Comparisons
Beliefs, Lifestyles, Land Forms, Legends...
Ideas for Comparisons
Comparing regions or time periods can make for interesting research and
topics for writing.
Perhaps in your community there are people originating from several different
areas. Group members could research information about the area that their
family comes from – then compare information from these areas.
Choose a theme for your comparison: lifestyles, hunting techniques, sewing
techniques, clothing pattern styles, tool making techniques, legends,
geography or land forms, weather, spiritual beliefs, birthing customs,
approaches to raising dogs and running dog teams, just to name a few.
You could also look at a theme over different time periods. For example,
compare hunting techniques in 1940 and now.
Decide what information you want to learn about your theme. Brainstorm a
list of the questions you hope to find the answers to.
Look for recorded interviews, books, magazines, videos and other sources that
can help you answer your questions.
Brainstorm names of people who come from different areas or were around in
earlier times and may be able to help you with your comparison research.
Break into small groups or pairs to divide up the research work. Each group
can work on two or three questions. Or one group could research all the
videos, while another group looks at written resources and another group
interviews Elders.
Plan ways to organize your information. (See Preparing for the Interviews in
The Process of Collecting Oral Histories section.)
Create a comparison chart that people can add information to as they find it:
Dog Raising and Dog Teaming
Question
Back River Area
Repulse Bay Area
What were the qualities of a
good sled dog?
How many dogs normally in
one team?
At what age were dogs ready
to work?
At what age did youth first begin
to drive dogs?
What were the dogs fed?
You can, of course, compare more than two areas or time periods.
Post the comparison chart on the wall where people can easily add new
information. Add new questions as you think of them. Include photographs,
drawings or diagrams if they add to the information.
Once all the information is complete, group members can write short essays
based on the comparison chart.
The facilitator teaches mini-lessons on writing paragraphs, on linking words
used for comparisons, on syllabic keyboarding and other topics as needed.
Work in pairs or small groups to get feedback on your writing and help with
the editing process.