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Waging Word Wars: A Discourse Analysis Of The Patterns Of Norse Masculinity Presented Through Mannjafnaor In The Icelandic Sagas, Jonathan Mark Broussard Jan 2010

Waging Word Wars: A Discourse Analysis Of The Patterns Of Norse Masculinity Presented Through Mannjafnaor In The Icelandic Sagas, Jonathan Mark Broussard

LSU Master's Theses

The mannjafnaðr is a verbal dueling competition containing boasts and insults through which Norse men compare their achievements and exploits against those of other men in bids to prove themselves more honorable in the eyes of the Norse community. This thesis examines the structure, content, and themes of the mannjafnaðr presented in the Morkinskinna, Magnussona, Brennu-Njals, and the Orvar-Oddr sagas as manifestations of the Norse conception of masculinity. My analysis reveals that these encounters are highly structured and provide interactants opportunities to evaluate adherence to culturally dictated strictures of honor – their own and their opponents’. Through a complex discourse …

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Inscapes Of Unrequited Belonging, Debangana Banerjee Jan 2010

Inscapes Of Unrequited Belonging, Debangana Banerjee

LSU Master's Theses

This thesis is about my journey through life—memories of the past, experiences of the present and premonitions of the future—and how that journey, through its changing landscapes and human characters, generates images that I call inscapes. My subjects arise from very personal experiences and get fermented in my imagination to project an inner vision. I create deep intimate spaces, transitional moments of conscious and unconscious thoughts using both natural and personal imageries. In this endeavor, dark, solid and earthly colors and robust textures play a big role. I employ printmaking (woodcut), painting (oil on canvas) and poetry to express my …

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An Examination Of Challenging Behaviors In Autistic Disorder Versus Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified: Significant Differences And Gender Effects, Alison M. Kozlowski Jan 2010

An Examination Of Challenging Behaviors In Autistic Disorder Versus Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified: Significant Differences And Gender Effects, Alison M. Kozlowski

LSU Master's Theses

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are well-known for engagement in challenging behaviors. Unfortunately, due to its absence as a criterion for diagnosis in the DSM-IV-TR, little attention has been paid to the endorsement rates of such behaviors. However, a recently developed measure to assist in the diagnosis of infants and toddlers with autism and PDD-NOS – the Baby and Infant Screen for Children with aUtIsm Traits (BISCUIT) – has included a section designated for just this reason. This study used the BISCUIT to assess for significant differences in the endorsement rates of challenging behaviors between infants and toddlers with …

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Mixed-Race Ancestry And Its Impact On The Facial Reconstruction Process, Jermaine Carl Robinson Jan 2010

Mixed-Race Ancestry And Its Impact On The Facial Reconstruction Process, Jermaine Carl Robinson

LSU Master's Theses

Various facial reconstruction techniques are used by forensic artists to assist in the identification of human remains. In establishing the biological profile for completion of a facial reconstruction, often the most difficult yet most important determination to make is that of race and/or ancestry of the decedent. By purposefully creating a facial reconstruction of an unidentified presumed mixed-race female decedent, staying true to the tissue depth information arrived at as a result of this researcher’s tests to determine her race, this author plans to investigate if any biases arise among any potential parties involved in the forensic identification process. This …

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Louisiana's Hope For A Francophone Future: Exploring The Linguistic Phenomena Of Acadiana's French Immersion Schools, Albert Sidney Camp Jan 2010

Louisiana's Hope For A Francophone Future: Exploring The Linguistic Phenomena Of Acadiana's French Immersion Schools, Albert Sidney Camp

LSU Master's Theses

Cajun and Creole French are thought of by scholars and lay-people alike as the two varieties of French spoken in Louisiana. While this may have been true to some extent in the past, the linguistic landscape of Louisiana is constantly evolving. As in other parts of the world, globalization, higher education, and an ever expanding media presence are changing the linguistic reality for Louisiana’s French speaking community. The twentieth century has seen a complete shift in the status of the French language in relation to public schools in Louisiana. In the early twentieth century, many children learned French at home …

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Understanding Teen Pregnancy Amongst Latinas: An Investigation Of The Cultural Values And Societal Factors That Contribute To Adolescent Motherhood, Mary Bateman Krom Jan 2010

Understanding Teen Pregnancy Amongst Latinas: An Investigation Of The Cultural Values And Societal Factors That Contribute To Adolescent Motherhood, Mary Bateman Krom

