Race And Rhetoric: Examining How The Audience’S Race Creates Rhetorical Constraints And Influences Rhetoric,
2026
University of Massachusetts Boston
Race And Rhetoric: Examining How The Audience’S Race Creates Rhetorical Constraints And Influences Rhetoric, Quinn Gabrielle Cantor
Undercurrents: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Composition
Quinn is a mathematics major living in Jamaica Plain, MA, but born in the Philippines. Quinn rhetorically analyzes Linda Villarosa’s essay from the 1619 Project by The New York Times by investigating how Villarosa’s “intended audience and purpose ultimately culminated into her published essay.” Quinn says her analysis is supported both by the rhetorical knowledge gained in her Composition I course and by a history class she took in high school that investigated race relations and discrimination. Quinn’s experiences as a student in both the Philippines and the United States has made her “deeply care about the importance of a …
2022 Editor's Introduction,
2026
University of Massachusetts Boston
2022 Editor's Introduction, Lauren M. Bowen
Undercurrents: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Composition
No abstract provided.
Progress, Poetry, And Peace: Romantic Ideals And The Present Day,
2026
Liberty University
Progress, Poetry, And Peace: Romantic Ideals And The Present Day, Kristen Dawn Morgan Hess
Masters Theses
In the busy, technologized, and mechanized life that most people live today, it can be difficult to find true rest, comfort, and peace because the very technology and machinery that is marketed as providing these 21st-century amenities often fall short in their delivery. Taking a look backward at the Romantic era ideals presented in the poetry of William Wordsworth can offer people today the chance to gradually improve their mental, physical, and emotional health by slowing down, minimalizing, and moderating their lifestyles. This thesis talks about the historical background of three of Wordsworth’s poems— “Lines Written in Early Spring,” “The …
How The African American Contribution To Early American Literature Aided In Shaping The American Literary Identity,
2026
Liberty University
How The African American Contribution To Early American Literature Aided In Shaping The American Literary Identity, Jennifer E. Thompson
Masters Theses
This study argues that Jupiter Hammon’s early African American literature actively helped shape American literary identity rather than just mirroring it. By blending Christian morality with human rights, Hammon challenged Eurocentric narratives, validated Black humanity, and established a foundational tradition for anti-slavery writing. Traditional theories often contest this national inclusion through critical viewpoints. These views treat slavery as a distinct model, arguing that these texts represent separate responses to bondage rather than unified contributions to a shared national canon. This research redefines the American literary canon by showing how Hammon's historic publications dismantled eighteenth-century racist ideals about intellectual capacity. His …
Moral Ecology In Shakespeare's Tragedies: Nature, Animals, And Conscience As Ethical Agents In Hamlet, Macbeth, And King Lear,
2026
Quepara J. C. Sen A & I Institution
Moral Ecology In Shakespeare's Tragedies: Nature, Animals, And Conscience As Ethical Agents In Hamlet, Macbeth, And King Lear, Md. Abu Bakkar
Journal of Language, Literature, and Arts
Shakespeare's tragedies repeatedly dramatize a universe in which moral transgression produces consequences that extend beyond individual psychology to affect society, nature, and the non-human world. This study examines how Hamlet, Macbeth, and King Lear construct a system of moral ecology, understood as a framework of ethical causality in which human actions generate interconnected consequences across psychological, social, and natural orders. Using qualitative close reading informed by moral criticism, ecocriticism, animal studies, and early modern cosmology, the study analyzes selected passages representing natural disturbance, animal imagery, and conscience as forms of ethical response. The findings show that the three …
Finding The Numinous: An Ecocritical Look At “Dune” And “The Lord Of The Rings” (2025), By Willow Wilson Dipasquale,
2026
Valparaiso University
Finding The Numinous: An Ecocritical Look At “Dune” And “The Lord Of The Rings” (2025), By Willow Wilson Dipasquale, Douglas Charles Kane
Journal of Tolkien Research
Book review, by Douglas Charles Kane, of Finding the Numinous: An Ecocritical Look at “Dune” and “The Lord of the Rings” (2025), by Willow Wilson DiPasquale
It's Your Voice: Why Not Use It?,
2026
University of Massachusetts Boston
It's Your Voice: Why Not Use It?, Tyler Tran
Undercurrents: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Composition
Tyler is an Accounting and Finance major from Stoughton, MA. Tyler felt a personal connection to the topic of his essay as he “has always been conscious of my voice in previous writing assignments, but it wasn’t until English 101 and 102 that I purposefully used my own voice in my essays.” This made Tyler want to explore the topic of “self-censorship” of students when writing. He admits that “undergoing the writing process in a remote setting was very new, but I think it helped emphasize the importance of really writing with my own voice.” While writing this essay, Tyler …
