Georgia Women Writers: A Narrative Study of Professional Georgia Women Writers to Determine Implications for Educational Change
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Authors
Ragan-Martin, Wilma Maudrene Bronwyn
Issue Date
2006-12
Type
Dissertation
Language
en_US
Keywords
Women Writers in Georgia , Education
Alternative Title
Abstract
By examining the lives of successful women writers from South Georgia, I have
been able to discover patterns in their lives that encouraged these women to become
writers. By using life story interviews and narrative inquiry, I was able to determine
specific implications for educational change. These factors can be examined at school
and at home to encourage both girls and boys to become more confident in their writing
ability. In addition, all three writers gave generous suggestions to help with the teaching
of writing.
Three life story interviews of published women writers from South Georgia were
completed. The transcripts were examined and analyzed in order to discover patterns in
the lives of these women. Narrative inquiry was used to interpret the findings. Narrative
inquiry was used as an extension of the life story interviews because it allowed a closer
inspection of each participants story and gave another lens with which to analyze the
data that was gathered.
From this study, I learned that it is crucial that we encourage our students, both
girls and boys, to write in every subject area, and that we allow them to write creatively
and without the restraint of formulaic writing or the pressure to write perfectly the first
time they attempt to create. Further, we must enable our teachers to become more
comfortable with the teaching of writing, including exploring less traditional approaches
to teaching and evaluating writing. Finally, and most importantly, we must encourage
each and every student. Every one of the published authors interviewed noted the
encouragement of a single teacher as critical to her choice to make writing a profession.
Description
Citation
Publisher
Valdosta State University
License
Copyright protected. Unauthorized reproduction or use beyond the exceptions granted by the Fair Use clause of U.S. Copyright law may violate federal law.