Homework #9 – Expanded ABT
Due: October 21st @ 5:00 pm Eastern
For clarity, let’s rename the current version of your ABT (the General-to-Specific ABT) to Core Narrative ABT. This is the version of that ABT that we’ll keep working on during class and in Working Circles to make sure your core logical argument is sound.
There’s still probably more you can tweak in your Core Narrative ABT. You’ll likely still have thoughts on further revisions after your Working Circle and in getting ideas from watching other students’ narratives evolve, so we’re not expecting a final draft of your Core Narrative ABT until 10/30.
But we should already start thinking about how you’ll expand your Core Narrative ABT into your eventual 5-minute PowerPoint presentation. For that, we’ll practice by creating an Expanded ABT.
(Note: For your Working Circles, just use your Core Narrative ABT, not the Expanded ABT! This will help keep your Working Circle focused on the core logic of your narrative.)
For this homework, I’ve included several options for creating an Expanded ABT from your current Core Narrative ABT. Some you’ll find are definitely applicable to your narrative. Others might not be applicable to your narrative and you’re free to ignore those. Use your best judgement on whether you should apply an option or not.
If you can apply several options, go ahead and apply all of them that work – you’re not limited to just one!
Once you’ve read through and experimented with the different Expanded ABT options, submit your revised Expanded ABT draft.
Keep your Expanded ABT handy as we get closer to the 5-minute presentation portion of the course. For the next homework, we’ll go back and do final tweaks to the Core Narrative ABT.
Expanding Option #1 – Simple bridge to the Ordinary World
We need a little something to bridge to your Ordinary World, an opening statement to introduce yourself and your topic. For this option, you’ll create a simple opening statement to introduce yourself. The basic template (which you’re free to modify as you see fit) is:
Hi, I’m (Insert Name), a (insert position) with (insert organization) and I’m here to talk to you about [insert topic]. (Begin Ordinary World….)
An important note: For the [insert topic] section, do NOT just read out the title of your talk. A simple statement of your topic is good enough.
Example:
Hi, I’m Matthew David, a co-instructor with the ABT Institute and I’m here to talk to you about the importance of using narrative structure. Now, narrative structure, which is the organization of information into a problem solution dynamic, is essential for helping non-experts understand difficult topics AND….
Expanding Option #2 – cABT bridge to the Ordinary World
The cABT can be a helpful tool to lay out a simple map of your narrative before you dive into details. The basic template (which you’re free to modify as you see fit) is:
Hi, I’m (Insert Name), a (insert position) with (insert organization). The simple story that I’ll be telling is (insert cABT) (insert topic) (Begin Ordinary World….)
Example:
Hi, I’m Matthew David, a co-instructor with the ABT Institute. The simple story that I’ll be telling you today is that there’s this great tool for connecting with audiences but people don’t know how to use it therefore today you’ll learn how to use it. And the tool for connecting with audiences that I’m talking about is narrative structure. Now, narrative structure, which is the organization of information into a problem solution dynamic, is essential for helping non-experts understand difficult topics AND….
Expanding Option #3 – Dobzhansky bridge to the Ordinary World
The Dobzhansky is another bridging method, helpful for giving your audience your central argument up front and then filling in the details as the talk progresses. The basic template (which you’re free to modify as you see fit) is:
Hi, I’m (Insert Name), a (insert position) with (insert organization). The main point I want to argue today is that nothing in (insert broad topic) makes sense, except in the light of (insert specific point). (Begin Ordinary World….)
Example:
Hi, I’m Matthew David, a co-instructor with the ABT Institute. The main point I want to argue today is that nothing in communicating effectively with non-expert audiences makes sense, except in light of narrative structure. Now, narrative structure, which is the organization of information into a problem solution dynamic, is essential for helping non-experts understand difficult topics AND….
Feel free to add an extra moment to explain the broad topic a bit more. For example:
Hi, I’m Matthew David, a co-instructor with the ABT Institute. Now, many of us find that it’s necessary to communicate with non-experts, whether those non-experts are the general public or the grant reviewer who, yes, may know your field, but doesn’t know the specifics of what you’re doing in your lab. The main point I want to argue today is that nothing in communicating effectively with these non-expert audiences makes sense, except in light of narrative structure. Now, narrative structure, which is the organization of information into a problem solution dynamic, is essential for helping non-experts understand difficult topics AND….
