Digital Commons Network^™

Crafting Characters: How To Write Characters From A Beginning Writer's Perspective, Brittany Michelle Betzer

Honors Program Theses

I will use examples from two of my short stories, “Maple Street” and “Sunday Mail,” to explain certain elements that go into writing characters. I will also be using the craft books Ron Carlson Writes a Story by Ron Carlson, Writing Fiction: A Guide to Narrative Craft by Janet Burroway and Elizabeth Stuckey-French, The Art of Fiction by John Gardner, and Burning Down the House by Charles Baxter. Some of these are books were used as textbooks in my classrooms or are books recommended by my professors to serve as tools for writing my stories. This is the collection of …

Incorporating Effective Grammar Instruction Into The Classroom, Erin Mary Harrity

Honors Program Theses

The debate about the effectiveness of traditional grammar instruction has been ongoing for many decades now. Traditional grammar instruction involves memorization of grammatical rules and practice exercise drills. As early as 1936, the Curriculum Commission of the National Council of Teachers of English stated that “‘all teaching of grammar separate from the manipulation of sentences [should] be discontinued…since every scientific attempt to prove that knowledge of grammar is useful has failed’” (Weaver, Teaching 9). So why is grammar still being taught in the same way-through traditional direct instruction-in many schools? It is because some parents, administrators, politicians, researchers, and teachers …

Uncovering Morphological Variation In Light Of Genetic Data Within The Ozark Minnow, Notropis Nubilus, Sara Katherine Holmes

Honors Program Theses

It has been hypothesized that the modern distribution of the Ozark minnow was shaped by the fragmentation of a widespread ancestral population by periodic glaciations during the late Pliocene and early Pleistocene eras (Berendzen et al., 2010). Today, the species comprises three distinct genetic clades that are: upper Mississippi and northern Ozarks, western Ozarks, and southern Ozarks. In light of this hypothesis, the objective of this study is to determine if the morphology of the fish displays differences that parallel the genetic variation. One way to determine these morphological differences within a population is to look at the geometric morphometrics …

The Secret Life Of The American Teenager And Its Implicit Sexual Consequences: A Content Analysis, Olivia Lynn Egen

Honors Program Theses

My content analysis of The Secret Life of the American Teenager contributes information on the physical consequences of sexual acts to studies already conducted from content analyses of today's popular television shows. It also makes a contribution to the existing research because no one has studied this particular show. Because it is aired on a 'family network', it is specifically geared toward teens in a way other programs that have been studied have not been. The present research centers on the sexual acts of main characters, safe sex practices, types of sexual acts, gender of characters participating in these sexual …

Thomas Jefferson And His Religious Beliefs In The Contexts Of History And Today, Nolan Christian Hovland

Honors Program Theses

The written word has great power. It has been said that the pen is more powerful than the sword, and one would be hard pressed to prove otherwise. When studying a figure from history like Thomas Jefferson. it is possible to study the architectural designs, pictures, artifacts from his Iifetime, as well as the recent DNA discoveries. but his written words allow for the most complete study of his life. Like other men and women of his day, Jefferson wrote many, many letters. These letters were written to scores of different people over the course of his life. I le …

Appearance And Perception: The Effects Of Hair Color And Weight On Product Perception, Jamie Harthoorn

Honors Program Theses

Human models are frequently used in advertisements to assist in selling the product. In particular, the use of attractive models is common and seen as a way to grab the viewer's attention and encourage purchase. The common theory is that attractiveness sells: the more attractive the model, the more positive the perception toward the product advertised. On the other hand, the effectiveness of this assumption is difficult to measure. Past researchers have looked at this idea of the effectiveness of attractiveness, but few have looked at specific elements of attractiveness like hair color or weight. Specifically, little research has examined …

Making A Change: Motivational Interviewing In A College Group Setting, Hannah Jo Culbertson

Honors Program Theses

Motivational interviewing is a client-centered counseling style that aims to help reduce ambivalence and create a behavior change. It is typically done in a one-on-one setting. The purpose of this research was to test a group educational session based on motivational interviewing strategies, for its effectiveness in evoking an individualized behavior changes in a group of college students. The session utilized several techniques specifically chosen to be most effective in reducing ambivalence and helping students discover their own individual solution to a problem in order to more successfully make a health related change in their lives.

