Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Establishing A Presumption Of Competence In The Ela Classroom: One Teacher’S Story Of Creating Space For Autistic Culture, Christopher Bass

Ought: The Journal of Autistic Culture

Much has been written about the exclusive nature of inclusive teaching (Allan 2015; Owen & Gabriel, 2010; Smith 2010; Ware, 2004). Many general educators approach neurodiversity with a deficit approach (Smagorinsky, Tobin and Lee, 2019; Myers, 2019) As an active ELA teacher, I argue that teachers must first establish a presumption of competence (Biklen, 2005), then model and promote asset-based rhetoric around ability. Once students engage with asset-based rhetoric, the classroom may become more inclusive of autistic culture. This article shares the story of my attempt to establish a presumption of competence through student tattoos.

The Moon Is Especially Full: Notes On Poetry, Teaching, Tests, And [Autistic] Intelligence, Chris Martin

Ought: The Journal of Autistic Culture

This essay explores the ways in which poetry can help autistic students utilize creative expression and develop tools for self-advocacy.

Truffaut’S L’Enfant Sauvage (The Wild Child, 1970): Evoking Autism And The Nascent “Eugenic Atlantic”, Joy C. Schaefer

Ought: The Journal of Autistic Culture

This essay analyzes François Truffaut’s L’Enfant sauvage (The Wild Child, 1970) as an early representation of autism that metaphorizes the neurodiverse child as the colonial subject. The film takes place in 1798, only a decade after the French Revolution, and depicts the true events of the “wild boy of Aveyron,” a feral child found in the Southern French forest when he was twelve years old. Before the film’s production, Truffaut—who also plays the boy’s teacher, Dr. Jean-Marc Itard—collected articles and books on autism and viewed videos of autistic children to create his main character’s behavioral patterns. The film …

A Wrinkle In Autism Literature: An Analysis Of Madeleine L’Engle’S A Wrinkle In Time And Hope Larson’S A Wrinkle In Time: The Graphic Novel, Marla Larson

Masters Theses

This literature review will examine Madeleine L’Engle’s classic intermediate novel A Wrinkle in Time, and Hope Larson’s A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel. Medical scholarship regarding autism, comics scholarship, and comments from online contributors are used to describe how a comparison of these two texts can provide positive representation of autism in literature. Consideration for how these texts can be used together in the Language Arts classroom to develop the comprehension skills of students on the spectrum is also considered. This thesis first examines the character Charles Wallace in L’Engle’s original text and how he represents a positive presentation …

Void, Bethany Fink

Honors Projects

This is a work of fiction. It forays into topics such as mental illness and how it affects relationships with friends and family. Trigger warnings include anorexia, self-harm, depression, and suicide ideation.

Denis Diderot: A Secular Hero, Ben Scott-Brandt

Honors Projects

My Honors Senior Project is a biography of Denis Diderot in the form of a children's song. MY understanding of Diderot's life is based on Andrew Curran's book, Diderot and the Art of Thinking Freely.

Songs help us memorize and retain information about the world, and singing songs together strengthens cultural and religious connections. Secular (nonreligious) people need songs, too. Diderot was a philosopher who didn't believe in God. He was an editor of L'Encyclopédie, one of the first encyclopedias, and he snuck in articles that challenged how people think. This was an important moment -- knowledge about the world …

Yellow Pads And The Return Of The Writer, Gregory Shafer

Language Arts Journal of Michigan

No abstract provided.

Divorce And Family Life In Nineteenth-Century Vanderburgh County, Megan Owens

Grand Valley Journal of History

In the nineteenth century, private family life was meant to mimic the ideal republican society, providing the necessary foundation for future patriotic citizens. When families failed to adhere to the idealistic notions of the private sphere and descended into conflict or divorce, however, the very foundation of American society was in danger. An analysis of divorce and family disputes in local contexts like Vanderburgh County can provide a window into the realities of private conflict within American families, especially in comparison to wider national trends.

This paper uses a small sample of divorce records from Vanderburgh County in Indiana to …

Learn The Terms: A Visual Glossary, 2019 Edition, Gayle Schaub, Vinicius Lima, Joshua Houchlei, Hannah Douglas

Open Teaching Tools

Understanding a discipline requires a fundamental understanding of its concepts, theories, and terminology. Critical to academic success, these are often assumed to be widely understood by students.

The students of Graphic Design V, fall 2019, created poster to help students understand one of the ACRL Framework’s concepts, information creation as a process. These bold, eye-catching informational posters, produced and disseminated in and outside of the Library, promote learning through innovative designs created by students for students.

Grand Valley Magazine, Vol. 19, No. 2, Fall 2019, Grand Valley State University

Grand Valley Magazine

Grand Valley Magazine is a quarterly publication about Grand Valley State University produced by University Communications since 2001.

