Thesis--Wisconsin. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-97).

In this thesis the application of the transtheoretical model (Prochaska and DiClemente 1992) to dietary change is investigated. Four studies were conducted examining the core constructs of the model these are (a) stages of change, (b) processes of change, (c) concepts of change. An exploratory cross sectional study found that process and concept use differed significantly between precontemplaters and post action stages. With self efficacy however the main differences were between preparation and other stages. Semi-structured interviews with then conducted with 20 participants in the process of improving their dietary behaviour. Results showed that strategies similar to those outlined in the transtheoretical model social support and consciousness raising were strongly emphasised, regarding decisional balance more benefits than disadvantages were associated with dietary change. Following this a 6-month longitudinal study tested the effectiveness of stage matched and general pamphlets for clients with type two diabetes. 955 participants completed questionnaires with 327 participants receiving stage matched interventions, 309 receiving general interventions and 319 participants being allocated to a control group, intervention copies were distributed at 3 months and a second questionnaire at six months. Significant differences were found between the pre action and post action stages with low fat dietary behaviour. Precontemplaters scored significantly lower than other stages with all processes and with the pros and cons of decisional balance and contemplaters scored lower than post action stages with several processes. Maintainers scored highest in self efficacy. The use of processes and concepts did not match fully that outlined in the transtheoretical model. Interestingly when participants were classified on the basis of low, medium and high fat behaviour, process and concept use followed a broadly linear pattern. At follow up detailed analysis was made problematic by high subject attrition. However, higher scores in consciousness raising were associated with forward stage movement and low scores in social support with retrograde movement. There was no significant difference in effectiveness of stage matched and general pamphlets. There is, however, weak evidence that interventions in general improve low fat dietary behaviour. The stage classification may however give insights not available with standard classifications. Indicating advantages in combining stage and traditional classifications. Suggestions for future studies to investigate the model more thoroughly are also discussed.

Thesis advisor: Caroline Bicks / In the last ten years, Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues has morphed from a successful off-Broadway production into an activist movement that fosters fundraising productions of the play by community and campus groups in almost every country. In this thesis, I examine how the ‘body stories’ told by actual women made it to community stages all over the world through a series of translations: first, how Ensler poetically/theatrically interprets their stories; second, how the monologic form (and the current multiple-actor form) of the play affects the meaning of those stories; third, projecting how the audience reacts to those stories; and last, suggesting possibilities for broadening the audience’s experience into community discussion and social change. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2010. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: English Honors Program. / Discipline: College Honors Program. / Discipline: English.

The goal of my dissertation is to further our understanding of the political ramifications of women's running stories by focusing on the intersections of feminist rhetoric, women in sports studies, political theory, and ontology. To this end, I examined six books written by women, about women, who participate in the sport of running. Since I am most interested in how gendered concepts teach us how to be "appropriate," and due to the fact that what is considered appropriate gendered behavior changes over time, I start from a place of understanding that "appropriateness" is necessarily both hegemonic and unstable. As a feminist rhetorical critic, I am foremost concerned with gendered relations of power, and am interested in working to move those relations towards the democratic end of liberty and equality. This dissertation examined the following five research questions: First, how do women articulate their running identities in the stories they tell? For example, do women depict running as central or influential to their self-concepts, roles, identities, ambitions and/or goals? If so, how? Specifically, what identities, concepts, or themes are common across stories? Second, do individual women explicitly discuss, or implicitly allude to, multiple identities or roles? If they embrace multiple identities or roles, how do they rhetorically navigate among them in the stories they tell? Third, how, if at all, do women articulate their experience of gender norms? Fourth, what are the points of possible contention, clash or disagreement in the discussion of women runners' experiences? How might the various perspectives that women (and others around them) express be in legitimate (agonistic, pluralistic) conversation with each other? And finally, in what ways might these stories hint at ontological change as a real possibility, and/or provide a canvas for an agonistic and plural relationship with the self and others? In other words, what commitments, goals, beliefs, and/or values do different perspectives have in common, that might bring them together to work for mutually-agreed upon change in the world, or in the political order? Upon completion of this dissertation, my feminist rhetorical analysis provided ample evidence that the texts I examined are clearly consciousness-raising documents, as their sole purpose is sharing stories of how women journey through life via running. This project illustrated that a particular kind of consciousness is raised when women's bodies are running, sometimes alone, but often together. This consciousness provides a freedom for these women to be more whole, strong, and authentic versions of themselves; running gives way to a mental and physical strength that these women may not have found otherwise. While for some rhetors and audiences, the essential question of women and girls' participation in sports looms large, for many other people, the issues have broadened and deepened from the original `to play or not to play,' and now encompass subtler concerns, from the wearing of the hijab in athletic competition to whether or not women should train during pregnancy. The female body is constantly on display and up for debate, and the female body in the realm of sports is no exception. Together, feminist rhetorical criticism and agonistic pluralism provided me with the foundation to creatively analyze women's running stories for their political and feminist ramifications, places where women are celebrated and heralded as strong athletes, as well as point out places where liberty and equality are still lacking.