Using A Narrative Approach To Cater To Multilingual Student Writers,
2026
University of Massachusetts Boston
Using A Narrative Approach To Cater To Multilingual Student Writers, Hadassa Sossou
Undercurrents: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Composition
Hadassa is a Biochemistry major from Brockton, MA. She is multilingual but does not consider herself a “multilingual student” since her primary language is English. She speaks four languages and is now learning Japanese. This semester, Hadassa met and befriended many international and ESL students at the university. She states that “after I met them, I realized that they had a lot of struggles with writing in the classroom that I never considered. So, during my research for this essay, I wanted to learn more about what could cause difficulty and how that could be resolved.” Hadassa also has learned …
Texts In Conflict,
2026
University of Massachusetts Boston
Texts In Conflict, Adia Samba-Quee
Undercurrents: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Composition
Adia is a Political Science Major with a Minor in Africana Studies from Springfield, MA. In writing this essay, Adia was able to “reflect on my relation with writing and how I am perceived as an individual through my writing. I consider letting go of my prideful and embarrassing ego a huge factor in my development.” Like many students, Adia felt the remote learning semesters to be “historically bad on my mental health.” Efforts and interest in school fluctuated wildly and “I didn’t think I’d made much of an impact on my professors this year.” But, Adia is “learning a …
Paradise Found? Orality In The Composition Process,
2026
University of Massachusetts Boston
Paradise Found? Orality In The Composition Process, Alexander Quadros
Undercurrents: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Composition
Alex is an undecided major from Chelmsford, MA, who is interested in International Relations, English, and Economics. Alex said this topic “thoroughly piqued my curiosity” and he “wondered whether my recurrent frustrations with procrastination of writing assignments was a symptom of ‘thinker’s block,’ or rather the usual culprit of ‘writer’s block.’ This distinction became important to him as he realized “utilizing orality could spur the composition process.” Alex is a very family-oriented person and is passionate about helping others. His ideal day would be hiking with friends while listening to the Rolling Stones and then playing basketball all night long. …
The Repurposing Of Biased Literature For Moral Development,
2026
University of Massachusetts Boston
The Repurposing Of Biased Literature For Moral Development, Hannah Ortiz
Undercurrents: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Composition
Hannah Ortiz is an English major with a Professional & New Media Writing concentration, and is from Hartford, Connecticut. Because she is studying reading and writing, Hannah feels that the censorship of literature is an important topic. Hannah says “I love reading and I believe that people, especially children, should be able to read books that teach us about the world.” She states that we do not have to agree with every book we read, but that “literature can present different perspectives that can educate us about messages we don’t agree with.” Hannah believes that biased literature has been some …
Ethics In The Archives,
2026
University of Massachusetts Boston
Ethics In The Archives, Sarah Islam
Undercurrents: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Composition
Sarah is a Psychology major from Merrimack, NH. In her work with the archives, Sarah examined the work of archival storyteller Saidiya Hartman, who “points out a fundamental flaw in the development of the archive — the lack of narratives of the oppressed.” Sarah was very interested in discovering different solutions to this injustice, and “wanted to understand some of the ethical dilemmas that can arise when working with archival materials.” Though the idea of writing about such a heavy topic was daunting at first, Sarah found herself becoming increasingly passionate about the injustices in the archives and the various …
The Ignored Insights Of An International Student,
2026
University of Massachusetts Boston
The Ignored Insights Of An International Student, Anonymous ,
Undercurrents: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Composition
This anonymous student writer is a Political Science major and Philosophy and Law minor from Mumbai, India. As a freshman, her inspiration for writing this essay was her recent experience with the college application process. She says that “coming from a high school in India, multiple factors in the application process were not in my favor and would have been different if I had received my high school education from the United States.” This essay was special because she “learned how to inculcate the art of actively responding with my own voice in terms of academic writing rather than merely …
Becoming Bilingual: An Experience That Changed My Life,
2026
