This research is concerned with an investigation into the factors relating to the reading habits of Indian secondary school pupils in the Phoenix area. It is important to acknowledge that among our youth there are both avid and reluctant readers during and after the period of formal education. It is the group of reluctant readers that has to be lured by the magic of reading. There is a remarkable variation in the reading habits of pupils from the same school. A self-designed questionnaire was administered to 544 boys and girls from standards 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. The descriptive data available were then analysed and interpreted. The study revealed that the amount of time spent on reading and the number of books read (which together determined reading habits) by pupils was influenced by such factors as home, school, social environment, socioeconomic status, the influence of other media and the personal aspect / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

Thesis (MA (English))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis explores the themes of representation and identity in four post-9/11 novels: Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner, Mohsin Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist, Frédéric Beigbeder’s Windows on the World and Don DeLillo’s Falling Man. The novels of Hosseini and Hamid represent the experience of two Muslim protagonists from Afghanistan and Pakistan who immigrate to the US. The protagonists offer two contrasting understandings of fundamentalism, using this lens to understand the terrorist figure and American society respectively. The construction of power for both the American society and the terrorist is argued to be located in images which are linked to masculinity: money, sport, militancy, sex and religious devotion. The personal experiences of these protagonists reflect the political circumstances which they encounter, and both characters identify with national identities in ways which relate to their readings of representations of identity and news media. Beigbeder and DeLillo’s novels are discussed using the theme of trauma. The novels portray the experiences of American characters who are confronted with 9/11 and suffer from disorientation and loss. The negotiation of this loss takes place in relation to entanglements with the terrorist figure, who penetrates the physical and psychological spaces of these characters. Images of masculinity are evoked in order to signify this loss of power, where the destabilising of the paternal role is linked to the pervasive sense of vulnerability which the characters experience after the attacks. Memorials and rituals become ways of dealing with disorientation. The two novels unsettle the distinction between terrorist and terrorised in order to negotiate a new American identity after 9/11. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis ondersoek temas van representasie en identiteit in vier post-9/11 romans, naamlik Khaled Hosseini se The Kite Runner, Mohsin Hamid se The Reluctant Fundamentalist, Frédéric Beigbeder se Windows on the World en Don DeLillo se Falling Man. Hosseini en Hamid se romans verbeeld die ervarings van twee Muslim-protagoniste, onderskeidelik afkomstig van Afghanistan en Pakistan wat na die VSA immigreer. Hierdie protagoniste verbeeld twee uiteenlopende beskouïngs van fundamentalisme wat gevolglik aangewend word om die terroris-figuur en die Amerikaanse gemeenskap te verstaan. Die konstruksie van mag vir die Amerikaanse gemeenskap en die terroris-figuur word getoon, is geleë in beelde wat verband hou met manlikheid, naamlik geld, sport, militarisme, seks en toegewydheid. Die persoonlike ervarings van hierdie protagoniste weerspieël die politieke omstandighede waarmee hulle kennis maak. Beide hierdie karakters vereenselwig hulself met nasionale identiteite op grond van hul begrip van representasie van identiteit en die media. Beigbeder en DeLillo se romans word volgens die tema van trauma vergelyk. Hierdie romans beeld die ervarings van Amerikaanse karakters wat met 9/11 gekonfronteer word en met disoriëntasie en verlies worstel, uit. Die oorweging van hierdie verlies vind plaas in verhouding tot ontmoetings met die terroris-figuur wat die fisiese en psigiese ruimtes van hierdie karakters binnedring. Voorstellings van manlikheid word opgeroep om die verlies van mag ten toon te stel. Hierdie verlies van mag word gekenmerk deur die destabilisering van die vaderlike rol tesame met die diepgaande sin van weerloosheid wat die karakters na die aanval ervaar. Gedenktekens en rituele word vervolgens instellings om met die disoriëntasie om te gaan. Uiteindelik problematiseer die twee romans die onderskeid tussen terroris en geterroriseerde om sodoende ’n nuwe Amerikaanse identiteit ná 9/11 tot stand te bring.

This research is concerned with an investigation into the factors relating to the reading habits of Indian secondary school pupils in the Phoenix area. It is important to acknowledge that among our youth there are both avid and reluctant readers during and after the period of formal education. It is the group of reluctant readers that has to be lured by the magic of reading. There is a remarkable variation in the reading habits of pupils from the same school. A self-designed questionnaire was administered to 544 boys and girls from standards 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. The descriptive data available were then analysed and interpreted. The study revealed that the amount of time spent on reading and the number of books read (which together determined reading habits) by pupils was influenced by such factors as home, school, social environment, socioeconomic status, the influence of other media and the personal aspect / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

No description available.

This study investigates the reading habits of three Thai students between their early twenties to early thirties. Although the focus of interest is on their English reading, their reading habits in Thai and English, both fiction and non-fiction, are studied. None of the three subjects regularly reads fiction in Thai or English, and non-fiction books are read almost exclusively for the purpose of study. The research confirms the hypothesis that present reading habits are determined by positive or negative reading experiences in the past. Subjects who enjoyed positive experiences reading fiction or non-fiction in their early years have become regular readers of fiction or non-fiction; the subject who had negative early reading experiences is not a regular reader of any kind of books in either Thai or English. The study does suggest, however, that despite the strong effect of early reading experiences, positive reading experiences in the present can help adults become engaged readers. / English Studies / M.A. (TESOL)