Breaking The Epistemic Pornography Habit: Cognitive Biases, Digital Discourse Environments, And Moral Exemplars, Andrew D. Spear

Articles, Book Chapters, Essays

Purpose: This paper analyzes some of the epistemically pernicious effects of use of the Internet and social media. In light of this analysis, it introduces the concept of epistemic pornography and argues that epistemic agents both can and should avoid consuming and sharing epistemic pornography.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The paper draws on research on epistemic virtue, cognitive biases, social media use and its epistemic consequences, Fake News, paternalistic nudging, pornography, moral philosophy, moral elevation, and moral exemplar theory to analyze the epistemically pernicious effects of the Internet and social media.

Findings: There is a growing consensus that Internet and social media activate …

Were They Spat On? Understanding The Homecoming Experience Of Vietnam Veterans, Heather Vlieg

Grand Valley Journal of History

This project investigates the contentious question of how American Vietnam veterans were received by family, friends, and society in general upon their return home from the Vietnam War. The goal is to discover how accurately published literature has portrayed the veterans' individual experiences. This has been done by comparing a large number of Vietnam veteran oral history interviews gathered by, and archived with, the Grand Valley State University Veterans History Project to that which has been written on the subject. This comparison clearly reveals that although there is a fair amount of published material on this topic, the majority of …

The Great Leap Famine And Amartya Sen, Chang-Dae Hyun

Grand Valley Journal of History

Amartya Sen, a Nobel Laureate argues, “in the terrible history of famines in the world, no substantial famine has ever occurred in any independent and democratic country with a relatively free press.”[1] According to Sen, severe famine does not happen if a country is autonomous (independent), fair and accountable (democratic), and encourages free exchange of ideas (free press). Autonomous government has the power to allocate resources according to domestic concerns, and democratic government has duty to accommodate societal concerns guided by the rule of law. Relatively free press allows citizens to express their concerns freely and notifies government with …

The Russian Revolution, Chang-Dae Hyun

Grand Valley Journal of History

The Russian Revolution was caused by the consequences of World War I: economic crises, and demotivated soldiers. In both cases, governments – the Romanov Dynasty and the Provisional Government that first seized power from the Tsar – were unable to resolve these problems. But these factors alone were not sufficient enough to cause the Russian Revolution, rather they should be understood as preconditions. What was also needed was a strong party – the Bolshevik Party – willing and able to capitalize on such preconditions. First, this paper will argue that economic crises such as food shortages, inflation, and poor working …

Dominican Sisters Quality Of Life Assessment, Eva Vanartsen

Other Undergraduate Research

Background: The quality of life in older women has been found to decrease with poverty, poor health, decreased access to healthcare and low education, while marriage and children can both improve or decrease the quality of life. The information on the quality of life of older women living in faith based communities is lacking.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore the quality of life and factors impacting quality of life in Sisters living in an assisted living facility.

Methods: The short form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36) was used to measure quality of life of the Dominican …

“Not To Be Loved But To Lead”: Homosocial Soldiering In Tim O’Brien’S The Things They Carried, Cliffton M. Young

Masters Theses

This study explores the presence of homosocial bonds for Tim O’Brien’s characters in his short story collection, The Things They Carried, and examines the value of them for soldiers in and out of the war theatre. Their vulnerabilities and fragilities create for the soldiers false fronts of masculinity, and they attain comfort in and attach themselves to others with whom they share military experiences. Members of Alpha Company deal with both physical and mental burdens stemming from battle. Their timidity and emotional / physical ineptness complicate their being able to have honest and affectionate interactions with other men in …

Cormac Mccarthy’S Border Trilogy And The Modern American Identity Crisis, Michael G. Cox

Masters Theses

The narrative trope of the American western is a long-standing literary convention rooted in a convoluted history of conquest, exploration, settlement, and exploitation. At the heart of the western genre is the idyllic vision of self-reliance. From its inception, the United States developed westward, pushing the limits of self-governance into the farthest reaches of empty terrain. As a result, the frontier has long been a symbol of personal liberty, a place where travelers and homesteaders have the freedom to achieve private independence in its purest form. Hollywood has done much to nurture this nostalgic image of prairie life. Iconic silver …

“We Are The Walking Dead”: Morality In Robert Kirkman’S Comics Series, Amy L. Jacobs

Masters Theses

Despite widespread cultural success, Robert Kirkman’s comics series, The Walking Dead, has received little critical attention in the literary canon. The limited critical attention it has received fails to provide an in-depth examination of the work’s morality. This could be a result of the ever-present influence of Frederic Wertham’s claims in his 1954 work, Seduction of the Innocent. However, when viewed through the frameworks provided by John Gardner’s On Moral Fiction and Wayne C. Booth’s The Company We Keep, Kirkman’s zombie narrative exhibits morality in multi-layered and complex ways with every turn of the page. Through the …

Creation, Destruction, And The Tension Between: A Cautionary Note On Individuation In Tristan Egolf, W. G. Sebald, And Niall Williams, Nicholas Kanaar