LSU Master's Theses

This thesis presents an investigation into the various cultural and societal factors that contribute to the Latina teen pregnancy rate. According to the PEW Hispanic Center, Latinas account for more instances of adolescent motherhood than any other ethnic or ethnic demographic in the country. Although much research has been done in the area of teen pregnancy, so far little has been completed with the specified focus on the Latina population. This study therefore offers a unique perspective of the phenomenon in its consideration of various literary and sociological works, by both Latina and non-Latina authors, that underscore the prevalence of …

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A Study Of The Aspectual Complements Of 'Begin' And 'Start', Xinzheng Zhao Jan 2010

A Study Of The Aspectual Complements Of 'Begin' And 'Start', Xinzheng Zhao

LSU Master's Theses

Abstract The main purpose of this thesis is to study the aspectual complements of the aspectualizers begin and start. Aspectualizers are verbs that give aspectual readings to the sentence. I started with a summary of Freed’s (1978) analysis. In this summary, semantic differences among seven aspectualizers that take to V and V-ing complements were explained. The semantic distinction between to V and V-ing was also discussed. Following the summary, a brief research on aspectual complements was conducted. Based on Freed’s analysis, I first examined the difference in meaning and in frequency of occurrence between the to V and the V-ing …

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A Case Study Of Music-Making In A Ghanaian Village: Applications For Elementary Music Teaching And Learning, Sara Rachel Mccall Jan 2010

A Case Study Of Music-Making In A Ghanaian Village: Applications For Elementary Music Teaching And Learning, Sara Rachel Mccall

LSU Master's Theses

This thesis explores music teaching and learning in Ghana, West Africa from a music education standpoint. Fieldwork was conducted at the Dagbe Cultural Institute, in Kopeyia, Ghana, West Africa to investigate methods of teaching and learning, the function of music within the culture, and formulate implementation strategies for elementary classrooms in the United States. Main themes on teaching and learning that emerged within the center focused on the use of strategies like drum syllables and analogy with Western students during classes. The use of learning in context through cultural outings also provided teaching opportunities for students. The overall function of …

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Affective Dysfunction And Affective Interference In Schizotypy, Gina Marie Najolia Jan 2010

Affective Dysfunction And Affective Interference In Schizotypy, Gina Marie Najolia

LSU Master's Theses

Affective dysfunction is a core feature of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Schizophrenic and schizotypal participants report higher levels of unpleasant and lower levels of pleasant trait affect than controls. In response to pleasant stimuli, though, participants often report similar levels of pleasant emotion to controls, but heightened unpleasant emotion, suggesting pleasant experiences may be affected by intrusive unpleasant emotion. An emotional Stroop task was used to examine the relationship between affective interference and trait affect in schizotypy. No significant differences were found between schizotypal participants and controls on e-Stroop performance, but schizotypal participants did self-report more unpleasant trait affect and less …

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Development Of A Compact Optical System For A Forward-Looking Endoscope, Anandi Kalyan Dutta Jan 2010

Development Of A Compact Optical System For A Forward-Looking Endoscope, Anandi Kalyan Dutta

LSU Master's Theses

ABSTRACT Optical Coherence Tomography has been effectively used for endoscopy in many previous studies. In this work, a 2 mm diameter forward-looking endoscope is developed with the help of MEMS technology and Optical Coherence Technology (OCT) to obtain in-vivo cross-sectional images of tissues or body cavities. The design consists of a GRIN lens, optical fiber and MEMS chip that are placed in line to fulfill the aim of achieving a 2 mm diameter probe. A standard assembly process has been established for the probe. An anisotropic etching was performed on the sample chip to create the V-groove for carrying the …

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Biomechanical Evaluation Of Modified Track Shoes, Marlon Alberetos Greensword Jan 2010

Biomechanical Evaluation Of Modified Track Shoes, Marlon Alberetos Greensword

LSU Master's Theses

Track and field runners, especially sprinters and mid-distance runners, face many problems due to walking in spike shoes. Due to the fact that track and field spike shoes are designed specifically for running, the runner’s feet remain in an uncomfortable, flexed position when walking between workouts and races. Problems caused by the dangerous foot-positioning include, but are not limited to, the following: back pain, shin splints, bone spurs, blisters, and overall decreased level of running performance. Over time, runners wearing improper footwear for walking may face chronic injuries such as plantar fasciitis, shin splints, Achilles tendinitis, chondromalacia, and iliotibial band …

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Method And Madness At The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Gretchen Stein Rhodes Jan 2010

Method And Madness At The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Gretchen Stein Rhodes

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The Isabella Stewart Gardner museum in Boston, Massachusetts is unique in history and design. Originating as a privately held collection, the Gardner Museum reflects its namesake’s eccentricities and stands in stark contrast to the backdrop of contemporary Boston. Although much has been written about the individual masterpieces held within the Gardner collection and there are numerous biographies of “Mrs. Jack,” as Gardner was sometimes called, little work has been done to investigate the museum in light of contemporary research in museology and the practices of collecting and display. Understanding collecting and curating as modes of knowledge production, this study seeks …

