Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

About The Editors, Darby Jones, Addie Woods, Sydney Motl, Margaret M. Reed

Reflections on Experiences Abroad

This back matter to Reflections on Experiences Abroad, a collection of essays authored by Ouachita Baptist University faculty and staff who have lived outside the U.S., introduces the student editors who helped create this issue.

Christmas Collage, Susan Monroe

Reflections on Experiences Abroad

The author highlights some of her most pleasant memories spending Christmas abroad as a missionary kid.

Patient Long Enough: The Benin Bronzes And The Repatriation Of Looted Art And Artifacts, Donald "Donnie" Allen Copeland Jr.

Reflections on Experiences Abroad

The author chronicles the debate over Western colonial powers’ seizing Nigerian works of art and its impact on Nigerian history and culture.

The Land Of Eight Million Gods: Communicating Christian Concepts Of God Into The Japanese Worldview, Ray Franklin

Reflections on Experiences Abroad

The author shares how he navigated a Japanese language barrier where the term God in English did not translate correctly.

Of Course, I Live In A Tree House, Monica Hardin

Reflections on Experiences Abroad

The author recounts her experience as a missionary kid returning to the United States to explain her life and her family’s impact to curious and uninformed youth groups.

American Dumpling Warrior, Benjamin Utter

Reflections on Experiences Abroad

The author shares a humorous story on his attempt to study martial arts while teaching in China.

On The Trans-Kalahari Highway: Caught In The Middle Of Two Spaces, Myra Ann Houser

Reflections on Experiences Abroad

The author reflects on how Africa’s Trans-Kalahari Highway bridged her move from Botswana to Namibia literally and figuratively.

Introduction, Darby Jones, Sydney Motl, Addie Woods, Margaret M. Reed

Reflections on Experiences Abroad

This is the introduction to Reflections on Experiences Abroad, a collection of essays authored by Ouachita Baptist University faculty and staff who have lived outside the U.S.

Cover, Title Page, And Contents, Margaret M. Reed

Reflections on Experiences Abroad

No abstract provided.

One Creation: Examining Creation Myths Across Time And Culture, Scarlett Castleberry

Honors Theses

By looking at creation myths across various time, cultures, and languages, I was able to track similarities and find common threads between cultures that might not otherwise seem connected. What is remarkable is that these ancient texts often make connections before archeology or linguistics can.

Beyond Stereotypical Picture Books: An Inquiry Of Hidden Life Lessons From Patricia Polacco, Ruthie Lenards

Honors Theses

By applying a historical study of the author, Patricia Polacco, the thematic perspective is evident in her books. Many do not see those hidden life lessons due to the stereotypical norms of picture books. The reader will learn how Patricia Polacco's life lessons may not be hidden to the viewer.

Latino Immigration And The Importance Of Bilingualism In Children’S Literature, Lauren Bridgeman

English Class Publications

Sometimes, in life, a person goes through a struggle they cannot identify or explain, but when a book portrays their struggle it helps them come to terms with it. Books do not necessarily solve problems, but they can give people the confidence to name and think differently about them. This notion remains especially true for children because their limited vocabulary hinders their ability to communicate their problems to adults since they themselves cannot put it into words. When they see their struggle played out in books, they gain tools to express themselves. One obstacle children endure but cannot identify is …

Race & Gender In Children's Literature, Hollyanne Ritchie

Sociology Class Publications

These are the findings from analyzing the racial and gender aspects of 20 randomly chosen children's picture books.

Truer Than Fiction: Flannery O'Connor's Fictional Fathers, Addison Crow

English Class Publications

Flannery O’Connor grew up with a loving and supportive father, so it is perplexing that she fills her stories with fathers who portray the opposite. O’Connor’s fictional fathers, when they are included in the story, are controlling, harsh, and malicious—the complete opposite of her father, Edward O’Connor. Why would O’Connor create fathers whose image so intensely contrast that of her own supportive, gentle, and loving father? My purpose in this paper is to examine O’Connor’s fictional fathers in her short stories, “The Artificial N” and “The Comforts of Home,” and her novel, The Violent Bear It Away, and attempt …

"Unsex Me Here": A Queer Reading Of Faith In O'Connor, Shelby Spears

English Class Publications

In this essay, the author examines the O'Connor stories "The Life You Save may be Your Own," "The Comports of Home," and "A Temple of the Holy Ghost" from a queer perspective using psycho-biographical evidence.

