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An Ethnographic Inquiry Into Prudent Behavior And Culturally Correct Attitudes Of Ethnodoxologists Living Among The Lakota Oyate, Joseph T. Dorer

Masters Theses

For centuries, the indigenous people of North America have been plagued by white encroachment. People of European descent have come among Native Americans in almost every form imaginable. They have been treasure seekers, soldiers, bearers of horrific diseases, liars, rapists, murderers, missionaries, anthropologists, government workers, doctors, and teachers. In the summer of 2004, in spite of my own reluctance, I became part of this historically menacing group. Still, I am somewhat different than the others I’ve already mentioned–I came as an ethnodoxologist.

Other ethnomusicologists have come among the Lakota people to study music and culture including Frances Densmore, R.D. Theisz, …

Memory Loss: The Construction Of Meaning In Eudora Welty's "The Optimist's Daughter", Amber Lockard

Poster Session and Research Presentation Forum

No abstract provided.

Impact Of Racial, Ethnic And Socioeconomic Diversity: Student Perceptions Of Educational Outcomes In Prince William County Public Schools, Joseph Fontanella

Poster Session and Research Presentation Forum

This study examined the relationship between diverse learning environments and students’ perceptions of their educational experiences within a large Northern Virginia public school system via quantitative, nonexperimental, survey methods. Five areas reflecting frequently established goals of education were explored: student diversity; curricular diversity; student learning and peer interaction, to include development of critical thinking skills; future educational aspirations; and goals and perceptions of support by the school. Subjects were 11th-grade high school students from across a selection of the 10 high schools in the subject school division. Data was derived from the Diversity Assessment Questionnaire (DAQ), an instrument that asked …

Through The Eyes Of The Accused: Applying William L. Benoit’S Image Restoration Theory To Saint Patrick’S Confession, Brad Jackson

Masters Theses

Since 1995, William L Benoit’s “Image Restoration Theory” has been applied in various different contexts. While most applications of this theory have been used to analyze modern day apologia, little work has filtered ancient artifacts through Benoit’s theory. This thesis aims to analyze St. Patrick’s defense rhetoric as seen in his autobiographical letter Confession. Emphasis is first placed on the historical account of the life of Saint Patrick in order to establish a foundation for analysis of Confession. An extensive literature review of “Image Restoration Theory” follows before the application of Benoit’s theory to Confession. The author concludes by describing …

Lordship And Free Grace Salvation: Repentance In Luke-Acts, Jon Pruitt

Senior Honors Theses

Put into its simplest terms this debate concerns if a turn, or change of life, is necessary for salvation. That is why ıπιστρέφομαι (I turn) is key to understanding the concept of repentance. If Scripture uses ıπιστρέφομαι in way that suggests turning is necessary for salvation that would be in favor of the Lordship point of view. Or if Scripture’s use of ıπιστρέφομαι demonstrates that turning is not necessary for salvation the Free Grace perspective gains ground.

Another key word to this debate is μετανοέω (I repent). Discovering how the New Testament writers use μετανοέω will shed considerable light on …

A Linguistic And Exegetical Analysis Of Ephesians 4.8-9 From A Grammatical, Syntactical, Contextual, And Historical Perspective, Jay R. Hamilton

Senior Honors Theses

Ephesians 4.8-9 presents a challenging passage exegetically. The reference to Psalm 68.18 is ambiguous; it may picture Moses receiving the Torah or a king conquering an enemy army. Furthermore, Ephesians 4.9 is so closely linked to Ephesians 4.8 that one cannot validly interpret “the lower parts of the earth” (τα κατωτερα μερη της γης) from verse 9 without determining the meaning of the preceding verse. Therefore, Ephesians 4.8-9 is analyzed grammatically, contextually, and historically, in order to find the most likely interpretation for this particular passage. The study concludes that Paul in Ephesians 4.8 pictures a Davidic king conquering an …

Language And Story: An Argument For The Right Reading Of Tolkien’S Legendarium, Lucas D. Jarmin

Senior Honors Theses

Current views on the translation of Tolkien are that his works are completely translatable and understandable. The Lord of the Rings has been translated into many languages, and has sold millions the world over.