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Robotics As A Means Of Increasing Student Achievement In Middle School Science, Ingrid Lorelei Jomento-Cruz Jan 2010

Robotics As A Means Of Increasing Student Achievement In Middle School Science, Ingrid Lorelei Jomento-Cruz

LSU Master's Theses

This study reports on the effectiveness of a Robotics engineering curriculum in increasing the middle school students‘ achievement in science and math. Specifically, it aimed to find out if the students taking the robotics class performed significantly higher in science and math than a control group. The research examined and compared the scores in a pre and posttest and the normalized learning gains of students taking robotics in addition to their regular science and math versus those who are taking science and math only. Although this study showed that there is no significant difference in the science achievement scores of …

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Implementation And Analysis Of A Top-K Retrieval System For Strings, Sabrina Chandrasekaran Jan 2010

Implementation And Analysis Of A Top-K Retrieval System For Strings, Sabrina Chandrasekaran

LSU Master's Theses

Given text which is a union of d documents of strings, D = d1, d2,...., dd, the emphasis of this thesis is to provide a practical framework to retrieve the K most relevant documents for a given pattern P, which comes as a query. This cannot be done directly, as going through every occurrence of the query pattern may prove to be expensive if the number of documents that the pattern occurs in is much more than the number of documents (K) that we require. Some advanced query functionality will be required, as compared to listing the documents that the …

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Enhancement Of Single-Lap Joint Strength Under Tension Using Piezoelectric Actuation, Ryan Michael Meyer Jan 2010

Enhancement Of Single-Lap Joint Strength Under Tension Using Piezoelectric Actuation, Ryan Michael Meyer

LSU Master's Theses

Composite adhesively bonded joint structures have seen increased use over conventional riveted due to their ease of manufacturing and quality strength-to-weight ratios. However, adhesively bonded joints lack the rigidity and failure strength of riveted assemblies, due to high stress concentrations which develop in the adhesive layer, which makes them prone to undesirable deformation and failure. Piezoelectric materials feature the ability to produce mechanical strain when subjected to an applied voltage and vice-versa. Therefore, it is proposed to use piezoelectric actuators to transmit counterbalancing forces to increase the rigidity and strength of composite joints. Existing studies have been limited in that …

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The Rise Of The Surgical Age In The Treatment Of Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Case Study Of The Mississippi State Sanatorium, Ashley Baggett Jan 2010

The Rise Of The Surgical Age In The Treatment Of Pulmonary Tuberculosis: A Case Study Of The Mississippi State Sanatorium, Ashley Baggett

LSU Master's Theses

The historiography of tuberculosis, “TB,” covers four periods in the United States. During the Victorian Age, TB was classified as consumption. After Robert Koch’s discovery of the tubercle bacillus in the 1882, the germ theory took precedence. The early 1900s saw the rise of the Sanatorium Age, and finally, the antibiotic revolution of the 1940s and 1950s began the current understanding of the disease. Missing from this periodization is an era in which surgery took precedence as the preferred treatment for tuberculosis. This study corrects the historiography by arguing for a recognizable Surgical Age in the 1930s and 1940s. With …

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Creencias Y Actitudes Populares Hacia La Mezcla Del Español Y El Inglés (Popular Attitudes And Beliefs Towards The Mixing Of Spanish And English), Sarah Ward Sullivan Jan 2010

Creencias Y Actitudes Populares Hacia La Mezcla Del Español Y El Inglés (Popular Attitudes And Beliefs Towards The Mixing Of Spanish And English), Sarah Ward Sullivan

LSU Master's Theses

This thesis presents an investigation of the attitudes upheld by a diverse group of informants towards the word Spanglish and the combination of Spanish and English in speech. A comparison is made of positive and negative attitudes regarding these two concepts along with an analysis of factors that condition these attitudes. The opinions of code mixing examined in this study were obtained through a survey, which was distributed to a group of 183 participants including bilingual speakers of Spanish and English (categorized by their native language) and monolingual English speakers. Through the employ of the statistical program, Goldvarb, five independent …

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Seventh-Grade Curriculum In Probability (A Guide For Teachers), David Nganga Njenga Jan 2010

Seventh-Grade Curriculum In Probability (A Guide For Teachers), David Nganga Njenga

