Digital Commons Network^™

'When Would The Platonist Books Have Taught Me That?' St. Augustine’S Dance With Neo-Platonic Reasoning, Zachary O'Connor

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

Editor's note: This paper was selected to receive the 2024 Father Jack McGrath, S.M., Award for Research in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition.

St. Augustine was one of the many monumental thinkers we studied in ASI 110. His eloquent writing, contribution to church doctrine, and conversion story all captured my interest. Following a close reading of Augustine's Confessions and Plotinus' Enneads, I constructed a storyboard to help visualize the nuances in Augustine's argument for what he found within the Platonist books and what he found lacking. I turned to Henry Chadwick's Augustine: A Very Short Introduction to help me contextualize …

The Gift Of The Holy Spirit: The Church’S Journey With The Sacrament Of Confirmation, Maria Graziano

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

Note: This paper was selected to receive the 2024 Father Jack McGrath, S.M., Award for Research in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition.

For this article, I sought to explore the meaning of and use for the sacrament of confirmation in the Catholic Church. To do so, I first began with a philosophical claim about God's grace with the help of Louis-Marie Chauvet. Then, I continued on to conduct a historical investigation of the sacrament, particularly from the early church to the Middle Ages. Then, I carefully read the current rite and order of the sacrament, while also observing two confirmation masses …

Good Things Come To Those Who Train: A Comparison Of Medieval Mystics' Conceptions Of Divine Revelation, Daniel Napoli

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

Editor's note: This paper was selected to receive the 2023 Father Jack McGrath, S.M., Award for Research in the Catholic Intellectual Tradition.

Having written this essay for my ASI 110 class, my writing process was a culmination of my analysis and comparison of two medieval works. In putting these texts in conversation with one another, I formed an argument to address how their contradictions can be reconciled.

On The White Side: An Examination Of Colorism In India And China, Lillian E. Dartt

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

Editors note: This paper received the inaugural John C. and Rose Maria Groppe Award for Excellence in Writing.

I began my research project by selecting colorism as the topic I wanted to study, due to its significant social and ethical impact on affected communities. After beginning to search for scholarly sources, I decided to focus my main studies on India and China, since they are not only two of the most impacted regions but also the most populated nations in the world. My project assignment included a preliminary in-class presentation of initial findings about my topic, followed by the submission …

A 'Real' Lesbian, Annabelle Karch

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

This paper attempts to draw attention to setbacks in the development of lesbian characters in television using the lens of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The fashion and villainization of lesbian characters as well as their misrepresentation regarding bisexuality are all examined in this analysis of the way heterosexual norms affect how lesbianism is portrayed in media. The purpose of this essay is to explain how stereotypes stemming from societal beliefs regarding lesbians feed into and are amplified by representations of lesbians in television.

Deciphering Machiavelli: Irony Vs. Brutality In 'The Prince', David E. Catanzariti

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

Editor's note: This paper was selected for the Barbara Farrelly Award for Best Writing in ASI 100/120.

The first step I took in my writing process was to analyze the prompt and clarify the steps I needed to take to craft an adequate response. Next, I re-read the sections of the text that I my writing would reference and formed my introduction and thesis statement around the argument I would make based on what I discerned. Drafting the body paragraphs was a very iterative process, as I had to re-read the text many more times to understand the way Machiavelli …

The Integration Of Psychological And Christian Truths: An Unexpected Correlation, Ashley Zwolinski

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

Before the process started, I read Dr. Henry Cloud's The Law of Happiness: How Spiritual Wisdom and Modern Science Can Change Your Life. This sparked my interested in the integration of biblical truths and psychological facts. I continued my research through articles in the EBSCO and UDiscover databases. I then combined these ideas with common ideas from the Bible to compare similarities and differences.

An Art Misunderstood, Amelia L. Tortorici

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

In writing this paper, I had to remove myself from my personal perspective of what opera is. As an opera singer, I have an understanding and deep appreciation for what it takes to perform one aria, let alone an entire production. I find the art form gorgeous, which led me to wonder why opera has become so unpopular. I began to delve into why our cultural perception of opera is limited to old men in top hats and monocles through books on the history of opera found in the opera as well as demographic surveys. I interviewed those around me …

Little Red Riding Hood In 'Into The Woods': Facing The Challenges Of Womanhood, Allison Shelly

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

Editor's note: This paper was selected to receive the inaugural John C. and Rose Maria Groppe Award for Excellence in Writing.

My essay discusses how through the manipulation of fairy tale tropes such as predation, damsel in distress, and singing, the 2014 Into the Woods musical presents a feminist and coming of age portrayal of the classic Little Red Riding Hood character. To write this essay, I extensively researched the feminist movement, modern film, and their impact on the fairy tale genre through both works from the university library and from our course readings. Initially, it was difficult to find …

'Into The Woods': Modern Reinvention Or Traditional Retelling?, Emma Tams

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

Editor's note: This paper was selected to receive the Barbara Farrelly Award for Best Writing in ENG 198 or ENG 200.

