This research presents a systematic and iterative procedure, as well as theoretical study, on expository sermon construction. The basic approach to sermon design involves the treatment of this subject matter as a design problem, utilizing advanced methodology in engineering design. This includes the modeling technique, the flow-chart method, and the optimization theory. In addition, we use heuristics as the search engine for seeking intelligent and efficient optimum design solutions. The heuristics can best be compared to the "artificial intelligence" or the "wisdom bank," involving six sources of wisdom; these include: talents, gifts, creativity, knowledge, experience and spiritual insights. The results represented in this thesis are believed to have demonstrated original findings in the following areas. First, the subject matter is found to be of a design nature, sharing the common characteristics of a general class of the design discipline, namely, having a 3-stage iterative procedure of the ABA' model. Secondly, a mathematical as well as physical model of the sermon design problem is developed in this study, using both homiletic and hermeneutic principles. The human body is used as the physical model, making it possible for simple visualization of the sermon structure and for performance evaluation. A mathematical model is found to be the "Heuristic Combinatorial Optimization Problem" and consists of eight design variables. Although it is not yet possible to develop a computer-aided protocol to seek solutions, an alternative approach called the "Web-Chart Method" can potentially be adaptable to an interactive computer system in the future. It serves as a two-dimensional "design chart" on paper, in which iterative procedures can be performed manually. The advantage is that the designer can direct his or her heuristic search for optimum solutions with the help of a number of design tools, including the "Insight-Recording Sheet" and the "Analogical Analysis Chart." With these tools, the designer has, at his or her disposal, the ability to search for solutions in sermon design, while still maintaining a global view with all the design variables controlled for. In this research, the principles of combinatorial heuristics applicable to the field of optimum design of expository sermons have been described. They are based on heuristic combinatorial optimization methods in the engineering design field with refinements geared to the homiletic as well as hermeneutic nature of the problem. The approaches represented here would allow a designer to utilize resources that are not otherwise available and/or are not easily manageable. With these research results, one would be able to design sermons innovatively and optimally in a systematic and heuristic-guided manner. Further extension of this work would lead to a new field of research and development in the computer-aided design of expository sermons. Key words: preaching; homiletics; expository preaching; design for preaching; sermon construction; computer-aided sermon design; sermon design optimization; heuristic sermon design; heuristic sermon optimization; heuristic combinatorial optimization. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / D. Th.(Practical Theology)

This qualitative two-case study draws from the intersection of three theoretical perspectives: sociocultural theory, transactional theory, and complex systems theory. Guided by two research questions, this qualitative study explored the conditions two seventh grade English language arts teachers set for teaching expository writing and their implications. Deductive coding based on seven a priori patterns of powerful writing instruction (empathy, inquiry, dialogue, authenticity, apprenticeship, re-visioning, and deep content learning) revealed six conditions for teaching expository writing. Inductive pattern analysis of these conditions revealed three emergent themes: reinforcing structures, mediating transactions, and balancing tensions. These findings suggest that teaching expository writing is a complex system filled with dialectical relationships. As interdependent pairs, these relationships encompass the entire system of expository writing instruction, including the structural and transactional aspects of teaching and learning to write. The overlapping conditions and themes demonstrate that expository writing appears ambiguous at times; however, routine, yet responsive instruction, framed by apprenticeship and a balance of reading and writing activities designed to inspire self-discovery are fundamental to the process of teaching expository writing. The final chapter includes instructional implications and a discussion about the significance of setting conditions for generative literacy learning. Recommendations for future research include writing research based on complexity theory, connections between expository writing and empathy, and critical thinking relative to critical action.

