Title:The Megalithic Monuments of Ireland and Their Folklore: A Photodocumentary Project.
Author(s): Goldbaum, Howard
Abstract: A photojournalism project is described in this paper that integrated the disciplines of photography, archaeology, and ethnology in an examination of prehistoric megalithic monuments in Ireland and their folklore. Following an introduction tracing the history of the monuments and pointing to the maintenance in Ireland of a body of oral tradition concerning many of them, the paper describes the methodology used in the project, which included (1) preliminary research and selection of monuments to bestudied, (2) the study of archival folklore material, (3) the collecting of taped folkloreinterviews, and (4) the photographing of the people who served as folklore sources and of the monuments. Finally, the paper lists the types of monuments often
associated with traditional beliefs and reports the most prevalent types of beliefs concerning the monuments, which involve beliefs about fairies, witches, gods, heroes, and kings, as well as fanciful "scientific" speculations about the creation and function of the monuments. Appendixes provide a list of instructions for folklore collectors, excerpts of transcripts from folkloric material collected for the project, and a bibliography of selected relevant publications. (GT)
Notes: Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Association for Education in Journalism(63rd, Boston, MA, August 9-13, 1980).
Publication Type(s):Speeches/Conference Papers; Reports - Research/Technical
Title: Reluctant Writers & Writing-Prompt Software.
Author(s): Yackanicz, Linda
Descriptors: Writing Difficulties; Writing Instruction; Case Studies; Computer Assisted Instruction;Grade 3; Instructional Effectiveness; Primary Education; Writing Processes; Writing
Research
Abstract:
This study investigated the use of a writing-prompt software program, "The Ultimate
Writing and Creativity Center," by two reluctant writers (two third-grade students
attending a school in a suburb of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) and compared their work
with their pencil and paper writing. Given that computers are effective tools for
supporting children's writing, and given the claims of software companies that
writing-prompt programs help reluctant writers, the following question was asked:
What happens when a reluctant writer uses writing-prompt software? The data
reported were obtained from questionnaires, interviews, observations, and a collection
of paper and pencil stories and computer work. Results indicated that writing-prompt
software enabled two reluctant writers to think differently about their writing. They
wrote more using the computer and were willing to compose stories on the computer.
In addition, they took these experiences of writing with the computer and applied this
knowledge to their everyday writing. Implications for teaching practices and future
research are discussed. (Contains 30 references.) (Author/RS)
Publication Type(s): Dissertations/Theses - Masters Theses
ERIC#: ED440381
Publication Date: August 1, 1980
Descriptors: Ancient History; Fantasy; Folk Culture; Research Methodology; Research Projects;Archaeology; Foreign Countries; Interviews; Journalism; Oral History; Photography
Identifiers:Ireland; Photojournalism
Country of Publication: U.S.; Illinois
ERIC#: ED188180
Publication Date: May 13, 2000
Identifiers: Reluctant Writers; Writing Prompts