Masters Theses

The modern individual faces a psychological disconnect between his conscious mind and unconscious due primarily to the outward attachments that dictate false tenets of ontological worth. This thesis investigates the benchmark of creation and destruction and narrows in on its utility in the individual’s pursuit for individuation. The creation and destruction paradox is used to penetrate liminal space where personal transformation occurs, and it is used within those spaces to strip away old, ego-centric ideals in the service of new ones. C. G. Jung’s “archetypes of transformation” are the main tools of the psyche for assisting the conscious mind to …

“Arriving At Your Own Door”: Transnational Identity Formation In Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’S Americanah, Julie Oosterink

Masters Theses

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Americanah (2013) guides readers through the internal questions and external pressures that contribute to identity formation of her transnational characters. This paper examines the specific ways in which Adichie’s protagonist, Ifemelu, engages with both self-discovery and self-fashioning in order to shape the narrative of her past and make a plan for her future. Kwame Anthony Appiah’s The Ethics of Identity offers a philosophical framework to consider the many components of identity formation and the ways in which individuals form personal and collective identities. Adichie uniquely addresses personal and collective identities through the transnational experiences of her characters. …

English In France - Linguistic Dominance And Ambivalence, Chloe Kampf

Honors Projects

Whenever English is perceived as a threat to a nation’s language, English proficiency suffers, and France is guilty as charged. Many people know France as a nation with exceptional cuisine, famous artists, and breathtaking countrysides. What many are not aware of, on the other hand, is that France has the least proficient English speakers out of any EU country. Through in-depth research, literature reviews, interviews with French citizens, and analyzations of personal experiences, I attempt to expose the underlining truth behind this intriguing phenomenon.

Grand Valley Magazine, Vol. 19, No. 1, Summer 2019, Grand Valley State University

Grand Valley Magazine

Grand Valley Magazine is a quarterly publication about Grand Valley State University produced by University Communications since 2001.

The Development Of The Concept Album, Savannah Klein

Honors Projects

As the world of music has continually evolved and expanded, so has artists’ desire for inventive expression. An important tool that has long satisfied this growing need is the concept album. Although its appearance has been anything but novel in the contemporary music scene, the concept album was not introduced until the 1950s. With influences of Classical and Folk Music, the concept album quickly grew to become a steadfast element of musical culture that has allowed artists to elevate their musical expertise, express their views on societal conditions, and enhance the listening experience of their fans.

Ohio, Evangelical Religion, And The Merging Of The Antislavery Movement: Joshua R. Giddings, Salmon P. Chase, And Their Remarkable Crusades Against Slavery, Douglas Montagna

Studies in Midwestern History

This article will treat the antislavery careers of Joshua R. Giddings and Salmon P. Chase in three parts. The first part will show that they were exposed to evangelical religion early in their lives and that their religious lives continued to develop throughout their childhoods and young adulthoods. The second part will show what experiences inspired each to become antislavery activists. And the third part will show how religion remained the cornerstones of both of their fights against slavery while working within the American political system. Both themes of this essay—the importance of the Ohio society and environment in fostering …

Cinematic Auteurism, And The New Wave Sensibilities Of Sofia Coppola's "Lost In Translation", Benjamin Brewster

Cinesthesia

This paper seeks to illustrate the auteurism and the cinematic influences present in Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation, specifically through the lenses of the gender and historical modes of cultural film analysis. It argues that Sofia Coppola’s personal brand of auteurism permeates the film in a variety of distinct and important ways, and that much of the film’s success can be traced back to both her auteurism at work, and to the subtle but distinct nods made therein to the historical cinematic movement known as the French New Wave. It seeks to attack these ideas on two distinct but …

A Short History Of Film And Censorship In Mainland China, Rebecca E. Harvey

Cinesthesia

This paper discusses the history of film in Mainland China and the censorship that followed and its effects on Mainland Chinese media and filmmakers today.

La Batalla Del Cine Chileno: Chilean Cinema’S History Of Resisting Hollywood, Alexander V. Berdy

Cinesthesia

The United States has been a global superpower for over a century now and that first place title also extends to Hollywood. Since WWI the Hollywood system has controlled the global film market by exporting their films all over the world. These American films took profits from many national cinemas but they have also influenced filmmakers worldwide to do some spectacular things; especially in countries like Chile. The story of Chile’s film industry shares a lot of similarities with European filmmaking. There seems to be a common theme of countries failing to beat American import films, then resisting the commercial …

Grand Valley Forum, Volume 043, Number 16, April 22, 2019, Grand Valley State University

2018-2019, Volume 43

Grand Valley Forum is Grand Valley State's faculty and staff newsletter, published from 1976 to the present.

Grand Valley Forum, Volume 043, Number 15, April 8, 2019, Grand Valley State University

2018-2019, Volume 43

Grand Valley Forum is Grand Valley State's faculty and staff newsletter, published from 1976 to the present.

College, Career, And Community Writer’S Program (C3wp) Data-Driven Reports Of Literacy Growth, Kathy J. Kurtze

Language Arts Journal of Michigan

Through the implementation of mini-units in from the C3WP, a teacher demonstrates that routine argument writing leads to great gains in argument writing literacy.