No description available.

Este presente estudo comparou o efeito de duas combinações de instrução com foco na forma no ensino da flexão de adjetivos I e NA da língua japonesa, em sua forma predicativa, aplicadas em duas turmas de nível básico. Uma combinação foi baseada no composto: instrução para processamento com uso de técnica de saliência textual atividade de produção estruturada, e a outra, na atividade de consciousness raising com uso de técnica de saliência textual atividade de produção estruturada. A primeira combinação teve como principal intervenção pedagógica a instrução para processamento formulada por VanPatten (1993, 1996, 2004), e a segunda, a atividade de consciousness raising defendida por alguns autores como Fotos & Ellis (1991). O objetivo principal foi avaliar qual das duas intervenções é mais eficaz na aprendizagem a curto e a longo prazo das flexões dos adjetivos. Para tanto, o desempenho dos aprendizes foi avaliado por cinco pós-testes e por um teste postergado, todos em formato de produção escrita, aplicados após os respectivos tratamentos. Os resultados obtidos pela análise estatística constatam que, apesar de ambas as combinações apresentarem um efeito positivo, a instrução para processamento é mais eficaz tanto na aprendizagem a curto prazo como na de longo prazo das flexões dos adjetivos I e NA. / This study focused on comparing the effects of two combinations of form-focused instruction on the learning of Japanese I and NA adjective inflection, in their predicative form, applied to two elementary level student groups. One combination was based on the composite: processing instruction with textual input enhancement technique structured output activity, and the other one was formed by consciousness raising activity with textual input enhancement technique structured output activity. The main classroom intervention of the first combination was the processing instruction formulated by VanPatten (1993, 1996, 2004), and of the second was the consciousness raising activity advocated by some authors like Fotos & Ellis (1991). The main purpose was to evaluate which of the two interventions is more effective in the short and long term learning of adjective inflection. To that end, the learner`s performance was evaluated through five post-tests and one postponed test, all in written production form, applied after the respective treatments. The results obtained by statistical analysis found that, although both combinations of instruction showed positive learning results, the processing instruction appeared more effective in the short and in the long term learning of Japanese I and NA adjective inflection.

