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Edgar In Wonderland: Elements Of Nonsense In Lewis Carroll And Edgar Allan Poe, Martha Taussig

Masters Theses

The names of Lewis Carroll and Edgar Allan Poe would seldom appear together as literary "kindred spirits." While Carroll's imaginative tales have delighted generations of children and continue to provide vivid bedtime story memories, Poe's tales produce equally vivid nightmares. A comparison of the two writers' works, however, leads to the startling realization that despite their apparent differences, Carroll and Poe used the same tools and techniques to explore the same epistemological and existential questions. Like artists dipping into the same colors and simultaneously painting the same psychic landscape, they created eerily similar literary canvasses.

Carroll has long been recognized …

A Woman Alone And Writing: Anti-Ideology And Artistic Irony In Writings Of Mary Shelley, Delores Archaimbault

Masters Theses

This study focuses upon the letters, journals and selected fiction of Mary Shelley and reveals that Shelley engages in the processes of anti-ideology and artistic irony to help her explore gender identity. To show her consistent use of these processes, I juxtapose excerpts from her letters and journals with excerpts from her fiction. The fiction selections are narrowed to three: Frankenstein, Mathilda and The Last Man. In addition, I examine her writing and her use of anti-ideology and artistic irony relative to the influences of her significant others: her mother Mary Wollstonecraft, her father William Godwin and her …

Transforming A Legend: Significance Of The Wandering Jew In Shelley's Work, Matthew D. Landrus

Masters Theses

Although Percy Bysshe Shelley has been recognized for his use of the Wandering Jew, critics have failed to produce a definitive work examining how this biblical legend figures into an understanding of the poet's changing world views. Since a comprehensive analysis was lacking, I studied Shelley's treatment of the Wandering Jew in each work that included the character to determine whether or not a relationship existed between Shelley's management of the figure and the poet's world beliefs. This thesis records the results of that study.

In his earliest works involving the Wandering Jew--those written between 1810-1812--Shelley's treatment of the Wandering …

A Study Of Home Influences On Young Children's Early Literacy, Christy Buehnerkemper-Elder

Masters Theses

Recent research has shown that the degree of children's exposure to and knowledge about reading when they first enter school is highly predictive of future reading achievement. Researchers investigating home influences on literacy have concluded that certain home experiences prior to first-grade affect performance and general abilities in early elementary school. One component of the literacy-rich home environment is that of a parent reading to children. This has been considered by many as a critical component of a home environment which fosters reading skills. Being read to as a preschooler has been shown to be associated with reading achievement well …

Physiological Responses Among Power Air Ball, Spri Tube, And Arm Movement During Step Aerobics, Lisa Dallas

Masters Theses

This study compared caloric expenditure between three step aerobic dance routines (STEP) using the same arm movements; one without any upper body resistive exercise product (ARM), one with a 2 lb. Power Air Ball (BALL), and one with a Spri Tube (TUBE). Twenty-seven college aged females familiar with step aerobics volunteered to be subjects. Maximal oxygen uptake was measured using the Bruce protocol. A 55 minute video was followed for each of the STEP routines to control for arm and leg movement. The order of the STEP routines was randomly assigned. An Aerosport TEEM 100 gas analyzer calculated and recorded …

Challenges Of Wellness Programming In Midwest Colleges And Universities, Patricia Vanmierlo

Masters Theses

This study was conducted to investigate challenges associated with programming wellness activities in the university setting. Telephone interviews were conducted with 50 college/university wellness program coordinators in the Midwest United States. Campus Recreation/Recreational Sports employed 72% of the respondents, the remainder were employed by Athletics, Health Services, Physical Education, or a combination of those listed. Likert scales were used to gauge degree of barrier severity and amount of collaboration with various university departments. Ninety-eight percent of coordinators work with professionals outside of the department in which they were employed. The departments that most often collaborate include Campus Recreation, Health Services, …

Academic Achievement Of High School Students As It Relates To Locus Of Control, Family Life Changes, And Perceived Level Of Stress, Marla M. Mcdaneld

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between family life changes, perceived stress, locus of control, gender, and the achievement of grade eleven students. A literature review revealed that adolescents report a high level of stress in a variety of situations. Changes in family life and factors at school are two of the major stressors. The research suggests that an individual with an external locus of control is more likely to experience stress than an individual with an internal locus of control. The research also suggests that a higher level of stress combined with an external locus …

A Rhetorical Criticism And Analysis Of President Ronald Reagan's Inaugural Address: Applying The Burkeian Dramatistic Pentad Approach, Marzuki Jamil Baki Bin Haji Mohamed Johar Bachik

Masters Theses

It is no accident that Ronald Reagan rose to the pinnacle of power at a moment when there was a rising wave of intellectual pessimism. Numerous theories were being offered as to why the trajectory of the American experiment has passed its apogee. Reagan's greatest gift to his country has been his soaring sense of possibilities. To see where he got it, look at what he has seen in a long life. However, a great communicator will communicate complicated ideas, hard choices and bad news. Reagan has had little aptitude and less appetite for those tasks. But, then, communication is …

Families And The Co-Construction Of Shared Experiences: A Narrative Approach, Angela S. Jacobs

Masters Theses

This study examines how families co-construct joint accounts of shared experiences. Two foster families participated in the study, and were asked to recall information about the decision-making process of becoming a foster family. Through the use of narrative, each foster parent created an individual, detailed chronology of events that took place, including emotional reactions to events, types of decisions made, conversations held with each other as well as all outsiders, and any conflicts that arose during this process. Through conversational discourse, each family transformed individual experiences into one co-created story.