Expanding Option #4 – Method, SO FAR & NEXT STEPS
We often call the BY section of the THEREFORE the “method” section where we allow you to get really specific with what it is that you’re doing. Our general rule is that if you do a good job with an efficient and well set up blue and red section then we’ll let you go on longer in the green. You’re allowed to include the work that you’ve done SO FAR, what you’ve currently discovered, and what your NEXT STEPS will be.
Example of a Core Narrative ABT THEREFORE/BY:
THEREFORE we’re working to fix this BY establishing the needed infrastructure to support data collection to be able to develop data-driven frameworks to facilitate comparative studies between developed and developing countries.
And here it is once details have been added for an Expanded ABT:
THEREFORE we’re working to fix this BY establishing the needed infrastructure to support data collection. This will allow us to utilize data from both developing and developed countries to develop data-driven frameworks that are useful globally. SO FAR we have secured funding and ethics approval for the Ghana Prevents Program and have completed our initial planning phase. Our NEXT STEP is to begin implementing this in Ghana in November.
Another before example:
THEREFORE we need to democratize neuroimaging BY developing and validating accessible portable low-field MRI to deliver reliable brain imaging to all populations.
And with more detail:
THEREFORE, we are working to fix this BY advancing low-field MRI as a transformative solution: a lightweight, affordable, and portable scanner that requires minimal infrastructure, and delivers data comparable to conventional MRI. SO FAR early studies in high-income countries and other fields have shown its potential, and our NEXT STEP is to validate its use in dementia care in LMICs.
Give your BY another look and see if you can make it more concrete by adding details on the method that you’re using, details as to where you’re currently at (SO FAR), or details on where you’re headed next (NEXT STEPS).
Don’t worry about holding back – get as into the weeds on your method as you’d like for this Expanded ABT option!
Expanding Option #5 – Full Circle Moment
We’ve told you that the pattern for ABTs is General to Specific, and that’s true as a place to start! But now your Expanded ABTs are ready for a final piece, the “hourglass” shape of narrative: General to Specific to General.
Narratives feel satisfying to audiences that end where they began, giving the audience a sense of closure by going full circle. You can do this by adding a final beat in the Green that calls back to the Ultimate Goal that you mentioned in the Blue.
The following narrative starts with the Ultimate Goal of democratizing dementia diagnostics and ends with a final beat that calls back to it: we aim not only to close a critical diagnostic gap, but also to fundamentally reshape who benefits from cutting-edge neuroimaging worldwide.
Democratizing dementia diagnostics is crucial as the global burden of dementia is growing fast, especially in LMICs, AND in the case of global health IF we can create accessible diagnostic and research tools THEN we can detect dementia earlier, improve care for families, and generate more representative knowledge to drive new treatments, BUT this isn’t happening BECAUSE many populations have no access to key diagnostic tools such as neuroimaging AS it remains expensive, centralized, and inaccessible in many communities, THEREFORE, we are working to fix this BY advancing low-field MRI as a transformative solution: a lightweight, affordable, and portable scanner that requires minimal infrastructure, and delivers data comparable to conventional MRI. SO FAR, early studies in high-income countries and other fields have shown its potential, and our NEXT STEP is to validate its use in dementia care in LMICs. By doing so, we aim not only to close a critical diagnostic gap, but also to fundamentally reshape who benefits from cutting-edge neuroimaging worldwide.
Another example of a FULL CIRCLE callback:
Materials used in aircraft cabins must meet strict fire safety requirements and undergo extensive testing designed to prevent fires and IF we would have reliable test methods to assess flammability THEN that would lead to a streamlined certification process, increased aircraft safety and preventing fire accidents BUT that’s not happening BECAUSE the current test methods are not appropriate DUE TO lack of precision and requirement of large amount of materials that is not always available THEREFORE the Fire Research program is fixing this BY developing a new test method, Microscale Combustion Calorimetry, that works with small amounts of materials to screen them in the reproducible way and ensure the materials used in aircraft cabins meet flammability requirements to maintain the unparalleled level of fire safety that passengers rely on every day.
As you can see, the final FULL CIRCLE moment doesn’t have to be word for word of what you put initially in the blue, but it should call back to the general nature of your Ultimate Goal.