Pay Expectations: How Do They Influence Selection Of College Degrees And Motivational Effort Towards College?, Benjamin J. Mccarty

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of the study is to examine the effects of expected monetary compensation on selection of degree type and motivation to succeed in college. These pay expectations are created based on factors such as educational background required for position and knowledge of personal capabilities and competence. A sample of 57 undergraduate college students, ages 18 and over, took a survey assessing undergraduate major, salary expectations in their post-college career, and motivation of success in college. Levels of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation are measured and compared with pay expectations to determine the motivational influence towards selecting a college major. Gender …

The Overrepresentation Of Minorities In Special Education: A Conceptual Analysis Of A Longstanding Conundrum, Aimee Sargent

Honors Program Theses

The purpose of this analysis is to examine the issue of overrepresentation of minorities in special education, with a focus on the varying conceptual and theoretical perspectives among scholars and educators regarding the causes and potential solutions to the problem. Views of the issue will be described by comparing traditional perspectives with nontraditional perspectives. Further scrutiny of these views then leads to an analysis of differing epistemologies, contrasting the realist/objective view with that of non-realist constructivism. Thorough examinations of these issues provide a framework of overrepresentation in light of disability and race conceptualizations and present a new approach for addressing …

Differences In Interim Financial Reporting: Gaap Vs. Ifrs, Benjamin Carton

Honors Program Theses

This thesis examines the different accounting standards on the topic of interim financial reporting. It answers the question: What are the differences in accounting reporting standards on interim financial reporting between GAAP and IFRS? As the world becomes more globalized, it is likely that GAAP and IFRS will eventually be merged into one universal set of accounting rules. In order to arrive at this combined set of rules, the differences must first be understood and evaluated. Based on existing theory and research, I have argued which specific approach is preferable. I have recommended that the discrete basis be used to …

Why Do Corporations Donate? An Analysis Of Factors Affecting Corporate Philanthropy, Patrick Luensmann

Honors Program Theses

The purpose is to determine the influence of measureable economic variables on corporate philanthropy among the top 30 American companies between 2007 and 2009. The significant variables in the model, with a 10% significance level, are Net Income, Assets, Financial Leverage, PE Ratio, and Profit Margin. The model can account for 87.41% of the change between the two years.

"The Effect Of Basic Financial Literacy On Choice Of College Major": A Study Of Accounting And Education Majors At A Four-Year University In The Midwest, Austin Prescott Foster

Honors Program Theses

Previous studies have been done to gauge the level of financial literacy possessed by various cultural sub-groups, what students in different majors see as the driving forces behind what they want their career to be, and income inequalities between jobs. There is currently a gap in the literature with respect to whether knowing the yearly income of one's parent(s) plays a significant role in major choice. This research was conducted to determine whether disclosure of yearly income by parents influences their child's choice of college major.

Media Representation In "Shifting Contexts:" Saving The "Abandoned Child Of Orient", Zheng Zhu

Iowa Journal of Communication

Representations of Chinese orphans by U.S. print media and online adoption agencies were explored. Grounded on theoretical foundations of media representation (Grossberg, 1984; Miller, 1988; Severin & Tankard, 1997) and critical discourse analysis (Fairclough & Wodak, 1997), findings revealed U.S. media constructed Chinese orphans as exotic, commodifiable, feminine, and inassimilable victims of their cultural and national origin. The inherent inferiority of "Chineseness" was legitimized through either the explicit representation of their prior suffering experiences as a China-born baby of a dysfunctional family or the romanticization of their journey to American families as a process of becoming civilized. Accordingly, the image …

The Factors That Contribute To The Persuasiveness Of Political Advertising Messages, Lindsey A. Harvell, Michael W. Pfau

Iowa Journal of Communication

Scholars in a variety of disciplines have studied political advertising for decades. However, the extant research has failed to examine the interaction between candidate sponsor (Republican vs. Democrat), topic (issue vs. image), and tone (positive vs. negative) affecting influence (willingness to vote for a particular candidate). A study was conducted during the 2008 primaries using 144 undergraduate students from a large southern university. Results revealed a three-way interaction of candidate, topic, and tone on advertisement influence.