Des avantages et désavantages cognitifs existeraient chez l’enfant bilingue par rapport à son homologue unilingue, dû à l’activation constante des deux langues chez le bilingue et à son traitement langagier plus complexe. Cette surcharge de traitement affecterait d’ailleurs l’accès lexical des bilingues, qui auraient davantage de « mots sur le bout de la langue ». Puisque le discours pourrait être une mesure d’évaluation moins biaisée que les tests de vocabulaire normés et qui permettrait de saisir les compétences fondamentales lexicales des enfants, le Test of Word Finding in Discourse (TWFD ; German, 1991) a été utilisé afin d’évaluer l’incidence des manifestations des difficultés d’accès lexical (DAL ; répétition, révision, mot vide, commentaire métalinguistique ou métacognitif, substitution, pause ou interjection) dans trois situations discursives (2 narratives, 1 explicative) de 30 enfants québécois entre 7;1 et 10;8 ans (15 unilingues francophones et 15 bilingues simultanés français–anglais, dominants en français. L’alternance codique (code-switching), pertinente par la présence de la population bilingue, a aussi été étudiée. Aucune différence n’a été obtenue entre les enfants unilingues et bilingues pour l’incidence des manifestations des DAL. Davantage de mots vides et de révisions ont par ailleurs été obtenus dans le discours explicatif alors que le taux de pauses était plus élevé dans le discours narratif et ce, pour tous les enfants. L’évaluation de la productivité de langage a montré une différence entre les enfants bilingues et unilingues, où ces derniers ont obtenus des moyennes supérieures pour le nombre d’énoncés total, le nombre de mots total et le nombre de mots différents. Aussi, la longueur moyenne de l’énoncé était en moyenne plus longue, pour tous les enfants, dans le discours explicatif que dans la narration. Enfin, les manifestations du MBL en discours seraient une mesure sensible d’évaluation des enfants typiques bilingues, puisque leurs résultats de production ne diffèrent pas de ceux des unilingues typiques, ce qui pourrait éviter de les surdiagnostiquer avec un trouble de langage. / Cognitive advantages and disadvantages seem to exist in the bilingual child compared to his unilingual counterpart, due to the constant activation of the two languages in the bilingual and to his subsequent more complex language processing. This processing overload seems to affect the lexical access of bilinguals, who would have more words on the “tip of their tongue". Since discourse could be a less biased assessment measure than standardized vocabulary tests and would capture children's basic lexical skills, the Test of Word Finding in Discourse (TWFD ; German, 1991) was used to assess the presence of word-finding difficulties (WFD ; repetition, revision, empty word, metalinguistic or metacognitive comment, substitution, pause or interjection) in three discourse situations (2 narrative, 1 expository) of 30 Quebec children between 7;1 and 10;8 years old (15 unilingual francophones and 15 French-English bilinguals (French dominant)). Code-switching, relevant to the presence of the bilingual population, was also studied. No difference was found between monolingual and bilingual children in the WFD measure for the incidence of WFD. More empty words and revisions were obtained in the expository speech for all children, while the rate of pauses was higher in the narrative speech. The assessment of language productivity showed a difference between bilingual and monolingual children, where the latter obtained higher averages for the total number of utterances, the total number of words and the number of different words. Also, the mean length of utterances was longer in the expository discourse than in the narrative, regardless of languages spoken by the children. Finally, WFD manifestations in discourse could be a sensitive measure of assessment for typical bilingual children, since their production scores did not differ from those of typical monolinguals. This could prevent overidentification of language disorders in this population.

No description available.

In this dissertation, I investigate the cognitive processes integral to intertextual readings by referring to the cognitive linguistics framework known as conceptual blending. I refer to different genres of intertextual texts and then explain these intertexts in terms of cognitive principles and processes, such as conceptual blending networks. By applying the framework of conceptual blending to intertexts within different genres, I suggest that the underlying cognitive processes are universal for the interpretation of any type of intertextual text. My findings indicate that conceptual blending underpins intertextuality which is cognitive, creative and dynamic in nature. This means that the meaning we construct from intertexts is dependent on the context in which they appear and cannot be studied in isolation. Investigating intertextual texts from a cognitive linguistics perspective reveals new inferences (such as the influence of implicit knowledge as a type of intertext) and the creativity involved in the meaning-making process. / Linguistics / M.A. (Linguistics)