While an argument cannot be made for the non-translation of Tolkien’s works, his tales should be experienced in English whenever possible. J.R.R. Tolkien was by profession a philologist, and by hobby a creator of languages and story. His life work was the creation of a unifying legendarium, spanning thousands of years and dozens of languages. These languages and Tolkien’s use of English form the backbone for …

Pidginization Exemplified In Haitian-Creole And Tok-Pisin, Jennifer C. Schuit

Senior Honors Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to investigate the sociolinguistic process of pidginization and to show how Haitian Creole of Haiti and Tok-Pisin of Papua New Guinea are living examples of this process. This will be accomplished in three ways: by giving a synopsis of both countries’ histories and thus showing how the nature of contact between the European and indigenous people both initiates and shapes the process of language creation and transformation; by examining the theoretical life-cycle of pidginization and some elements of simplification still evident in Haitian Creole and Tok-Pisin today; and by discussing the current status and …

The Influence Of The Brazilian Dictatorship On Brazilian Music: A Rhetorical Analysis Of Protest Songs, Fernanda P. Rezende

Senior Honors Theses

In 1964, Brazil suffered a military coup that established a dictatorship in the country until 1985. During this period, the armed forces used unrestrained violence to suppress the opposition, and the government placed a heavy censorship on the media and the arts. Music was a targeted area due to its great influence on society, especially on the youth, and many songwriters and singers were exiled. In order to escape from the censors and still be able to convey a revolutionary message to the people, they had to use different literary devices and create new methods of writing. It was in …

The Efficacy Of Foundations & Frameworks On Elementary Students' Reading Achievement In Urban Christian Schools, Cheryl Mcclure Blackmon

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study was designed to assess the efficacy of Foundations & Frameworks (F&F), an instructional program emphasizing reading comprehension, on fourth and fifth grade students' reading achievement, as measured by the Stanford Achievement Test and the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Test. Seven urban Christian schools in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, participated in the study. A causal-comparative analysis was conducted of reading comprehension and vocabulary achievement between F&F schools and comparison schools. A pre-experimental pretest and posttest analysis of achievement and a comparison of actual growth to expected growth were also conducted in F&F schools. No significant differences in achievement were found between F&F schools …

A Theatrical Take On Educational Self-Esteem, David Seagraves

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the constructs of self-esteem and theatre arts. The experimental research utilized a Solomon four-group design, which included four groups of public high school freshmen. The study investigated whether or not self-esteem would increase after studying theatre arts, and if a cause and effect relationship existed between theatre arts and self-esteem. The study’s independent variable was a theatre arts treatment of ten lessons centered around a novel. The dependent variables were the scores on the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (1965), a self-reporting and numerically measurable self-esteem survey. The scale was administered in a pretest and posttest format. The self-esteem …

The Relationships Between Cognitive Deficits And Spiritual Development, Charles Nolan Thomas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

An individual’s spirituality is shaped and supported by his or her cognitive capacities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between various cognitive deficits and the spiritual development in individuals who qualified for special education under the category of Specific Learning Disability. Participants were randomly selected through systematic sampling of students and former students of Kellyville Public School who met the criteria. The cognitive deficits were measured by the Woodcock-Johnson III Tests of Cognitive Abilities (2001) or the Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational Battery- R (1989), and spiritual development was measured by the Spiritual Assessment Inventory (2002). The results of …

Impact Of Racial, Ethnic, And Socioeconomic Diversity: Student Perceptions Of Educational Outcomes In A Northern Virginia Public School System, Joseph F. Fontanella

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the relationship between diverse learning environments and students’ perceptions of their educational experiences within a large Northern Virginia public school system via quantitative, nonexperimental, survey methods. Five areas reflecting frequently established goals of education were explored: student diversity; curricular diversity; student learning and peer interaction, to include development of critical thinking skills; future educational aspirations; and goals and perceptions of support by the school. Subjects were 11th-grade high school students from across a selection of the 10 high schools in the subject school division. Data was derived from the Diversity Assessment Questionnaire (DAQ), an instrument that asked …

Monotheism, Polytheism, Monolatry, Or Henotheism? Toward An Assessment Of Divine Plurality In The Hebrew Bible, Michael Heiser

Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary (1973-2015)

Israel’s view of God and his relationship to other divine beings in the Hebrew Bible has long been the subject of scholarly debate. The dominant critical consensus since the late nineteenth century holds that Israel’s faith evolved from polytheism or henotheism to monotheism. Passages in the Hebrew Bible that assume the existence of other gods are compared to other passages that put forth the declaration that “there are no other gods besides” the God of Israel as proof of this view. Other scholars who reject this evolutionary paradigm tend to assume passages evincing divine plurality actually speak of human beings, …

Review: Judges, Michael Heiser

Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary (1973-2015)

No abstract provided.

