diff --git a/actionpack/CHANGELOG b/actionpack/CHANGELOG
index 6a13be1174..0dd82275f0 100644
--- a/actionpack/CHANGELOG
+++ b/actionpack/CHANGELOG
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 *SVN*
 
+* Added javascript_include_tag :defaults shortcut that'll include all the default javascripts included with Action Pack (prototype, effects, controls, dragdrop)
+
 * Cache several controller variables that are expensive to calculate #1229 [skaes@web.de]
 
 * The session class backing CGI::Session::ActiveRecordStore may be replaced with any class that duck-types with a subset of Active Record.  See docs for details #1238 [skaes@web.de]
diff --git a/actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/asset_tag_helper.rb b/actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/asset_tag_helper.rb
index 9970244fb0..cd56592300 100644
--- a/actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/asset_tag_helper.rb
+++ b/actionpack/lib/action_view/helpers/asset_tag_helper.rb
@@ -43,8 +43,15 @@ def javascript_path(source)
       #   javascript_include_tag "common.javascript", "/elsewhere/cools" # =>
       #     <script type="text/javascript" src="/javascripts/common.javascript"></script>
       #     <script type="text/javascript" src="/elsewhere/cools.js"></script>
+      #
+      #   javascript_include_tag :defaults # =>
+      #     <script type="text/javascript" src="/javascripts/prototype.js"></script>
+      #     <script type="text/javascript" src="/javascripts/effects.js"></script>
+      #     <script type="text/javascript" src="/javascripts/controls.js"></script>
+      #     <script type="text/javascript" src="/javascripts/dragdrop.js"></script>      
       def javascript_include_tag(*sources)
         options = sources.last.is_a?(Hash) ? sources.pop.stringify_keys : { }
+        sources = ['prototype', 'effects', 'controls', 'dragdrop'] if sources.first == :defaults
         sources.collect { |source|
           source = javascript_path(source)        
           content_tag("script", "", { "type" => "text/javascript", "src" => source }.merge(options))