The purpose of this essay is to critically analyze the 2014 Disney film Into the Woods and examine the ways in which it utilizes the plot and key characteristics of the Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale to reinforce traditional gender roles and maintain the status quo. Into the Woods uses the traditional story line and stereotypical characters of the original written versions of Little Red Riding Hood, while maintaining a similar message about stranger danger. I examined the …

Gender Roles In 'Sleeping Beauty' (1959), Lance W. Carrle

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

I first planned out my argument with evidence from the film so I had a thesis to work with, and then I structured my body paragraphs. I spent most of my time writing and organizing the evidence and research I found to support my argument in the most effective way. When I was content with the structure and ideas of my argument, I worked on my introduction and conclusion. In my introduction, I contextualized my discussion of gender roles in Sleeping Beauty (1959) with the gender roles in America at the time of the film, and with my conclusion, I …

Will The Borders Stay?, Clare Hoffmann

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

Editor's note: This paper was honored with the Barbara Farrelly Award for Best Writing in ENG 100 or ENG 114.

We were told to write a paper that analyzes a sequence (a scene or connected series of related scenes that are edited together and comprise a single, unified event, setting, or story within a film's narrative) or two related sequences from the movie Freedom Writers. We were asked to identify the rhetorical purpose of the sequence(s), examine the rhetorical elements employed (mise-en-scène, cinematography, acting, editing, sound) and explain how these elements worked together to achieve the rhetorical goal—successfully or unsuccessfully. …

The Catholic Church's Teachings On Suicide, Elayna Walloch

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

I did as much research as I could before I ever began to write. Scholarly sources around my topic were more difficult to find then I anticipated as the Catholic Church's teachings about suicide have been changing in recent years. Being such a controversial and changing topic, I wanted to give as much respect and justice to the victims and their loved ones. I took about a week to write the preliminary paper, and another week to edit.

'The Truth Only Dies When True Stories Are Untold': The Story Of Reconstruction In New Orleans, Alexandra Amrhein

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

For my ASI 120 historiography, I chose to research the city of New Orleans during Reconstruction, focusing on how interpretations of this topic have evolved over the past century. I began my project by conducting several weeks of research, gathering credible sources written by historians throughout the years, and writing a topic proposal. Afterwards, I started working on an annotated bibliography; I finalized my choice of sources, read them closely, took detailed notes, and summarized them. This also involved grouping each source into one of three interpretive categories, which were determined based on how each historian frames and interprets Reconstruction’s …

A Divided Front: Abolitionist Women's Suffrage Movement Through The Lens Of Intersectionality, Alexandria M. Ford

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

While studying the Reconstruction era of the United States, I was tasked with writing a historiography paper. I researched the abolitionist women's suffrage movement through the lens of intersectionality. I gathered resources, journal articles, and books to critically explore the ways historians have employed the concept of intersectionality when discussing the abolitionist women's suffrage movement. With this research, I constructed an annotated bibliography of eight sources. I grouped the following sources into three interpretative categories by how each historian chose to utilize intersectionality as a lens to analyze the movement. The annotated bibliography developed into my full historiography paper by …

Historical Interpretations Of The Formation Of Public Education For Freedpeople In Reconstruction South, Daniel C. Napoli

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

I started my historiography paper by gathering and analyzing varied historical interpretations of the formation of public education in the South. These sources ranged over one hundred years from the beginning of the twentieth century to the two-thousands. These sources contradicted each other in many ways due to inaccurate and biased depictions of it from early Reconstruction historians. After analyzing the trends and shifts in historical interpretation on this topic I crafted an argument for which category of interpretation is best. This was based on many factors including historical accuracy, clarity, and level of bias.

The Effectiveness Of The Freedmen’S Bureau In The Post-Civil War Era, Michalene M. Mcquide

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

My work began by reading Eric Foner’s A Short History of Reconstruction. This allowed me to pinpoint a topic of interest for this historiography. Once I chose the Freedmen’s Bureau, I developed a topic proposal and list of potential sources. Upon my professor's feedback, I condensed this list of sources and created an annotated bibliography. This bibliography was the backbone of my essay; it allowed me to identify and organize interpretive categories which formed my argument. As I began to shift my draft into a final version, I weaved a thesis into my topic proposal, which became my introduction. …

The Amendments That Mended America, Julia Redder

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

After reading Eric Foner's A Short History of Reconstruction, I began gathering sources about the Reconstruction amendments: the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth. I collected sources that covered a large span of history and was able to construct my analysis of the Reconstruction amendments and how different interpretations changed throughout time.

The Midnight Incendiary: America's Myth Of Black Violence, Eleanor Yates-Mcewan

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

I went through an extensive researching, writing, and revising process for this essay. I spent most of the Spring 2022 semester researching. I initially investigated the ties between slave patrols and our contemporary police institution, and, after following a winding road of sources and ideas, that topic morphed into a historiography of Southern militia conflict. I read and summarized many sources to find patterns in historical characterizations which I then organized into the interpretive categories I identify in this essay. Once I had the shape of the essay and worked out my argument, I went through many rounds of edits: …

Editor's Note, Margaret M. Strain

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

No abstract provided.