What You Need To Know About The Love Of God: Part 1, Harold Willmington

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Of Joseph Greenberg’S “Language Universals” As Shown In The Palestinian Arabic, Spanish, And Korean Languages, Devon R. Guerra

Senior Honors Theses

In 1963, Joseph Greenberg presented a way of describing the world’s languages by means of universal tendencies. This thesis will examine three languages representative of the three main language typologies—Palestinian Arabic, Spanish, and Korean. It will compare each of the languages to applicable language universals in order to understand the languages’ syntactical systems and prove the validity of Greenberg’s work.

A Christian Philosophy Of Education Of A Public School Educator, John C. Bartlett

Christian Perspectives in Education

As Christians continue to enter the world of public education, it is imperative that they develop a philosophy of education based on the truth of the Scriptures and a complete understanding of God’s desire that man enter a relationship with him. This philosophy of education is based on two distinct realities: 1) God desires a relationship with every individual; therefore, education must have the purpose to develop and nurture such a relationship. 2) Every individual has a unique purpose in life as defined by God; therefore, education must prepare every student to fulfill their God given purpose.

Modernization Or Cultural Maintenance? – A Look Into The Mayan Struggle, Amy Vernatter

Senior Honors Theses

For centuries before the arrival of the Spaniards, the Maya Indians of Central America lived as one of the most advanced civilizations of the New World. In spite of the conflict the Maya have faced because of the Conquest and civil war, they continue to represent the majority of the Guatemalan population and have maintained much of their heritage.

As the ladino world continues to progress around them, however, the Maya are faced with the struggle between cultural maintenance and the need for progress and modernization. The decisions they make on key issues such as language, dress, and lifestyle will …

The Authorship Of The Pastoral Epistles, Brandon E. Carter

Senior Honors Theses

This thesis discusses issues related to the authorship of the epistles of 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus. The authenticity of the Pastoral Epistles has become the subject of much debate in the last two centuries, and the writer explores the major positions on authorship. Along with the traditional view that the Pastorals were written by Paul the apostle, contemporary theories on pseudonymity and the implications of such a view on canonicity are considered. The historical evidence, theological content, and literary style and diction of the epistles are examined in defense of Pauline authorship.

11-13-07 (The Liberty Champion, Volume 25, Issue 10)

2007 -- 2008

No abstract provided.

The Relationship Between University Nursing Student Classroom Engagement Activities And Academic Performance, Helen Reyes

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Academia is struggling to meet an increasing nursing shortage with limited resources; therefore, student success is paramount in any university nursing program. Research data suggests one major reason for increased attrition rates is course failure. Research also reveals that college students often feel disengaged in the classroom. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between classroom engagement activities and the academic performance of professional nursing students. Is there a relationship between nursing student classroom engagement activities and academic performance? The Classroom Survey of Student Engagement (CLASSE) was administered to 317 university nursing students enrolled in seven different …

A Presuppositional Critique Of Constructivism, Paul R. Rickert

Faculty Publications and Presentations

Educational theories have roots. They have roots in broader philosophies, conceptions of the nature of reality, and the theories utilized in classrooms to teach have implications for broader society. Specifically, this paper discusses the problems of constructivist theory in the classroom. The author takes a presuppostitional view and shows that all systems have most basic beliefs which are un-provable. So at the heart of any form of interpretive schema is faith in that schema. The author discusses ontological and epistemological options and how shifts in philosophy change the order of the most basic beliefs, but not the fact that they …

Examining The Septuagint: An Exploration Of The Greek Old Testament's Unique Heritage And Lasting Impact On The New Testament, Cara Lynne Murphy

