Digital Commons Network^™

Beyond Words: An Exploration Of Research And Writing For Indigenous Land Acknowledgements, Oksana Flores

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

This capstone delves into the practical application and importance of land acknowledgments within the frameworks of Critical Indigenous Theory and Narrative Theory. Through the utilization of archival research methods, the project not only offers recommendations for crafting an effective land acknowledgment but also provides the necessary historical foundation for the implementation of such a statement at Kennesaw State University. This effort serves to strengthen the university's commitment to diversity and equity on campus.

Thunderfort, Lever Stewart

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

Thunderfort is a tabletop roleplaying game (TTRPG) that utilizes both synchronous and asynchronous communication in both its rules and its fictitious setting. This project seeks to provide a unique TTRPG experience that is partially or fully digital, played out via text chatting and digital dice rolling. Such a game is also intended to be enjoyed by players without said players needing to worry about game session scheduling conflicts, since a large part of the game is played via digital, asynchronous communication. The full, most up-to-date text can also be accessed at thunderfort.lsflegal.com.

Smoke And Mirrors, Adara London

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

When a human trafficking ring comes to town, a grieving graduate student must choose between investigating on her own to save her sister or leaving the investigation to her impassive cop boyfriend.

Big Screen Heroes With Paper Voices: A Superhero Adaptation Research Essay, Zachary Green

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

Superheroes may have taken over your phone, tablet, and television screens through the endless adaptations that pelt us from upon high mouse-shaped ears, but their rich history goes back much further than that; they have gripped the public imagination since their creation in comic strips published in newspapers almost one-hundred years ago. But, why exactly has their effect on popular culture, and their subsequent adaptations in various forms of media been so pervasive in the last twenty-five years? What makes these stories and comic book characters, and particularly Marvel comic book characters, so interesting to modern audiences? This essay demonstrates …

Universal Background Generator 2.0, Konrad Drapela

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

This project is a backstory generator designed to create randomly rolled information and events that come together to create a short yet detailed background for any character for roleplay games, novels or other such media.

The Exile's War, Stephen Edwards Arnold

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

In Gaelwyn, the village of a thousand stories, Katchan receives a powerful ruby and an ancient technique called writing hidden by his grandmother, Maggaline. Jealous of the power Katchan has, the village Elder seeks to destroy him. After escaping the Elder, Katchan must leave his home and traverse a dangerous and mysterious wasteland that will lead him directly into an ancient conflict that lost a powerful empire to the sands of time.

Ensleyedits: Creating A Style Resource For Professional Writers, Ensley Fraschillo

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

This capstone explores the creation of a resource that helps professional writers keep up with ever-changing style practices and understand the implications of different stylistic and mechanical choices. Examining the history of style guides, analyzing the content of existing style references through the lens of prescriptivism and descriptivism, and assessing the gaps of current online style resources demonstrate how a new online style resource hosted on Instagram, EnsleyEdits, can meet this need for professional writers. Research on current social media, accessibility, and design practices demonstrate how content on the EnsleyEdits account can succeed on Instagram, and the results of …

Wronged Women: A Foray Into The Wronged Woman's Mind, Suzanna Poole

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

This capstone is about the wronged woman and how she is the the hated woman, the lonely woman, or the crazy woman. I have been a wronged woman and know countless women in my life that have been wronged in some sort of way; either by a lover, a friend, family, or even herself. This project was created to put a spotlight on these various women. My research covered various mental illnesses that occured after a woman was wronged and the ways these can affect women. I wrote four short screenplays about various women at different ages in their lives: …

Vinyle Zine: The Execution Of The Pedagogy Of Pro-Blackness, Kandice Fowlkes

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

Vinyle zine, is a Black literary magazine pedagogically driven to increase cultural literacy within the African-American community. In order to do this, this magazine must have the foundation of Pro-Blackness as a driving force towards advancing Black people in the ways this platform can offer its service. Vinyle zine allows Black individuals to practice using writing and any art form as their medium of expression –a tool that has been utilized to extol African American truths and increase cultural knowledge. By encouraging expression in art and provoking cultural knowledge, Vinyle zine will continue to encourage Black artists and writers to …

Georgia, Lesley Brian Bargo

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

The Vietnam War cast a massive shadow, both home and abroad. Relationships, morality, and humanity hang in the balance.

High Impact Practices In First Year Composition Courses, Haley Hamilton

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

This capstone project explores High Impact Practices and how they can interact with First Year Composition Pedagogy through the creation of a Course Design for English 1102. The literature review is primarily an examination of research from the field of composition studies and high impact practices in higher education, as well as several aspects of composition studies such as transfer theory and first year composition pedagogy. The course design details ways to implement high impact practices into English 1102 in the context of specific university requirements. Through this project, I was able to make the connection between the WPA Outcome …

With The Screenwriter's Pen: An Analysis Of The Representation Of Gifted Children In The Family Film, Sarah Williams

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

Family films are something that have been enjoyed for many decades. They often create a fantastic world that will enchant audiences and eventually become beloved stories. A big aspect often seen in these films is a protagonist that possesses some kind of gift. Where does this gift come from? How does it grow? Most importantly, how do the screenwriters who are responsible for bringing these gifted heroes to life go about it?