This final beat may not be as necessary for a one paragraph ABT (don’t bother adding it to your Core Narrative ABT), but it can be incredibly helpful for longer presentations or papers to give the audience a refresher as to what this is all about.
Try adding a FULL CIRCLE beat at the end of your Expanded ABT to wrap things up by ending where you began.
Expanding Option #6 – Bridging from Blue to Red to Green
The General to Specific to General pattern of narrative is handy for your overall narrative (as we saw in the Full Circle Moment), but it can also be of use in the other sections of your narrative (the Blue & Red) as quick summaries to help bridge to the next section. While this kind of bridging may not be as useful for written narratives, it can be especially handy for spoken presentations to help keep the audience on track with the narrative.
The Ordinary World gives us a general view of the broad topic, the IF/THEN gives us the specifics of the best case scenario, and then you can give a final general Bridging Statement (in just a few words) for a general summary of the conclusion. This can be helpful in creating a quick stark contrast for the following BUT General Problem.
You can also create a Bridging Statement at the end of the Red to help create a stark contrast with the THEREFORE General Solution.
Bridging Statements tend to be short (usually around 5 words) to help quickly create the transition to the next section. Going much more than 5 words for a Bridging Statement dulls the impact of the transition.
For example:
We know that in order for catch shares to function as originally intended, it is important that new fishermen have a way to enter the industry without an onerous financial burden. IF we can accomplish this THEN we’ll have a new generation of fisherman that is adaptable, maintains the small business nature of fisheries, and secures our Nation’s food supply. Accessibility to new entrants is essential. BUT the fishery is not accessible to new entrants BECAUSE fishermen are not selling their lucrative quota. The system is failing new entrants. THEREFORE NMFS is working to fix this BY implementing a new “owner onboard” requirement for all catch share fisheries that will ensure quota is only distributed to active fishermen; stopping the proliferation of “armchair fishermen” (who make money leasing quota but no longer fish), making quota available and hopefully more affordable for the next generation of fishermen.
The underlined Bridging Statements above help to set up an immediate contrast with the But General Problem and the THEREFORE General Solution.
Now, in this particular case you might not need the Red Bridging Statement (The system is failing new entrants) because this particular BUT/BECAUSE is short enough that your audience doesn’t necessarily need a Bridging Statement to remind them of the overall point. It’ll be up to you as you adapt your ABT to the 5-minute presentation whether to use Bridging Statements or not to help connect the different sections.
As an option, you can add an “in conclusion” or “to sum up” to the beginning of a Bridging Statement:
We know that in order for catch shares to function as originally intended, it is important that new fishermen have a way to enter the industry without an onerous financial burden. IF we can accomplish this THEN we’ll have a new generation of fisherman that is adaptable, maintains the small business nature of fisheries, and secures our Nation’s food supply. So, to sum up, accessibility to new entrants is essential. BUT the fishery is not accessible to new entrants BECAUSE fishermen are not selling their lucrative quota. THEREFORE NMFS is working to fix this BY implementing a new “owner onboard” requirement for all catch share fisheries that will ensure quota is only distributed to active fishermen; stopping the proliferation of “armchair fishermen” (who make money leasing quota but no longer fish), making quota available and hopefully more affordable for the next generation of fishermen.
For this Expanded ABT option, try adding a Bridging Statement to the end of your Blue, the end of your Red, or both.
Check list for your Expanded ABT:
- Use your Core Narrative ABT (in this case either your General-to-Specific ABT or the ABT you revised after your Working Circle) as your jumping off point.
- Use as many of the above options as you’d like to start expanding your ABT. This should help give you ideas on what to do for your eventual 5-minute presentation.
- Tuck your Core Narrative ABT away for now – we’ll be using it again in the next homework to keep polishing your core logic.
- Reminder: For your Working Circles, just use your Core Narrative ABT so that you can keep your participants focused on the central logic of your argument. Don’t use your Expanded ABT.
Instructions for submitting your homework:
- Put your draft in a Word document – have your name at the top.
- Name the Word document file: Homework 9 – Expanded ABT
- Go to the Dropbox Upload here.
- Add your Word document to the upload page.
- If it prompts you, add your full name and email address.
- Click the Upload button.