To understand how these individuals came to create such experiences, …

A Study On How Interactive Distance Education Affects Perceived Instructor Credibility, D. Brent Crebo

Masters Theses

A group of distance education students at four Illinois colleges and universities were studied to see if sending class students rated distance education instructors differently in reference to credibility when compared to receiving class students. A survey was used to gather initial data and then subjects were interviewed by telephone to obtain more information on the topic. The results of the study revealed no significant difference between how students at receiving sites and how students at sending sites perceived an instructor in terms of overall credibility in distance education courses. Responses indicated that students did not have a problem with …

Mentoring Relationships Amongst Women In Public Relations, Kristen Kahles

Masters Theses

Mentoring is an old tool used to advance the education and/or careers of individuals that dates back to ancient Greece; it has recently reemerged in organizational and business settings. I examine mentoring relationships among women in the public relations profession. In this study my purpose is to determine how women are affected in a same sex mentoring relationship in the public relations field. One hundred surveys were distributed to female practitioners in the New York and Chicago areas. Thirty-five were returned, yielding a 35% response rate. In addition, six in depth interviews were conducted with six female public relations professionals …

English Proficiency And Intercultural Communication--A Study Of Chinese Students' Ability To Adapt To American Culture, He-Ping Cheng

Masters Theses

Modern technologies have brought our world to the brink of a Global Village. In the modern world, intercultural communication becomes an indispensable part of human activities. In the environment of foreign language study, intercultural communication skills are intertwined with the language education in order to prepare students for the needs of intercultural communication. There is no exception with teaching English as a foreign language in China. Started in the early 1980s, intercultural communication is a hot topic among scholars in the field of language education. However, despite the efforts made to raise the English learners' intercultural awareness, Chinese students still …

Customer Feedback Information System For Quality Improvement, Ke Wang

Masters Theses

This research addressed the basic needs for an effective customer feedback information system and the database technology to develop the system. It discussed the system concept and configuration of a typical customer feedback information system, database management technology, programming flow charts, program functions and capabilities. A proposed customer feedback information system consists of customer data inputs, database management system and outputs to various departments in an organization. With a user-friendly interface, database management system serves as an information management tool. It can process the feedback from customers and use the information in decision making. Thus, customer feedback can be promptly …

Study On Rheological Behavior Of The Composites Of Recycled Hdpe With Recycled Tire Rubber Particles, Yanze Li

Masters Theses

This study was mainly concerned with rheological properties of composites of recycled high density polyethylene (HDPE) with recycled tire rubber particles at shear rates from 1.167 to 116.7 s^-1. The viscosity was investigated in terms of effects of shear rate, shear stress, temperature, concentration of recycled tire rubber particles and heating duration. The temperature was in the range from 160 to 250 °C and the rubber particle concentration was between 0 and 25%. The heat duration for the composites was up to 240 minutes before testing.

The viscosities of composites were decreased with increase in shear rate and …

The Effects Of Presentational Mode And Gender On Rating Errors In Classroom Speech Evaluation, Nicole L. Turley

Masters Theses

There is extensive research on speech evaluation in the area of speech communication. This study explores the effects of presentational mode and gender on rating errors in speech evaluation. Subjects were students enrolled in an introductory speech course at Eastern Illinois University. After compiling 1072 speech evaluation sheets, a 2x2x3 factorial analysis of variance was conducted. Results concluded that raters in a pre-presentational mode will be more positively lenient than raters in a post-presentational mode and raters in a control group; female raters were more positively lenient than male raters in the traits of language, material, delivery, analysis, and voice; …

The Role Of Information And Voting Cues In The Decision Making Process Of The Illinois Legislators 89th General Assembly, Farida H. Kapasi

Masters Theses

The most important variable in a decision making situation is the role of information. On the strength of information received, choice between competing alternatives is made. One decision making situation that receives intense scrutiny, and is a subject of much debate is the passage of bills into laws. Legislative decisions are arrived at in a highly charged political environment. This paper explores the role of information and informants in the legislators' institutional and environmental arena, and the personal characteristics of the legislators that influence the decision making process.

