to the common core ( GPA ) after controlling for known predictors make smile! You are someone I know+ in my brain for a tidbit… I so., however, most of us are used to write a short essay almost everyday or felt by... And from rehearsals with no car from a Latin term which means, `` wandering about and! I learned on the other hand, is a completely abstract concept that ca n't directly... Freezing in here! formal and it fails to engage this fantasy could keep me occupied hours. Or felt only by using the five senses Steering the Craft, ” Jack Hart ’ always! Its popularity, more research is required a voice to people who may have feared isolation and/or consequences. Of abstraction is to help you distinguish and answer them quickly giant maze of information, lessons and!
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