A Storybook For Children With Celiac Disease, Heather A. Hope

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this research project was to create a children's story cookbook that addresses the dietary adaptions to avoid gluten and wheat for children diagnosed with celiac. Children's literature has a need for a cookbook that will have recipes appealing to children and have pictures that will make the recipes/ food more visually attractive. The book also included child friendly directions so that a parent can assist a child in preparing the food. The story cookbook also told the story of a young child who has celiac, who is learning to eat differently and to adapt to her disease. …

The Use Of Nonfiction With Early Childhood Aged Children, Lacy J. Rose

Graduate Research Papers

Many children enter upper elementary unprepared to effectively read and write nonfiction. Some researchers suggest that children's lack of developmentally appropriate experiences with nonfiction during the early childhood years is in part to blame for this later school difficulty. The purpose of this literature review is to investigate the appropriateness of nonfiction for young children, as well as potential benefits and drawbacks of its inclusion in early childhood classrooms. This review of research is followed by the review of the implications current research has had on practice. In addition, suggested ways to increase early exposure to nonfiction are examined.

Implementing A Family Involvement Project In Early Childhood Classrooms, Elizabeth Barrett

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this family involvement project is to provide professional development to preschool teachers in the Sioux City Community School District. Through professional development, the teachers will design and implement family involvement activities in their classrooms to achieve the three goals of this project. The research reviewed focused on the benefits of family involvement and why it is important in preschool. Research studies indicated that preschool aged children do benefit from having their families involved in their education.

Universal Design For Learning At The University Of Northern Iowa, Marty Mark

Graduate Research Papers

Universal Design for Learning has the potential to minimize the need for assistive technologies and to maximize learning opportunities for all. Recognition of diverse learning styles is prevalent in K-12 settings, but rare in higher education, making this an area requiring additional focus. Understanding key principles and specific strategies that can be implemented in a postsecondary setting can significantly influence success in postsecondary and adult learning environments.

This review and the accompanying project defines Universal Design for Learning, explains the underlying science, identifies the three guiding principles, and discusses course design methods. Opportunities associated with implementing UDL at postsecondary …

Infant Literacy, Tera Weber

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this project is to share the importance of reading to infants with their caregivers and teachers. This project will highlight what the research says regarding reading, what the infants gain from reading, and ideas on how to incorporate reading into group settings with infants through a professional development project. Participants in this professional development opportunity will be able to see recorded examples of teachers reading to infants, infants interacting with text, and materials that teachers may take back to their classrooms.

Measuring Depth Of Understanding When Using Smartphones As Cognitive Tools In The Elementary Classroom, Lisa Westcott Schaa

Graduate Research Papers

The intent of this research was to measure how students' depth of understanding was affected by using smartphones in an elementary classroom, and what effects these cognitive tools had on students' abilities to express their level of understanding of the unit on Earth Changes. This empirical research took place for six weeks in the fall of 2011 with a class of eighteen Caucasian boys and girls of middle to low income economic status in a small town in Iowa. Students were a given a pre-test using traditional paper and pencil. Participants were split into two groups-with one group using traditional …

Concept-Based Picture Books For Mathematics, Miranda E. Kral

Graduate Research Papers

New picture books are published every year. Teacher librarians continuously search for new titles to add to their collections through collection development. A resource was not available that provided a list of children's picture books that include a conceptual approach to mathematics. The purpose of this project was to develop an annotated bibliography of children's picture books which, after analysis by the researcher, included materials that take a conceptual approach to mathematics learning for upper elementary students.

The project was completed by selecting children's picture books, meeting selection 13 criteria, found in WorldCat that included multiplication or division concepts. The …

What About The Girls? The Female Fantasy Protagonist In Contemporary Young Adult Literature, Christine M. Tomlinson

Graduate Research Papers

Most are familiar with the Hero archetype as he's been seen from The Odyssey to Star Wars. However, rarely is a female seen in that role. This study attempted to discern the characteristics and the journey of the female hero in Young Adult contemporary fantasy literature. The researcher attempted to answer the following questions:

1. Are contemporary female heroines in fantasy young adult literature more typically Earth Mother/Temptress in nature than Hero?

