Teaching and Learning Abstract Ideas via the Abstraction Ladder - A Phenomenological Invitation

Abstract

This paper 1) argues for the inclusion of a phenomenological form of academic textual evidence, 2) makes a case for James Moffett's abstraction ladder for teaching and learning, and 3) provides concrete examples of the abstraction ladder both as inspiration for practical application by teachers and to demonstrate how it may be used to broaden academic written discourse. These three aims are interrelated and mutually supportive.