This study explores Cummins' interdependence hypothesis in the South African context. The design is experimental, involving Zulu primary language writing instruction to explore whether skills taught in Zulu composition classes transfer into English expository writing. The intervention and control groups were drawn from two ex-Model C high schools and the focus was on measuring use of coherence and cohesion in English essays. Quantitative findings showed, although the intervention group's writing skills did not improve significantly, they did not decline. By contrast, the control group's writing skills declined significantly. A more qualitative investigation of the corpus supports the statistical findings. However, because of the limitations of this study, more research is required into Cummins' hypothesis, bilingual programmes and teaching academic writing skills in African languages. It is hoped that this research design will benefit future researchers investigate the current debate about the efficacy of bilingual and multilingual approaches to education. / Linguistics / M. A. (Applied Linguistics)

Cette recherche tente de déterminer si, dans le cadre d’un cours de physique de cinquième secondaire, l’utilisation d’un laboratoire par enquête guidée (comme complément d’enseignement basé sur une approche conceptuelle) permet aux élèves de mieux comprendre des notions de cinématique, que le laboratoire traditionnel. Elle s’inscrit dans une série d’études, réalisées au collégial ou à l’université, qui portent sur des approches d’enseignement exploitant le laboratoire comme moyen de transmission des concepts mécaniques en physique (McDermott, 1996; Beichner, 1994). Le laboratoire par enquête est associé à une approche conceptuelle axée sur le raisonnement qualitatif alors que celui qui est traditionnel est associé à une approche traditionnelle de l’enseignement de la physique. Le test TUG-K, «Test of Understanding Graphs in Kinematics » (Beichner, 1994), ainsi que des entrevues individuelles ont été utilisés afin d’évaluer la compréhension des concepts de cinématique. Il semble d’abord que le laboratoire par enquête guidé soit efficace pour enseigner la plupart des notions de cinématique. De plus, en comparant deux groupes d’une trentaine d’élèves de 5e secondaire ayant suivi deux types de laboratoires différents, l’étude a permis d’entrevoir une piste concernant la compréhension du concept d’accélération. Les résultats suggèrent qu’un laboratoire associé à une approche conceptuelle permettrait aux étudiants, à long terme, de mieux s’approprier les notions d’accélération qu’un laboratoire traditionnel. / The goal of this study is to determine whether the use of a guided inquiry laboratory (as a teaching complement based on a conceptual approach) will allow secondary five students to better understand kinematics notions than by the use of an expository laboratory. It comes within a series of college and university studies about teaching approaches using laboratories to transmit physics’ concepts in mechanics (McDermott, 1996; Beichner, 1994). The guided inquiry laboratory approach is associated to a conceptual approach based on qualitative reasoning, whereas the expository laboratory is associated to traditional approach in teaching physics. The Test of Understanding Graphs in Kinematics (TUG-K) (Beichner, 1994) and individual interviews were used to evaluate understanding of kinematics concepts. First of all, the study shows that a guided inquiry approach is an effective method to teach most of kinematics notions. Comparing the results from two groups of 38 students, the study results indicate that a conceptual approach laboratory is better than an expository laboratory for students’ long-term understanding of acceleration notions.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T18:22:24Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Leticia Reina Goncalves.pdf: 1189558 bytes, checksum: 49f4be0d2c3b4b5fdb386675ff878be1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-10-10 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / This dissertation aims to develop a collaborative-critical work with a teacher of Science in order to understand and to transform the work with production of written summaries of expository texts which were read by the students. Specifically, this research aims to understand critically the meanings brought by the participants and how they share new meanings on the summary of expository texts as a tool for teaching-learning in Science classes. The research is organized through two socialhistorical activities (Reflexive Session and Class) that are related, in part, by the object summary production and the participants researcher and teacher , that enable the learning concepts to be understood, questioned and shared, like a creative chain (Liberali, 2011) and that contextualize the critical formation for the research participants. It is supported by Social-Historical-Cultural Activity Theory (TASHC), which conceives the man's work activity as a way for transforming society and the man himself. It s also supported by Bakhtin/Volochinov s discussions about the ways the subject is constituted as a social being, inserted in a particular context of communication and implicated in oral and written productions, in these specific situations. The discussions through TASCH provide an understanding of contexts of teacher formation in which the language enables the construction of ZPDs (Zones of Proximal Development) for the participants understanding and sharing of meanings. The contributions given by Dolz & Schneuwly (2004) will assist in understanding language organization in social practices with the genre summary , as a tool of teaching-learning in reading and writing texts. The Collaborative Critical Research, as discussed by Magalhães (2007; 2009; 2010) e Magalhães & Oliveira (2011) supports the methodological choices in close relationship within the theoretical base and the research contents. The analyzed data were produced during Reflexive Sessions with a teacher of Natural Science and through observing some of her classes. The results show the complexity of the collaborative-critical