2. Do contemporary female heroines' journeys significantly differ from the traditional archetypal hero's journey?

3. Is there a new archetype emerging, and if so, what are its characteristics? …

The Impact Of Worksite Wellness Programs On Employee Productivity, Kacie K. Dielschneider

Graduate Research Papers

In the modem business environment, both employees and managers are faced 1 with numerous pressures to perform to corporate expectations. These pressures are often created by competitive business environments, environments that impose continuous change, and the internal revamping or progressing job responsibilities that create stressful working conditions (Noelcks, 2012). Alongside several other pressures in this high paced business world, it is vital to maintain a highly motivated and productive workforce.

The New Literacies: Transitioning The Secondary Writing Workshop Classroom, Laura Schafer

Graduate Research Papers

The New Literacies are an important aspect of education in the 21 st Century. As with any educational reform, there is some confusion surrounding the terminology of this movement. This paper will review the major components of the new literacies as well as examining the increased use of technology within the secondary writing workshop classroom. With the advancement of technology, students are incorporating more computer use both in and out of the classroom. ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) literacy skills must begin to transition into all classrooms; teaching includes the use of technology as part of instruction rather than a …

Worksite Wellness: Best Practices, Sarah C. Tighe

Graduate Research Papers

This is an overview of the best practices of worksite wellness. It examines how worksite wellness benefits employers through the containment of health care costs, better return on investments, and healthier and more productive employees for companies. It discusses the major themes of best practice workplaces, with three examples of companies that have succeeded in the development of their wellness programs. It concludes with a summary and discussion of the literature followed by a recommendation for employers and a recommendation for future research.

Relationships Between Exercise Self-Efficacy, Social Support, Transtheoritical Model And Self-Regulation On Perceived Wellness Among College Students, Zachary Sherman

Graduate Research Papers

The purpose of this research is to examine the relationship between social support, exercise self-efficacy, and self-regulation on perceived wellness (physical, emotional, social, intellectual, psychological, and spiritual) among college students. It is hypothesized that those with higher exercise self-efficacy and self-regulation will also have high perceived wellness. Relationships among social support with the social, physical, and emotional sub-dimensions of perceived wellness will also be researched. Specifically, the type of social support given as a reflection on individuals' perceived wellness will be researched.

The Relationship Between Physical Activity And Academic Achievement, Annie M. Stoessel

Graduate Research Papers

The relationship between physical activity, physical education and academic achievement has gained increased attention in recent years. The nation's obesity rates keep rising and the nation's students continue to be less active than needed to maintain their health. Complicating the issue is the added pressure that schools have felt to cut physical education and physical activity from the school day in order to include more time for the core curriculum. Recently, new research has been added to the conversation that focuses on the relationship of physical activity and its impact on the brain and specifically student cognition. The focus of …

Invented Spelling And Its Value In Kindergarten, Michelle J. Mcdonald

Graduate Research Papers

This review examined the purpose of invented spelling in kindergarten, and what invented spelling can tell us about a child's development of letter/sound knowledge, phonemic awareness skills, concepts of print, and language skills. Additional examination of literature on invented spelling in a comprehensive literacy program focused on the connection between reading and writing. Several studies included comparisons of writing instructional methods. Invented spelling has value as an assessment tool for various literacy skills. Criticisms and controversies were reviewed, as well as recommendations for the use of invented spelling to optimize its value in the kindergarten curriculum. Findings of the review …

Integrating Literacy Into The Math Classroom : A Staff Development For Innovative Educators, Kathryn Pollina

Graduate Research Papers

With the collaboration and advice of several mentors and practicing teachers, I found using strategies proven to help students during literacy instruction also had the same effect during mathematics instruction. I took various instructional activities, focused around using reading and writing skills in math, and was able to effectively instruct this group of students. This experience piqued my interest in the connection between literacy and mathematics. As a result, I decided to continue my research into how to effectively integrate these two core subject areas, investigating the efficacy of combining mathematics with literacy instruction.

Writing Workshop: A Comparison Of Theory And Practice, Brandi Dawn Delveau

Honors Program Theses

Good writing starts with good teachers. Being a good teacher of writing involves understanding the most effective practices of writing. These effective practices are brought together through the implementation of the writing workshop in classrooms, although there will be slight variations from one author or educator to the next. Having a firm understanding of the writing workshop is a foundation for teaching writing in any elementary grade. The writing workshop is a teaching framework that allows children to learn to use the writing process, which consists of prewriting, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing. The various components of the workshop (mini-lessons, …