Breaking A Bad Stigma: Breaking Bad And The Need For Dynamic Fatherhood Roles To Overrule Historical Stereotypes, Ella Bellflower

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

Editor's note: This paper is the recipient of the Best-Researched Argument award.

The overarching theme of my English 114 course focused on the depiction of family in popular culture. Thus, the final research project required me to research some aspect of family in American or popular culture, which led to my decision to analyze the 2008 television series Breaking Bad. My initial research question sought to answer how fatherhood was depicted in the show. However, I was unable to find much research on the show in general, leading me to choose a more physical and psychological route. I came …

Maimonides And Julian: A Guide To Love, Alexandra Amrhein

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

For this project, the goal was to write an explanatory analysis of Maimonides’ Guide of the Perplexed, reconstructing his case on divine revelation and intellectual perception. We were asked to then compare Maimonides’ themes to those represented in Julian of Norwich’s Revelations of Divine Love. I began by closely rereading the assigned section of the Guide’s introductory chapter and taking some notes on the main ideas Maimonides presents. Afterwards, I drafted the body of the essay, summarizing these themes and supporting the summary with specific textual evidence. I then reread Julian’s Revelations, brainstormed major similarities and differences between …

The Truth Untold: The Compromised Election Of 1876, Julie Pugh

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

My writing process always begins with a slow start. The first steps of this historiography were spread over a long period of time, with a majority of the essay being written within a couple of weeks. I begin by choosing a topic for my paper which I selected from a list of options collected during the preliminary research period. Once I decided on the Election of 1876 and the Compromise of 1877, I drafted a topic proposal and a list of sixteen potential research sources from online databases and the library. From the potential sources, I narrowed my research to …

School Is Now In Session: African American Education During Reconstruction, Kathryn C. Finfrock

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

Editor's note: This article is the recipient of the issue's award for Excellence in Historiography.

I began writing my ASI 120 historiography paper by selecting the topic of African American education during Reconstruction. I spent several weeks researching how the historiography of African American education during Reconstruction has changed over time and creating an annotated bibliography of my nine sources. While creating my annotated bibliography, I grouped my nine sources into three interpretive categories based on how each author choose to interpret the history of African American education during Reconstruction. Finally, I used my annotated bibliography to create my historiography …

Another Brick In The Wall: A Historiography Of Black Education In The Reconstruction Era, Jane Carney

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

This project involved several intermediate assignments, including a topic proposal and annotated bibliography. I also submitted a draft to my professor for review and attended a peer review session in class.

The Onus Of Absolution: Real Presence, Modern Absence, And How It All Connects To Luther, Ava G. Merriman

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

I began this project by pulling quotes and phrases from my sources (Robert Orsi's History and Presence and Martin Luther's The Freedom of a Christian). After creating summaries of the main points of both works, I started writing my essay. I submitted my rough draft to my professor and then had a conference with her later that same week. After the conference, I made some revisions in accordance with my professor's comments and submitted my final draft.

Reconstruction Out West: The State Of Postwar Texas, Kevin O'Connell

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

Editor's note: This paper is the recipient of the Barbara Farrelly Award for Best Writing of the Issue.

I studied Eric Foner's historiography: A Short History of Reconstruction:1863-1877. I then used my knowledge on the era to focus on the role of politics during Reconstruction in the state of Texas. I gathered sources from Roesch Library and JSTOR that covered many different aspects of Reconstruction Texas and used those sources to build a history of how historians' perspectives on the topic have changed over the last century.

He Came In Like A Wrecking Ball: How Martin Luther Dismantled The Three Walls Of The Romanists, Eleanor Yates-Mcewan

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

Recipient of the Fr. Jack McGrath, S.M., Award for Research in Catholic Intellectual Tradition

The writing process for this project was stressful but incredibly rewarding. I began by reading and annotating the source text, Martin Luther's "The Three Walls of the Romanists," an excerpt from the larger An Open Letter to the Christian Nobility of the German Nation. Then, I wrote out a first draft of the summary section and sketched out a rough idea of the arguments I thought might be convincing to the modern Catholic. After I received initial feedback from my professor, I continued the drafting …

Undocumented: A Hidden Population In Plain Sight, Eunice B. Anomakoh

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

Recipient of the award for Best Personal Argument ($100)

For this paper, I began by examining myself to find a personal experience and then conducting research to contextualize and allow my audience to better understand my experience. For the first part (the narrative section) I did a first draft and then a final draft. For the second portion (the research portion) I completed an annotated bibliography, a rough draft, and a final draft. My professor and I then revised the completed copy together before submitting it.

Racing To Equality: A Critique Of Female Exclusion In Motorsports, Luke Colegrove

Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing

I wrote this article as an assignment for my ENG 198 class. We were originally assigned to establish a research-supported argument on the subject of gender, choosing the direction we wanted to take. As a fan of all types of motorsports, I noticed a lack of competition among males and females on the professional level. There are numerous examples of talented women in the sport, and I believed their voices needed to be heard. This inspired me to develop this piece of writing. After multiple drafts, peer reviews, and personal critiques by my professor, I was able to create an …