work and the transformation in some concepts on written production of summaries as an instrument of teaching-learning Science / Esta dissertação tem como objetivo geral desenvolver um trabalho colaborativo-crítico com uma professora de Ciências para compreensão e transformação do trabalho com produção de resumos de textos expositivos lidos pelos alunos. Mais especificamente, é objetivo desta pesquisa compreender criticamente os sentidos das participantes e o compartilhamento de significados sobre resumo de textos expositivos como instrumento de ensino-aprendizagem em aulas de Ciências. A pesquisa está organizada por meio de duas Atividades sócio-histórico-culturais (Sessão Reflexiva e Aula) relacionadas, parcialmente, pelo objeto produção de resumo , e pelos participantes pesquisadora e professora , o que possibilita que os conceitos trabalhados sejam compreendidos, questionados e compartilhados, como uma cadeia criativa (Liberali, 2011) e contextualizem a formação crítica das participantes da pesquisa. Está apoiada na Teoria da Atividade Sócio-Histórico-Cultural, que concebe a atividade de trabalho do homem como transformadora da sociedade e do próprio homem. E ainda, nas discussões de Bakhtin/Volochinov (1929) sobre os modos como o sujeito se constitui como um ser social, inserido em um contexto particular de comunicação e implicado em produções orais e escritas, nessas situações específicas. As discussões da TASCH proporcionam a compreensão de contextos de formação em que a linguagem possibilita a construção de ZDPs para a compreensão dos sentidos das participantes e do compartilhamento de significados. As contribuições de Schneuwly & Dolz (2004) auxiliarão na compreensão das organizações da linguagem nas práticas sociais com o gênero resumo, como instrumento de ensino-aprendizagem na leitura e escrita de textos. A Pesquisa Crítica de Colaboração, como discutida por Magalhães (2007; 2009; 2010) e Magalhães & Oliveira (2011) embasa as escolhas metodológicas em estreita relação com a teoria de base e o conteúdo da pesquisa. Os dados analisados foram produzidos em Sessões Reflexivas com a professora de Ciências Naturais e em observações da sala de aula. Os resultados apontam para a complexidade do trabalho colaborativo-crítico e para a transformação de alguns conceitos sobre a produção escrita de resumos como instrumento de ensino-aprendizagem em Ciências

L'objectiu general de la tesi va ser analitzar les relacions entre el nivell de coneixements previs del tema (alt i baix), els processos d'autoregulació (planificació, monitoratge i ús d'estratègies) i els nivells de comprensió de múltiples textos expositius (rendiment en una tasca inferencial, comprensió superficial i transferència de coneixements). 40 estudiants de la Llicenciatura en Ciències de l'Educació amb especialitat en Químic-Biològiques van participar en la investigació. L'obtenció de dades va incloure el registre de protocols de pensament en veu alta, així com diferents mesures de comprensió.En primer lloc, els resultats de l'estudi mostren que no existeix una correlació significativa entre el nivell de coneixement previ i els diferents nivells de comprensió. No obstant això, l'anàlisi del grandària de l'efecte assenyala una tendència per part dels estudiants de baix coneixement previ a obtenir un millor rendiment en la tasca inferencial. Per la seva banda els estudiants amb alt coneixement previ només van rendir bé en la mesura de comprensió superficial. En segon lloc l'anàlisi de la grandària de l'efecte indica que el nivell alt de coneixement previ té un impacte rellevant en un major ús d'estratègies d'autoregulació. En tercer lloc es va trobar una relació positiva entre els processos de planificació i monitoratge per al grup d'estudiants de baix coneixement previ, mentre que en el cas dels estudiants d'alt coneixement no es van trobar relacions significatives. En quart lloc, els resultats indiquen una relació negativa entre el procés de planificació i el rendiment en la tasca inferencial per al grup de baixos coneixements, mentre que per als estudiants d'alts coneixements es va trobar una relació significativa entre els processos de planificació i el rendiment en la tasca inferencial. Finalment, les anàlisis de regressió mostren que ni el nivell de coneixement previ ni els processos d'autoregulació prediuen la variància en els nivells de comprensió. Aquests resultats són discutits en termes de la teoria i investigació de la comprensió tant d'un únic i múltiples textos, així com de les teories d'autoregulació de l'aprenentatge. / El objetivo general de la tesis fue analizar las relaciones entre el nivel de conocimientos previos del tema (alto y bajo), los procesos de autorregulación (planeación, monitoreo y uso de estrategias) y los niveles de comprensión de múltiples textos expositivos (rendimiento en una tarea inferencial, comprensión superficial y transferencia de conocimientos). 