LSU Master's Theses

A review of the literature indicates that teachers try to make connections between experimental and theoretical probabilities while teaching their students, but these connections are often not very clear. This greatly increases misconceptions students have about probability. This thesis presents a treatment of teaching probability that is geared for seventh grade and intended to minimize the misconceptions that both teachers and students may have. We present a concise mathematical exposition of finite probability models as well as collection of examples and activities, so as to help teachers and students organize their thinking and minimize misconceptions. The various examples and activities …

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Bioluminescence, Zachary Pfeifer Jan 2010

Bioluminescence, Zachary Pfeifer

LSU Master's Theses

The ability of certain animals to create natural light is called bioluminescence. This ability is found throughout the world in various biomes but is most common in the deep ocean, in layers of dark water that remain untouched by the sun’s rays. One way Bioluminescence attempts to convey light moving though the depths is by assigning bright passages to instruments that are easily heard over light accompanying textures or are sometimes featured in solos or duets. The soprano saxophone and vibraphone are the two most common examples of this. Bioluminescence is written in the tradition of an orchestral tone poem, …

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Other Tomorrows: Postcoloniality, Science Fiction And India, Suparno Banerjee Jan 2010

Other Tomorrows: Postcoloniality, Science Fiction And India, Suparno Banerjee

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In this dissertation I argue that science fiction as a genre intervenes in the history-oriented discourse of postcolonial Anglophone Indian literature and refocuses attention on the nation’s future—its position in global politics, its shifting religious and social values, its rapid industrialization, the clash between orthodoxy and modernity, and ultimately the dream of a multicultural nation. Anglophone Indian science fiction also indicates India’s movement away from a nation trying to negotiate the stigma of colonialism to a nation emerging as a new world power. Thus, this genre reconstructs the Indian identity not only in the domestic sphere, but also in a …

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The Auxiliary System Of Typically Developing Children Acquiring African American English, Brandi Lynette Newkirk Jan 2010

The Auxiliary System Of Typically Developing Children Acquiring African American English, Brandi Lynette Newkirk

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study’s purpose was to examine the acquisition and use of BE, DO, and modal auxiliaries by African American English (AAE)-speaking children. The impetus for this work was the lack of information regarding the developmental trajectory of these auxiliary types and their use, in AAE relative to what is known about auxiliary acquisition and use in Mainstream American English (MAE). The study used two datasets of language samples: one that contained 48 language samples from 3 ½-year-old children and one that contained 36 longitudinal language samples of five children who were between 18 and 51 months of age. Results from …

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Behaviors And Beliefs Of African American Caregivers As Related To Their Children's Language-Literacy Development, Lekeitha Renee' Morris Jan 2010

Behaviors And Beliefs Of African American Caregivers As Related To Their Children's Language-Literacy Development, Lekeitha Renee' Morris

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This study examined African American (AA) caregivers’ beliefs about their children’s language-literacy development and their book reading behaviors with their children as a function of socioeconomic status (SES). Caregivers’ behaviors were examined before, during, and after a three-day caregiver training program that targeted four behaviors (i.e., tracking print, reference to print, text to life, and interpretations). Participants were 20 caregiver-child dyads classified as Low-SES (LSES) or Middle-SES (MSES) based on the caregivers’ level of education. Children were typically developing girls between the ages of four and five years. At pre-test, the two groups of caregivers differed in some of their …

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Factor That Influence The Critical Thinking Skills Of Public School Teachers In A Parish In Southwest Louisiana, Dale Beglis Schanz Jan 2010

Factor That Influence The Critical Thinking Skills Of Public School Teachers In A Parish In Southwest Louisiana, Dale Beglis Schanz

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to determine the influence of selected personal and professional demographic characteristics on the critical thinking abilities of teachers in a parish in Southwest Louisiana. The study is a correlational design using a descriptive survey technique with questions for the data collection. The examiner looked at attribute independent variables – characteristics that a subject has before a study begins such as gender, age, race, highest level of education completed, and years of teaching experience. Three hundred and twenty-four teachers in twelve public schools (three high schools, four middle schools, and five elementary schools) participated in …

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Resurrecting The Martyrs: The Role Of The Cult Of The Saints, A.D. 370-430, Collin Garbarino Jan 2010

Resurrecting The Martyrs: The Role Of The Cult Of The Saints, A.D. 370-430, Collin Garbarino

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

In the late fourth and early fifth centuries Christians actively sought to reimagine the persecutions of the pre-Constantinian era by keeping the memory of the martyrs alive. The cult of martyrs became one tool for navigating present difficulties and establishing a source of legitimacy. As a valuable connection with the past, the cult of martyrs enabled Christian communities to build identity, and bishops could use it to promote the Christianization of the empire. In spite of the cult's widespread popularity, churches imputed widely disparate meanings to the cult. The cult's function in a particular locale was often shaped by that …