The competence in textual production and the consciousness about this process must reflect the work done in teacher training courses, in order to prepare them not only to be producers of text, but mostly to become good mediators of this activity. From this finding, it was determined the main problem of this thesis: how did the Letras freshman develop the metacognitive vision of the acquisition in relation to the process of textual production? . To invest in this issue, it was organized a project involving students of the Letras Course from a Private University of Rio Grande do Sul, during the year 2007, in the disciplines of Portuguese I and II, in the way of the Holistic Model of Richter (2005). This Model considers the inseparability among conduct, concept and value in the professional practice . Having the Process Writing by White & Arndt (1991) as work philosophy, we chose the individual Chronological Portfólio as an instrument of highlight, resource that allows a longitudinal monitoring of the developments in the writing production. The work was organized in four sequential modules, facilitating a continuous assessment on the action taken, which allowed that the cyclical nature of the action research was observed and fed (Burns, 1999). In each module it was produced a different textual gender, which was rewritten four times. Each version received suggestions from the teacher, always, of a different nature. The first one involved questions about gender and sociopragmatic features; the second one was related to local and semantic aspects of coherence; the third one dealt with issues relating to the linguistic surface covering syntactic and morphological aspects and the fourth one was the final edition. Thus, it was investigated the influence of the noticing and the consciousness-raising in textual production from monitoring and selfmonitoring of the students involved. To compose a proposal of work which promoted a self-management of the process, it was sought to constitute a work considering the Theory of Activity by Leontiev (1981) and Engeström (1999). The research led to the conclusion that the social roles of teacher-tutor and student-taught are determinant for the transformation of the input to intake in the metacognitive process. Approaching acquisition of writing and Holistic Model, it was realized that all the formative content used in practice by the students didn t feed back the acquisition in metacognitive terms, without the official voice of the teacher. Thus, in the process undertaken throughout the project, it was identified a phenomenon which I called mirror effect , that is, all the reflection of the students about acquisition was sedimented as knowledge about from the validation of these findings by the teacher responsible for the conduct of the activities. It was established therefore an intersubjective work (Vygotsky, 1985), but at the end of the year, it was realized just a principle of internalizing of the explored concepts. But the consciousness of the students about framework, mediation and process was significant. This consciousness about the positivity of an appropriate methodology for teaching and learning of textual production facilitates the renewal of the school work with language. As the developed project explored practices of teaching with future teachers as a way of achieving the pedagogical practice in Basic Education, by the renewal of concepts about writing-process, the offer is considered valid as a contribution to Applied Linguistics. / A competência em produção textual e a consciência sobre esse processo deve ser reflexo do trabalho realizado nos cursos de formação de professores, com o intuito de prepará-los não, apenas, para serem produtores de texto, mas principalmente para tornarem-se bons mediadores dessa atividade. A partir dessa constatação, determinou-se o problema principal desta tese: como o calouro de Letras desenvolve a visão metacognitiva da aquisição em relação ao processo de produção textual? . Para investir nessa questão, organizou-se um projeto envolvendo acadêmicos do Curso de Letras de uma Universidade Particular do Rio Grande do Sul, ao longo do ano de 2007, nas disciplinas de Português I e II, nos moldes do Modelo Holístico de Richter (2005). Esse Modelo considera a inseparabilidade entre conduta, conceito e valor no exercício profissional . Tendo o Process Writing de White & Arndt (1991) como filosofia de trabalho, optou-se pelo Portfólio Cronológico individual como instrumento de destaque, recurso que possibilita um acompanhamento longitudinal dos avanços na produção escrita. Os trabalhos foram organizados em quatro módulos sequenciais, facilitando uma avaliação continuada sobre a ação empreendida, o que permitiu que o caráter cíclico da pesquisa-ação fosse observado e realimentado (Burns, 1999). Em cada módulo era produzido um gênero textual diferente, o qual era reescrito quatro vezes. Cada versão recebia sugestões da professora, sempre, de natureza diferente. A primeira envolvia questões sobre o gênero e características sóciopragmáticas; a segunda estava relacionada aos aspectos semânticos locais e de coerência; a terceira tratava de aspectos referentes à superfície linguística, abarcando aspectos sintáticos e morfológicos e a quarta constituía a edição final. Dessa forma, investigou-se a ocorrência do noticing e do consciousness-raising em produção textual a partir do monitoramento e automonitoramento dos acadêmicos envolvidos. Para compor uma proposta de trabalho que promovesse um autogerenciamento do processo, buscou-se constituir um trabalho considerando a Teoria da Atividade de Leontiev (1981) e Engeström (1999). A pesquisa levou à conclusão que os papéis sociais de professortutor e de aluno-tutorado são determinantes para a transformação do input em intake no processo metacognitivo. Aproximando aquisição da escrita e Modelo Holístico, percebeu-se que todo o conteúdo formativo usado, na prática, pelos acadêmicos não realimentava a aquisição em termos metacognitivos sem que fosse oficializado pela voz da professora. Assim, no processo empreendido ao longo de todo o projeto, identificou-se um fenômeno que denominei efeito espelho , isto é, toda a reflexão dos acadêmicos sobre aquisição era sedimentada como conhecimento sobre a partir da validação dessas constatações por parte da professora responsável pela condução das atividades. Estabeleceu-se, assim, um trabalho intersubjetivo (Vygotsky,1985), mas no final do ano, percebeu-se, apenas, um princípio de internalização dos conceitos explorados. Porém a consciência dos alunos sobre enquadramento, mediação e processo foi significativa. Essa consciência sobre as positividades de uma metodologia adequada para o ensino-aprendizagem da produção textual facilita a renovação do trabalho escolar com linguagem. Já que o projeto desenvolvido explorou práticas de ensino com futuros professores, como forma de atingir a prática pedagógica na Educação Básica, pela renovação de conceitos sobre a escrita-processo, considera-se a proposta válida como contribuição para a Linguística Aplicada.