40 estudiantes de la Licenciatura en Ciencias de la Educación con especialidad en Químico-Biológicas participaron en la investigación. La obtención de datos incluyó el registro de protocolos de pensamiento en voz alta, así como diferentes medidas de comprensión.En primer lugar, los resultados del estudio muestran que no existe una correlación significativa entre el nivel de conocimiento previo y los diferentes niveles de comprensión. Sin embargo, el análisis del tamaño del efecto señala una tendencia por parte de los estudiantes de bajo conocimiento previo a obtener un mejor rendimiento en la tarea inferencial. Por su parte los estudiantes con alto conocimiento previo solamente rindieron bien en la medida de comprensión superficial. En segundo lugar el análisis del tamaño del efecto indica que el nivel alto de conocimiento previo tiene un impacto relevante en un mayor uso de estrategias de autorregulación. En tercer lugar se encontró una relación positiva entre los procesos de planeación y monitoreo para el grupo de estudiantes de bajo conocimiento previo, mientras que en el caso de los estudiantes de alto conocimiento no se encontraron relaciones significativas. En cuarto lugar, los resultados indican una relación negativa entre el proceso de planeación y el rendimiento en la tarea inferencial para el grupo de bajos conocimientos, mientras que para los estudiantes de altos conocimientos se encontró una relación significativa entre los procesos de planeación y el rendimiento en la tarea inferencial. Finalmente, los análisis de regresión muestran que ni el nivel de conocimiento previo ni los procesos de autorregulación predicen la varianza en los niveles de comprensión. Estos resultados son discutidos en términos de la teoría e investigación de la comprensión tanto de un único y múltiples textos, así como de las teorías de autorregulación del aprendizaje. / The overall objective of the dissertation was to analyze the relationship between the level of background knowledge (high and low), self-regulatory processes (planning, monitoring and use of strategies) and multiple levels of understanding expository texts (performance in a inferential task, surface understanding and knowledge transfer). 40 students from the Bachelor of Science in Education with specialization in Chemical-Biological participated in the investigation. Data collection included recording think-aloud protocols, and various measures of comprehension.First, the results show that there is no significant correlation between the level of background knowledge and different levels of comprehension. However, the effect size analysis indicates a tendency for students with low prior knowledge to better performance on the inferential task. For their part, students with high prior knowledge only performed well in the superficial understanding measure. Secondly, the effect size analysis indicates that the high level of prior knowledge has a significant impact on the greater use of self-regulation strategies. Third, we found a positive relationship between planning and monitoring processes for the group of students with low prior knowledge, whereas in the case of students with high knowledge there were no significant relationships. Fourth, the results indicate a negative relationship between the process of planning and inferential task performance for the low knowledge group, while for higher knowledge students found a significant relationship between planning processes and performance the inferential task. Finally, regression analysis showed that neither the level of prior knowledge nor self-regulatory processes predict the variance in levels of comprehension. These results are discussed in terms of theory and research on both single and multiple texts comprehension and theories of self-regulated learning.

Cette recherche tente de déterminer si, dans le cadre d’un cours de physique de cinquième secondaire, l’utilisation d’un laboratoire par enquête guidée (comme complément d’enseignement basé sur une approche conceptuelle) permet aux élèves de mieux comprendre des notions de cinématique, que le laboratoire traditionnel. Elle s’inscrit dans une série d’études, réalisées au collégial ou à l’université, qui portent sur des approches d’enseignement exploitant le laboratoire comme moyen de transmission des concepts mécaniques en physique (McDermott, 1996; Beichner, 1994). Le laboratoire par enquête est associé à une approche conceptuelle axée sur le raisonnement qualitatif alors que celui qui est traditionnel est associé à une approche traditionnelle de l’enseignement de la physique. Le test TUG-K, «Test of Understanding Graphs in Kinematics » (Beichner, 1994), ainsi que des entrevues individuelles ont été utilisés afin d’évaluer la compréhension des concepts de cinématique. Il semble d’abord que le laboratoire par enquête guidé soit efficace pour enseigner la plupart des notions de cinématique. De plus, en comparant deux groupes d’une trentaine d’élèves de 5e secondaire ayant suivi deux types de laboratoires différents, l’étude a permis d’entrevoir une piste concernant la compréhension du concept d’accélération. Les résultats suggèrent qu’un laboratoire associé à une approche conceptuelle permettrait aux étudiants, à long terme, de mieux s’approprier les notions d’accélération qu’un laboratoire traditionnel. / The goal of this study is to determine whether the use of a guided inquiry laboratory (as a teaching complement based on a conceptual approach) will allow secondary five students to better understand kinematics notions than by the use of an expository laboratory. It comes within a series of college and university studies about teaching approaches using laboratories to transmit physics’ concepts in mechanics (McDermott, 1996; Beichner, 1994). The guided inquiry laboratory approach is associated to a conceptual approach based on qualitative reasoning, whereas the expository laboratory is associated to traditional approach in teaching physics. The Test of Understanding Graphs in Kinematics (TUG-K) (Beichner, 1994) and individual interviews were used to evaluate understanding of kinematics concepts. First of all, the study shows that a guided inquiry approach is an effective method to teach most of kinematics notions. Comparing the results from two groups of 38 students, the study results indicate that a conceptual approach laboratory is better than an expository laboratory for students’ long-term understanding of acceleration notions.