Masters Theses

The Greek Old Testament has been a focus of speculation and study since its entrance into the religious culture of the Diasporic Jews. Legends and myths surround the creation of the Septuagint, and its use by the New Testament authors only added to the questions surrounding this ancient text. The questions this thesis will seek to address are three-fold. First, what does historical evidence prove regarding the origin of the Septuagint? The dating, the location, and the nature of the Septuagint’s creation are each open debates within biblical scholarship. While this thesis will not attempt to prove conclusively the answers …

An Analysis Of Rx For Discovery Reading For Elementary Students Below Average In Reading, Susan Kay Stanley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Rx for Discovery Reading® is an intervention developed by the National Institute for Learning Development to impact the reading abilities of students below grade level in reading. The program was designed to address every area of reading acquisition, but, for this study, the areas of phonological processing, decoding, and fluency were investigated using pre- and post-test scores from the KTEA-II, GORT, and DIBELS. The problem studied was whether Rx for Discovery Reading® would raise the mean standard scores in the three areas at the conclusion of the field test. Using a small-group format, twenty-nine students who were not on grade …

Millennial Media: A Fantasy Theme Analysis Of The Short Film "Narrow Roads", Auri - Christopher Colin Jones

Masters Theses

As we move into the future of , society has become more involved with the media they consume. Younger generations in the past generations have been effected and have affected media development in various ways. The Millennial generation of today is no exception. This thesis discusses the effects of media on the millennial generation through fantasy theme chains of an original video narrative. Millennial students will watch the narrative and discuss with other Millennials the themes presented and perceived from the video. The results from this study will give a look into how millennial interaction about visual media makes a …

Documentation Style As Rhetorical Device: A Comparative Analysis Of Two Bibliographic Systems, Gregory A. Smith

Faculty Publications and Presentations

The documentation styles developed by the Modern Language Association and the American Psychological Association reflect divergent assumptions regarding the apprehension and communication of knowledge. Each system expresses its rhetorical character through the aims it articulates, the sources it values, and the formats it prescribes for in-text citations and bibliographic references. Like other scholarly writing conventions, documentation styles are not arbitrary, but both shape and are shaped by the discourse communities that they serve. Emerging scholars need to be acculturated purposively to the conventions of their respective communities, while authors should consciously select bibliographic systems that support their rhetorical aims.

Contradiction And The Carnival: A Study Of Mcgregor’S Theory X And Theory Y Framework Applied To Communication Within A Carnival Setting, Ashley Dawn Johnston

Masters Theses

The following study addresses Douglas McGregor's Theory X and Theory Y management paradigm as applied toward carnival executives' (CEs) communication to employees. Fifteen CEs were interviewed and elicited narratives that held either Theory X or Theory Y paradigm. From the narratives it was discovered that most CEs held a Theory Y paradigm toward employees. However, it was also discovered that the Theory Y paradigm may be a result of increased use of foreign labor or a swing in the carnival industry itself.

The Evolution And Ownership Of The Concept Of The African-American Woman As “The Mule Of The World”, Stephanie Abigail Taylor

Senior Honors Theses

This thesis explores the motif of the African-American woman as the “mule of the world.” The negative connotations of the term originate in slavery and have been influenced by the “cult of true womanhood.” The term itself interrelates to the triple marginalization—that of race, sex, and class—that African American women face. However, black female authors have taken this derogatory meaning and have subsequently given it a positive meaning through the act of Signification, as theorized by Henry Louis Gates. Like their black male predecessors, Maya Angelou (in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings) and Zora Neale Hurston (in Their …

Wit And Sentiment: The Spirit Of Shandeism In A Speechless Worid, Amber Marie Lockard

Senior Honors Theses

Between the years 1759 and 1769, Laurence Sterne published a hugely popular and widely controversial work, The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman. One aspect of this "shaggy dog" story is to address the ambiguity and imprecision of language as a system of communication. Communication (or lack of) occurs throughout the piece both between the characters and between the narrating voice of Tristram and the "constructed" reader. Tristram Shandy reveals this language difficulty through several means: First is the hobby-horse, the individuals' fixations and obsessions; second and connected to this idea of the hobby-horse is the John Locke's philosophy …