University of Massachusetts Boston
Becoming Bilingual: An Experience That Changed My Life, John Nobile Carvalho
Undercurrents: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Composition
John Nobile Carvalho is a Biochemistry major from Uberlandia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. John’s inspiration for writing this paper was in finding the most significant and impactful moments of language learning. The reason he considers his essay important is “because during the writing process I was able to recall memories and think of the journey I’ve been on, and all the challenges I’ve faced while learning two languages.” He also credits remote learning with providing plenty of time to devote himself to his studies and this project: “I was aware that this factor could help me focus and write something interesting …
The Battle Of Science And The Public: How To Make Scientific Writing Friendly,
2026
University of Massachusetts Boston
The Battle Of Science And The Public: How To Make Scientific Writing Friendly, Maggie Buyuk
Undercurrents: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Composition
Maggie Buyuk is a Nursing major from Bolton, MA. She wanted to focus her essay on the scientific discourse community because she feels as though it is often unapproachable: “As a nursing major, I know that I want information to be easily accessible for both myself and my patients. Unfortunately, the scientific rhetoric is not publically friendly because of the jargon and format of the scientific paper standard.” Maggie believes that there is a middle ground where the scientific community and the public can meet in order to better understand each other. This essay is special to her because, as …
2021 Editor's Introduction,
2026
University of Massachusetts Boston
2021 Editor's Introduction, Lauren M. Bowen
Undercurrents: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Composition
No abstract provided.
I'M Too Lazy To Come Up With A Good Title: How The Internet Makes Your Brain Lazy,
2026
University of Massachusetts Boston
I'M Too Lazy To Come Up With A Good Title: How The Internet Makes Your Brain Lazy, Anonymous ,
Undercurrents: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Composition
This anonymous student writer is a Computer Science major and a Massachusetts resident who describes himself as “interested in everything but passionate about nothing” — except not divulging any personal information. He presently spends his days secluded, enjoying living his ideal lifestyle enshrouded “in the devastating abomination that we all know to be the Internet.” He wrote this paper for a Composition II research assignment in order to rationalize a “terrible memory.” He is currently “overcoming(?) perfectionism after a long 4-year battle.”
The Language Of Science Is Questioned,
2026
University of Massachusetts Boston
The Language Of Science Is Questioned, Cooper Wilkinson
Undercurrents: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Composition
Cooper is a Biochemistry major and a Cognitive Science minor who moved to Boston from Kansas City, Missouri. Cooper has always loved science, and has recently gained an interest in linguistics and the overlapping subjects of science and language. He wrote this essay during the Spring remote semester, and was proud to be able to “overcome the challenges of remote learning and grow even while the world was at a stand still.” Cooper says that he was grateful to be able to choose his writing topic and to no longer be “forbidden to write in the first person”. In addition, …
The Writing Process In The Modern Digital Age: A College Student's Perspective,
2026
University of Massachusetts Boston
The Writing Process In The Modern Digital Age: A College Student's Perspective, Adil Shahid
Undercurrents: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Composition
Adil is a Communications major living in Fall River, Massachusetts. Adil enjoys writing and reading, and for a long time he kept a daily journal where he vented about his days to the blank pages. He feels that many students his age have lost touch with writing and reading simply because schoolwork has tainted their views of it. He hopes “that people do not lose sight of their creative outlets and passions and hold on to them dearly.” Adil and his classmates created a survey about student writing habits because they felt it was “important to see where other peers …
Reading Between The Lines Of The College Essay Prompt,
2026
University of Massachusetts Boston
Reading Between The Lines Of The College Essay Prompt, Whitney Posada
Undercurrents: A Journal of Undergraduate Student Composition
Whitney is a Psychology major who lives in Somerville, Massachusetts. Whitney enjoys translating her thoughts into her writing and working through the writing process to overcome boundaries and convey her message properly. While writing this paper she reflected on her own experiences, just one year before, as she sat down to write her college admissions essay. She says that while writing her admission essay there were “overwhelming emotions and confusion that I felt at that moment” and that her “anxiety could have been relieved if I had read James Warren’s essay back then.” Whitney says that her family has the …