All Men Created Equal: Flannery O'Connor Responds Communism, Nina Hefner

English Class Publications

From her mother’s farm, Andalusia in Milledgeville, Georgia, Flannery O’Connor found her writing inspiration by observing the ways of the South. Naturally, a pervasive motif in her works is racism. For instance, in “Revelation” Ruby Turpin spends a good portion of the short story thanking God that she is neither white trash nor black. In her essay “Aligning the Psychological with the Theological: Doubling and Race in Flannery O’Connor’s Fiction,” Doreen Fowler points out that “[Ruby’s] insistence on setting racial boundaries has been an attempt to distinguish a white, superior identity” (81), equality with African Americans being Ruby Turpin’s ultimate …

Stress And College Students: A Multi-Genre Research Project, Katie King

English Class Publications

The topic I have chosen to write about for my MGRE project is stress and its negative impact on the human body and academic performance. My solution to this problem discusses human-animal interaction as an effective way to relieve stress and improve academic success.

It's Reigning Men: American Masculinity Portrayed Through Stanley Kowalski, Nina Hefner

English Class Publications

“Be a man!” Popular culture shouts this seemingly innocent command at males of all ages. Throughout the twentieth century, both men and women experienced shocking changes to society’s expectations of their gender norms. With the rise of the feminist movement during the twentieth century, women were able to leave the home and embrace the workforce. More opportunities opened up for women, such as factory jobs and secretary positions, making America’s society more egalitarian between the sexes. On the other hand, after the trauma of WWII and the onset of the Cold War, men experienced a twist in society’s expectations during …

Huck Finn And The Tragedy Of Being Banned, Peyton Harris

English Class Publications

Mark Twain once said, "I am perfectly astonished--a-s-t-o-n-i-s-h-e-d--ladies and gentlemen--astonished at the way history repeats itself." This opening line of Twain's speech at the Papyrus Club in Boston of February 24, 1881 is proof of his fascination with the patterns of humanity. As the already famous author of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Twain's commentary on social hypocrisy and moral social maturation was well known. After writing this novel and confessing his interest in humanity, it is no surprise that Twain chose to once again delve into the world of fiction and produce what would become an instant classic …

The Story Of A Picture Book: A Process Analysis, Christy Evans

Honors Theses

Creating a successful picture book is neither an easy nor simple process. The illustrations must-harmonize with the text, move the reader smoothly through a story, and be, as Burningham puts it, "verdant." To achieve this, an author/illustrator must be prepared for constant revision. In my story The Fantastic Transformation of Frog the main character experiences some bizarre changes, but reverts to his normal state in the end. Through my process of creating a picture book, my story also went through numerous changes, but, unlike the main character's changes, these changes were not reversed. They led to other changes.

Death In Children's Literature: A User's Guide, Jennifer M. Collier

Honors Theses

My love for children's books led me to begin exploring the subject of death within the literature. While searching for children's books that dealt with death as a primary of secondary theme, I realized how useful a guide to these books would be to parents, physicians, teachers and anyone working with a child facing some kind of death. It is hard for us to explain to children about death because it is hard to understand and accept, and we do not want to upset the children. Children's books that deal with death provide a means for opening the lines of …

Cockney Dialect And Slang, Jamie Fowler

Honors Theses

This paper is the capstone of a personal project which I began three years ago only as a matter of personal interest. While the information the project divulges is not difficult to understand, it should be noted that the details of this subject are virtually inaccessible to Americans or any other person who is not a part of the subculture of the Cockney people. Very little substantial information has been documented on the subject of Cockney dialect and slang. Therefore, most of my knowledge was gained through research and personal interviews with key sources in the London area.

Death In Children's Literature, Joyce Ann Kaufman

Honors Theses

Mr. Wordsworth posed an interesting question. What should a child know about death?

Often we try to protect children from death. Euphemisms are used regarding death. People and pets do not die, they "pass away," "go to sleep," or "go to live in heaven." When a death occurs in a family, the adults often say of a young child, "It doesn't seem to bother him. Maybe he doesn't realize what has happened." Other people may mention that "He has accepted it so well. Children adapt so easily."

Sexism In Children's Literature, Joyce Ann Kaufman

Honors Theses

The Little Miss Muffet syndrome, which depicts females as helpless, easily frightened, and dreadfully dull occurs repeatedly in children's literature.