Este presente estudo comparou o efeito de duas combinações de instrução com foco na forma no ensino da flexão de adjetivos I e NA da língua japonesa, em sua forma predicativa, aplicadas em duas turmas de nível básico. Uma combinação foi baseada no composto: instrução para processamento com uso de técnica de saliência textual atividade de produção estruturada, e a outra, na atividade de consciousness raising com uso de técnica de saliência textual atividade de produção estruturada. A primeira combinação teve como principal intervenção pedagógica a instrução para processamento formulada por VanPatten (1993, 1996, 2004), e a segunda, a atividade de consciousness raising defendida por alguns autores como Fotos & Ellis (1991). O objetivo principal foi avaliar qual das duas intervenções é mais eficaz na aprendizagem a curto e a longo prazo das flexões dos adjetivos. Para tanto, o desempenho dos aprendizes foi avaliado por cinco pós-testes e por um teste postergado, todos em formato de produção escrita, aplicados após os respectivos tratamentos. Os resultados obtidos pela análise estatística constatam que, apesar de ambas as combinações apresentarem um efeito positivo, a instrução para processamento é mais eficaz tanto na aprendizagem a curto prazo como na de longo prazo das flexões dos adjetivos I e NA. / This study focused on comparing the effects of two combinations of form-focused instruction on the learning of Japanese I and NA adjective inflection, in their predicative form, applied to two elementary level student groups. One combination was based on the composite: processing instruction with textual input enhancement technique structured output activity, and the other one was formed by consciousness raising activity with textual input enhancement technique structured output activity. The main classroom intervention of the first combination was the processing instruction formulated by VanPatten (1993, 1996, 2004), and of the second was the consciousness raising activity advocated by some authors like Fotos & Ellis (1991). The main purpose was to evaluate which of the two interventions is more effective in the short and long term learning of adjective inflection. To that end, the learner`s performance was evaluated through five post-tests and one postponed test, all in written production form, applied after the respective treatments. The results obtained by statistical analysis found that, although both combinations of instruction showed positive learning results, the processing instruction appeared more effective in the short and in the long term learning of Japanese I and NA adjective inflection.

People have organized around gender equality in modern America for the last century. However, with the advent of new technology, people largely organize in around social movements in online spaces. This thesis explores the ways in which new media expands a popular understanding of the Feminist movement.

In this study, possibility of establishing feminist solidarity, sustained and based on feminist politics in Turkey is examined. Commonality discourse, the notion of sisterhood and identity politics, creating illusionary homogeneity are criticized of being exclusionary and limiting. Contemporary accounts of feminist solidarity are investigated in order to find a way out for establishing solidarity across difference. However, it is seen that these contemporary approaches are far from designating a driving force to stimulate feminists / activists to come together. It is argued that in order to achieve feminist solidarity respecting differences is a must. It is also argued that solidarity has to become a powerful relation among feminists and to do so internalized inequalities and power holding within activism has to be interrogated. Consciousness raising among activists is offered as a means to overcome challenges to activism and barriers to solidarity. Furthermore it is argued that feminism has to become the motto of activism and feminist politics as the basis for establishing feminist solidarity.