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From The Killing Fields To A Field Of Hope: The Portrait Of A Teacher's Dream, Kathy Ellen Smith Jan 2010

From The Killing Fields To A Field Of Hope: The Portrait Of A Teacher's Dream, Kathy Ellen Smith

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Few qualitative studies have been done in Cambodia, a country held hostage by the murderous Khmer Rouge in the 1970s. Still struggling to recover from these atrocities, Cambodia looks to education to aid in its redevelopment. This ethnographically-informed case study describes the professional literacy life of a female Cambodian primary school teacher in the post Pol Pot era. This study describes this woman’s professional and personal life as she strives to build literacy in a small village. Her work is considered in the context of her colleagues and village. Additionally, the research portrays forces that impact literacy development, ways in …

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Symphony #2 And A Critical Appraisal Of Helmut Lachenmann's Writings And Music, Jeffrey Lipscomb Jan 2010

Symphony #2 And A Critical Appraisal Of Helmut Lachenmann's Writings And Music, Jeffrey Lipscomb

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The first portion of this dissertation is an original composition: Symphony No. 2. This serial work attempts to use both tempo and texture as compositionally viable parameters, along with pitch and rhythm. The piece is divided into four uninterrupted movements. The first movement establishes a pointillist texture as a reference sound for the entire work, which transforms into a rapid toccata section. The two middle movements, an aria and an intermezzo, both use traditional melody-harmony formats. The toccata texture returns at the beginning of the last movement before transforming and ending pointillistically. The second portion of this dissertation is a …

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University Admissions Officers' Perceptions Of Student Performance Within The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, Emily Trabona Tarver Jan 2010

University Admissions Officers' Perceptions Of Student Performance Within The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program, Emily Trabona Tarver

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

This qualitative study sought to provide a general perception of admissions offices of secondary institutions have toward the Diploma Program through a grounded theory approach. The first goal of the study investigated the nature of credit awards for a student’s high school academic performance. Specific attention was paid to the processes institutions use for determining credit awards, policies associated with credit awards, and perceptions related credit awards. The second goal investigated admissions policies, processes, and perceptions associated with credit awards and the DP specifically. Finally, the third goal sought to illustrate the development and/or changes in the perceptions and actions …

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A Conductor's Analysis Of Theodore Morrison's War And Reconciliation, Alissa Ann Mercurio Rowe Jan 2010

A Conductor's Analysis Of Theodore Morrison's War And Reconciliation, Alissa Ann Mercurio Rowe

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Theodore Morrison (b. 1938) was involved with music at a very young age as singer, organist, and choirmaster. As his musical career prospered he grew as a teacher, conductor, and composer. His compositional output includes several large works for chorus, soloists and orchestra, and a substantial body of shorter works. The smaller works encompass an overture for wind ensemble, chamber pieces for woodwinds and strings, a sonata and a set of variations for organ, several works for chorus and organ, an a cappella mass, three song cycles, and numerous choral pieces and songs. This document presents a brief biographical introduction …

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An Overview Of The Choral Music Of Michael Mcglynn With A Conductor's Preparatory Guide To His Celtic Mass, Karen Marrolli Jan 2010

An Overview Of The Choral Music Of Michael Mcglynn With A Conductor's Preparatory Guide To His Celtic Mass, Karen Marrolli

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Michael McGlynn, Irish composer and director of the choral group Anúna, is a fresh and engaging voice in the world of choral music. This paper delves into the sacred and secular works of Michael McGlynn to yield a clearer understanding of the style of this unique composer and the performance issues inherent in McGlynn’s Celtic Mass, an extended work for chorus, strings, harp, and percussion. Correspondence with the composer and examination of a representative cross section of his works revealed a number of influences, from Medieval music to the traditional music of McGlynn’s Irish homeland. McGlynn’s compositions range from chant …

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Analysis Of Teacher Efficacy And Perspectives About Literacy Implementation In Selected Elementary Schools, Joy Rene' Abernathy-Dyer Jan 2010

Analysis Of Teacher Efficacy And Perspectives About Literacy Implementation In Selected Elementary Schools, Joy Rene' Abernathy-Dyer

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Each teacher has a set of beliefs and knowledge as it relates to teaching and learning. In this study, we examine “How do the ways in which teachers perceive mandated literacy implementation impact their classroom instruction?” Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore some of the issues that attempts to change teachers’ instructional practices in the classroom and seeks to reveal some of the issues that influence as well as hinder instructional reform within that setting. This qualitative case study uses observations, interviews and questionnaires to highlight teacher efficacy from four first grade teachers and classrooms through the …

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