The dissertation deals with the roots of civic apathy in local government, and the main emphasis is to establish the root cause/s of civic apathy. The hypothesis: 'civic apathy is a phenomenon intensified by ignorance and a feeling of powerlessness and frustration on the electorate' is tested in this study. To examine further specific aspects of civic apathy, including establishing the cause/s and effects of apathy, the author conducted a quantitative research in the Northern Metropolitan Area m Johannesburg, using questionnaires and literature study as the research method. The hypothesis advanced in the dissertation has been validated insofar as it has been argued and demonstrated that indeed people can feel powerless and frustrated if they are deliberately being excluded from, or denied the opportunity to participate actively in their local government activities. The main finding is that civic apathy is intensified by ignorance. However, the most important finding is that there ts a causal relationship between powerlessness, frustration and apathy. / Public Administration and Management / M. Admin. (Public Administration)

<p>Syftet med den här uppsatsen är att introducera boktrailern som fenomen och marknadsföringsmetod. Likheter mellan boktrailern, bokomslaget och filmtrailern undersöks för att ge en bild av hur en "typisk" boktrailer ser ut och vilka funktioner den kan tänkas ha. Uppsatsen utforskar även boktrailerns möjligheter att nå ut till olika målgrupper i olika åldrar, samt pekar på svårigheter med att definiera en målgrupp. Ungdomslitteratur och fantasygenren kopplas samman med boktrailern och exempel ges på hur författare och förlag kan skapa relationer till läsare via Internet. Generella riktlinjer ges för vad som bör tänkas på för att tilltala flest potentiella läsare när en boktrailer används eller utformas. Boktrailerns förmåga att nå ut till unga, motvilliga läsare, som slutat läsa till fördel för bildbaserade berättarformer såsom filmer och datorspel, utforskas. Slutsatsen framhåller fördelarna med att marknadsföra böcker med ljud och bild.</p> / <p>The purpose of this paper is to introduce the book trailer as a phenomenon and method of marketing. Similarities between the book trailer, the book cover and the movie trailer are examined to show how a "typical" book trailer looks and what functions it possibly has. The paper also explores the book trailer’s prospects of reaching different audiences in different age groups. It also points to difficulties in defining an audience. Young adult literature and the fantasy genre are linked to the book trailer and examples are given on how authors and publishers can establish relationships with readers through the Internet. General guidelines are given for what should be considered to appeal to as many potential readers as possible when a book trailer is being used or designed. The book trailer's ability to reach young, reluctant readers, who have given up on reading to the benefit of image based storytelling like movies and computer games, are explored. The conclusion highlights the advantages of promoting books with audio and video.</p>

This study investigates the reading habits of three Thai students between their early twenties to early thirties. Although the focus of interest is on their English reading, their reading habits in Thai and English, both fiction and non-fiction, are studied. None of the three subjects regularly reads fiction in Thai or English, and non-fiction books are read almost exclusively for the purpose of study. The research confirms the hypothesis that present reading habits are determined by positive or negative reading experiences in the past. Subjects who enjoyed positive experiences reading fiction or non-fiction in their early years have become regular readers of fiction or non-fiction; the subject who had negative early reading experiences is not a regular reader of any kind of books in either Thai or English. The study does suggest, however, that despite the strong effect of early reading experiences, positive reading experiences in the present can help adults become engaged readers. / English Studies / M.A. (TESOL)

The dissertation deals with the roots of civic apathy in local government, and the main emphasis is to establish the root cause/s of civic apathy. The hypothesis: 'civic apathy is a phenomenon intensified by ignorance and a feeling of powerlessness and frustration on the electorate' is tested in this study. To examine further specific aspects of civic apathy, including establishing the cause/s and effects of apathy, the author conducted a quantitative research in the Northern Metropolitan Area m Johannesburg, using questionnaires and literature study as the research method. The hypothesis advanced in the dissertation has been validated insofar as it has been argued and demonstrated that indeed people can feel powerless and frustrated if they are deliberately being excluded from, or denied the opportunity to participate actively in their local government activities. The main finding is that civic apathy is intensified by ignorance. However, the most important finding is that there ts a causal relationship between powerlessness, frustration and apathy. / Public Administration and Management / M. Admin. (Public Administration)

Syftet med den här uppsatsen är att introducera boktrailern som fenomen och marknadsföringsmetod. Likheter mellan boktrailern, bokomslaget och filmtrailern undersöks för att ge en bild av hur en "typisk" boktrailer ser ut och vilka funktioner den kan tänkas ha. Uppsatsen utforskar även boktrailerns möjligheter att nå ut till olika målgrupper i olika åldrar, samt pekar på svårigheter med att definiera en målgrupp. Ungdomslitteratur och fantasygenren kopplas samman med boktrailern och exempel ges på hur författare och förlag kan skapa relationer till läsare via Internet. Generella riktlinjer ges för vad som bör tänkas på för att tilltala flest potentiella läsare när en boktrailer används eller utformas. Boktrailerns förmåga att nå ut till unga, motvilliga läsare, som slutat läsa till fördel för bildbaserade berättarformer såsom filmer och datorspel, utforskas. Slutsatsen framhåller fördelarna med att marknadsföra böcker med ljud och bild. / The purpose of this paper is to introduce the book trailer as a phenomenon and method of marketing. Similarities between the book trailer, the book cover and the movie trailer are examined to show how a "typical" book trailer looks and what functions it possibly has. The paper also explores the book trailer’s prospects of reaching different audiences in different age groups. It also points to difficulties in defining an audience. Young adult literature and the fantasy genre are linked to the book trailer and examples are given on how authors and publishers can establish relationships with readers through the Internet. General guidelines are given for what should be considered to appeal to as many potential readers as possible when a book trailer is being used or designed. The book trailer's ability to reach young, reluctant readers, who have given up on reading to the benefit of image based storytelling like movies and computer games, are explored. The conclusion highlights the advantages of promoting books with audio and video.