The proceedings of the 89th Illinois General Assembly was observed and the …

Growth Of Bluegill, Largemouth Bass, And Channel Catfish In Relation To Fish Abundances, Food Availability, And Other Limnological Variables, Sean P. Callahan

Masters Theses

Bluegill, largemouth bass, and channel catfish are widely distributed and popular sports species. We assessed growth of sympatric populations of these species in 14 reservoirs throughout Illinois, and attempted to relate growth to environmental factors. Principal components analysis (PCA) classified the lakes using 20 morphometric and limnological variables. We examined growth rate relationships with the principal components, via correlations, and also developed simple and multiple regression models using individual variables. Using size-specific growth for two size classes, percent littoral zone of a lake was correlated with growth of both channel catfish (300 and 450 mm) and small bluegill (50 mm). …

Parental Investment In The Red-Eared Slider Turtle, Trachemys Scripta, Michael D. Marlen

Masters Theses

This study was conducted to determine egg and hatchling components of the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta). In addition, energy components transferred from egg to hatchling were used to determine the level of parental investment in embryogenesis and hatchling care. Eggs of the red-eared slider, collected from central Illinois ponds, were obtained by inducing gravid females to lay by an injection of oxytocin. Egg and hatchling lipids were extracted with petroleum ether while egg and hatchling protein content was determined using the micro-Kjeldahl procedure. Eggs averaged 70.7% water by mass, and dry mass of whole eggs and egg yolks averaged 2.4g …

The Effects Of Group Selection On The Characteristics And Use Of Cavity Trees And Snags, Mary Lynn Lambert

Masters Theses

I studied the effects of group selection tree harvest on the availability, composition, and use of cavity trees, snags and cavities in the Ozark Mountains of northwestern Arkansas. Sixteen plots dominated by oaks and hickories that were 70-102 years old were surveyed prior to harvest. Tree species, diameter, height and number of visible cavities were recorded. In addition, 192 cavity trees were marked for wildlife observations during the summer and winter. Subsequently, plots were harvested by commercial contractors to either 15 or 19 m²/ha basal area, using either free or structural control thinning methods. A complete survey of …

The Relationship Of Catalase Activity To The Trade-Off Between Reproduction And Lifespan In The Giant Waterbug, Belostoma Flumineum, Matthew R. Gilg

Masters Theses

Senescence is the process by which organisms age and ultimately die. Life history theory suggests that the allocation of energy into growth and reproduction is necessarily associated with a decrease in energy available for the maintenance of the soma. Many studies have shown that early or increased rates of reproduction are often correlated with a decrease in longevity, but few studies have investigated physiological correlates to this event. Catalase is an enzyme involved in the removal of oxygen free radicals implicated in damaging cellular components that contribute to senescence. A decrease in catalase activity with age could increase the organism's …

Small Mammal Community Structure In Restored Prairies, Kathleen A. Falout

Masters Theses

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources currently manages approximately 4,000 hectares of natural prairie. High human impacts coupled with small patch size result in challenging management decisions for prairie conservation. The ideal restored prairie would consist of a mosaic of habitats varying in vegetation from forb-grass dominated areas to oak savannas, with concurrent stages of vegetative succession occurring across the habitats. A study was conducted at the Middle Fork State Fish and Wildlife Area located in Vermillion County, IL, to analyze small mammal diversity and community composition among three different stages of prairie restoration.

The three treatment categories were: fallow …

Greece And Nato: A Study Of Policy Divergence And Alliance Cohesion, John G. Hatzadony

Masters Theses

Modem alliance theory is based on the assumption that states come together in defense against a common threat. However, these theories were developed early in the Cold War in an effort to explain how and why the North Atlantic Treaty Organization was formed. Some member states do not fit into the neat theories suggested.

This thesis is an examination of the historical events that have shaped Greek relations with NATO and the United States. The thesis seeks to assess the usefulness of contemporary alliance theory in explaining divergent principles among alliance members and the effect this has had on the …

Male Serial Killers And The Criminal Profiling Process: A Literature Review, Jennifer R. Phillips

Masters Theses

A review of the relevant psychological and sociological literature regarding serial killers is presented. Also described is the investigative process and the procedures involved in constructing accurate criminal profiles. This paper examines the definition, characteristics, and classifications of male serial killers. Additionally, the paper discusses various motivations for killing serially, the importance of fantasy, and emotional, cognitive, and behavioral processes in the serial killer. The process of criminal profiling, which is a relatively new and innovative proactive and reactive investigative procedure, is also described as a tool used frequently in the investigative process of serial homicides. Also described is the …

Counseling College Athletes: Career Choices Based On Motivation, Interest, Gpa, And Academic Major Among Selected Division I, Ii, And Iii Institutions, Don D. Dawson

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study is to provide descriptive and statistical data to identify any differences in three college divisions of men's basketball and baseball student athletes as they related to career decision making in their career interest, academic major and grade point average.

Concepts of this study were originally tested by Dr. Joseph Scott Paul (1986) in his doctoral dissertation, The Intercollegiate Athlete as a Student in Higher Education: An Analysis of Career Expectations, Interests, and Academic Majors.

This study will include men's basketball and baseball student athletes at three different institutions in three different divisions. The research describes …