Using the screenplays of Kubo and the Two Strings, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Encanto, and Coraline, I take a deep dive into the portrayal of …

Unclean And Unforgivable, Cindy Pope

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

Abstract

Unclean and Unforgiveable

Unclean and Unforgiveable is a historical medical drama wherein the protagonist, Victoria Evans, travels to Richmond, Virginia, to become a nurse trainee in 1862. Using archival and bibliographic research, this writer constructed authoritative, realistic, and emotionally charged scenes for readers to experience the brutalities of war and the harsh realities of nursing in the South. Yet for all her laborious duties carried out with diligence and devotion, Victoria’s beloved Virginia is decimated, and her family is destroyed. Her one marketable skill is nursing using proper hygienic and cleansing techniques. This brings her to the attention of …

Toward A More Humane Public Policy: How The Humanities Can, And Should, Inform The Creation And Analysis Of Public Policy, Eric Celler

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

This capstone investigates how the methodologies of the humanities can inform the creation and analysis of public policy. Since the mid-twentieth century, public policy has increasingly turned away from humanistic questions and toward technical questions. The result has been a public policy regime that focuses too much on manipulable variables and not on the humans that the policies are impacting. By applying humanistic methodologies to public policy, we are more likely to appreciate the inarticulable elements of human social organization and therefore devise public policy that is less harmful and more humble.

The Cycle Of Book Publishing Through A Queer Lens, Aly Gilmore

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

This capstone assesses the current landscape of the publishing industry with regard to Queer authors and stories that have been published within the United States. It will start off with a literature review utilizing secondary research upon the current publishing landscape, as well as the rules that guide how writing craft is constructed and taught. Within this section, I also unpack personal experiences from working in a local bookstore as well as integrating some information from interviews from individuals with connections to the publishing industry. It will conclude with an autoethnography, in which I reflect how my own experiences intertwine …

Tiptoeing Through The Tulips At Seventy: A Memoir, Fran Miele

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

This is a memoir about my lifetime search for clarity about my gender identity. My primary goal for the project was to catalog the steps I took in the sometimes-tortured and confusing path I followed over the course of my life, from childhood to late adulthood, striving to understand who and what I am in terms of my identity and how, once it was clarified in my mind, coming to terms with it and, at the ripe old age of seventy, taking the steps necessary to affirm it by way of the male-to-female transition. A secondary, incidental goal was …

Courier Of Souls, Brian Cochran

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

Abriel is a courier in a world plagued by curses cast by spiteful deities, and the only safe haven from curses are the roads themselves, which cause curses to burn. Following in her father’s footsteps, she strives to match his skills as a courier, and respect the legacy of her adoptive father, who saved her from a life of abandonment and rejection.

Reflections, Kiera Baity

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

"Reflections" explores experiences in my life revolving around my absent father's influence on my choices in men, and how the impact of absence and rejection altered my upbringing and family's dynamic as a whole. There are a lot of women out there like me who’ve blocked out the feelings that come with not having their father around, allowing room for the generations after to be affected. I wanted my story to connect with both childhood and adult women, inspiring them to face their own trauma. Ultimately proving how an unhealthy repetitiveness can be broken.

Batter: A Creative Writing Portfolio, Hannah Newman

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

My capstone project, Batter, is a collection of creative writing pieces, consisting of short stories, flash fiction, and two creative nonfiction essays. I decided to do a portfolio because creative writing is simply what I enjoy the most and have been intrigued by since I took my first fiction writing class at Kennesaw State University. Composing stories, imagining how characters could behave believably, their problems and their solutions, all of it combined gives me a sense of creative determination that I have not found in any other area of work or craft. I believe I’ve been rather lucky because working …

Finding Their Chrysanthemum: Linguistic Representation In Children's Literature, Marielena Zajac

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

Children in America today struggle with finding themselves in the books they read due to societal expectations. From an early age, children are dictated on the correct way to speak and write in “American,” which can leave children and their home languages feeling unseen and dismissed. To help further the conversation and promotion of linguistic diversity in American society, this capstone analyzes dialectal representation in children’s books, with a heavy focus on attitudinal linguistic principles rather than prescriptive mechanics. The secondary research explores current literature and resources that discuss literacy acquisition in adolescents, trends in dialects in America, and childhood …

A Wellbeing@Ksu Journey: Mapw Portfolio, Meghan Cooper

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

A process narrative and samples and complete works from my time in MAPW and as a GRA within the health and well-being departments at KSU. The portfolio showcases my journey as a communicator and professional writer and how it has impacted my current career.

Digital Storytelling In Higher Education: An Analysis Of Production Practices, Meagan Lowney

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

With the recent transition into virtual sharing formats due to COVID-19, it is important to explore the best digital storytelling practices to engage with audiences due to the lack of in-person interactions. By reviewing literature focused on storytelling techniques and the science behind developing a connection with an audience, in conjunction with a digital analysis of videos featuring KSU researchers showcased in the biweekly web series hosted by KSU's Office of Research, and interviews with viewers of the videos, my capstone answers (1) What elements of digital storytelling are effective in increasing audience engagement in an online live environment? and …

Student-Perceived Inclusivity In The Fyc Classroom: Embracing Multilingualism, Melinda Grant

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

The purpose of this study was to compare student perspectives on inclusivity in the first-year English composition classroom viewed explicitly through two distinct lenses: 1. a pre-post survey design that measures students’ perceptions of classroom inclusivity and 2. instructor-perceived observations that reflect upon methods of pedagogical delivery within a multimodal framework. The results provide a further understanding of how curriculum is being received in a diverse academic environment utilizing blended instructional modalities. While all students did not embrace purposeful means of translanguaging via code-meshing in classroom formative and summative writing opportunities, 100% of students surveyed indicated experiencing inclusivity in the …

Understanding Community And Engagement In Synchronous Online Writing Instruction, Conner Sutton

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

This capstone consists of an autoethnography based on the author's experiences as a synchronous online writing instructor. Using the current literature on synchronous writing instruction—as well as interviews with fellow instructors—this project explores how we define and measure classroom community and engagement from behind a webcam.

Covid-19'S Impact On Communication Practices In The Animal Welfare Nonprofit Sector, Tiffany M. Davis

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

Historically, writing and communication practices have been vital components in the nonprofit sector. With the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, the writing and communication practices within the nonprofit sector have been forced to adapt and change for organizations to continue disseminating their missions and continuing fundraising. Specifically, animal welfare nonprofit organizations have had to shift their communication practices in the wake of the virus. This capstone aims to answer questions about the value of writing and communication practices, and also answer research questions about the effects of COVID-19 on the animal welfare nonprofit sector. Through secondary and primary research, in …

Remote Working During The Pandemic: Mapw Graduates In The Workforce, Jordan Dollar

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

From early 2020 to 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic forced millions of employers across the globe to abruptly shift to virtual workspaces to both facilitate safe work environments and offset operational costs in a time of economic uncertainty. This sudden change accelerated the already growing trend of remote working in a rapid fashion and, for many, signaled the start of a new era of professional operations. As one could imagine, this also created a myriad of anxiety and stress for those workers unprepared for the change. Existing research suggests that this change was especially impactful for Generation Z and Generation Y …

Video For All: An Argument Towards Standardization Of Video Production Practices And Research, Kelley Bostian

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

Instructional videos, a subset of video pedagogy, are becoming valuable pedagogical tools for instructors within both higher education and professional writing environments. By researching contemporary academic literature and creating video artifacts that put theory into practice, this capstone project answers three important questions: 1) How could video pedagogy shift student attitudes or engagement with course content in digital learning environments? 2) What benefits and limitations of standardizing and researching video pedagogy are valuable for educators interested in creating video to understand, including educators with limited or no video production experience? 3) In what ways could certain production techniques in video …

Life In The Second Youth, Donna Cochran

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

Six years ago, my mother passed away while my brother and I were still attempting to obtain extra benefits she was qualified for but not receiving from The Veterans Administration. I had spent the equivalent of a full-time job in searching the Internet for assistance with these benefits, long-term care facilities, in-home assistance, and hearing aids and cataract surgery. In this capstone, I will be detailing the website and blog I have begun to build to give senior citizens, their families, and caregivers access to professionals in such topics as insurance, real estate, and legal issues. I will also be …

A Pin-Up’S Guide To Traveling Like A Local: A Series, Annedra Utley Herring

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

A creative non-fiction article series that includes experience & travel articles following a Pin-up voice & her solo adventures around the country. The series is written for the Pin-up community & focuses on traveling like a local with authenticity & creativity to hidden gems instead of sticking to regular tourist traps.

The Sojourner, Adefolaju Edun

Master of Arts in Professional Writing Capstones

To me, a sojourner is a person who leaves his or her homeland in search of something only to return after a temporary period of staying in a foreign land. The search for something better led me to the United Kingdom, and shortly after, the USA. Initially, the reason for my travel was to find better opportunities. I have since discovered that my success and progress in life depend on my willingness to harness my greatness. During the process of writing this book, I discovered myself. I left Nigeria in my late teens, and I have been abroad ever since. …