Digital Commons Network^™

The Deep End: A Journey Of Faith, Janet M. Henderson

Masters Theses

This paper is an expansion of papers written in my MFA program’s creative non-fiction writing class and workshop. In English 600: Editing, Layout, and Publishing, the class wrote a paper to document our faith journey and our approach to understanding ourselves and our worldview based on our religious indoctrination. This paper was 10-15 pages long and had a title page, a table of contents, an acknowledgment page, and a dedication page. After writing this paper, I began to consider the possibility of writing a longer work that would dig deeper into the real essence of my faith walk. It would …

Identification And Treatment Of Kierkegaardian Despair: An Informal Indirect Apologetic Strategy, Licio Soares

Masters Theses

The central question this paper aimed at addressing was: How to present the gospel to people that are resistant to its presentation? The Danish philosopher and theologian Soren Kierkegaard suggested that the best strategy in this scenario was indirect communication. In Kierkegaard’s pseudonymous writings many theological themes were indirectly presented as philosophical ones. The following Kierkegaardian themes were selected and arranged into a two-phase apologetic strategy that can be used in informal conversational settings: Anxiety, Despair, The Crowd, Single Individual, Revelation, and Faith. Indirect communication takes place in the first phase which is comprised of the first four themes. The …

Utilizing Campbell's Listening Models In The Elementary Music Room, Rachel Haass Boyer

Masters Theses

Patricia Shehan Campbell work revolves around her created Listening Models to teach World Music to students of all ages utilizing a culturally accurate method. As a result, from her research, this study asks do Campbell’s Listening Models help students retain cultural and musical information on a music culture, specifically the Eastern Shoshone. Although example lessons exist in Campbell’s works as well as the Smithsonian Folkways website, research on the effectiveness is lacking. In order to test the effectiveness, this study offers a set of lessons based on the Eastern Shoshone for fourth and fifth grade students and tracks their learning …

Understanding Toxic Cycles And How To Defeat Them: How Poetry Can Heal, Tosha Marie Brown

Masters Theses

Cathartic writing dates back millennia. Poetry, as a form of therapy, has been used in history to nurture the soul. Its effects go deeper than spiritually, and has been shown to aid in dealing with depression, anxiety and negative behaviors.

Paul J. Rainey: Northeast Mississippi's Hidden Legend, Peyton Elizabeth Holliday

Masters Theses

Paul J. Rainey was a man of the 20th century who had it all. A fortune, land, ability to travel, and fame. He was a big game hunter who out did all others and a wildlife filmmaker who broke records and helped to finance the beginning of Universal Studios. While all his claims to fame were with hunting and filmmaking, Rainey went on to serve in the Great War as an ambulance driver, spy, and Captain in the British army. Rainey was originally from Ohio, but in 1901 he bought land in Northeast Mississippi. Here, Rainey established his Tippah Lodge …

Exploring The Pulse Of Design And Music: The Impact Of Visual Rhythm In Design For Auditorily Impaired Music Students, Nina Marie Tedeschi

Masters Theses

Auditorily impaired music students struggle to understand musical rhythms and patterns which can lead to frustration, low self-esteem, lack of developing musical skills, and reduced music appreciation. Often, the needs of those with hearing challenges are overlooked in the curriculum planning process. This research aims to show the importance of providing appropriate learning methods and materials for music students who are hearing impaired. Specifically, this study focuses on the elements of patterns, repetition of patterns, and rhythm within the visual designs used in the instruction of musical elements. The methods used in this research are based upon observation, investigation, and …

Dress The Mess: An Art Therapy Awareness Social Media Marketing Campaign For Young Adults Dealing With Trauma, Victoria Leigh Alba

Masters Theses

This research analyzes the effects of art therapy on young adults between the ages of 18-29 dealing with emotional trauma. The research includes an in-depth exploration of various types of art therapy: visual art, dance, music, photography, and visual journaling. Furthermore, the study explores the lack of awareness of art therapy and how, through a social media awareness campaign, the narrative can be advanced to promote art therapy awareness. Finally, this paper aims to provide insight and practical strategies through a social marketing guerilla campaign, “Dress the Mess,” by incorporating photography, graphic design, and the social media platform Instagram to …

Supernatural Evil As Evidence For The Existence Of God, Shane Stone Geisler

Masters Theses

This study challenges widely held beliefs about the supernatural realm. Those who believe the supernatural realm exists tend to accept there is a personable higher power at work in our world. The naturalistic worldview denies the existence of anything or anyone beyond our physical universe. This paper will first inform the reader of a history of beliefs in the supernatural. Next, an innovative approach will be taken to provide evidence for the supernatural world. Finally, the evidence will be examined to determine its reliability and identify common themes found throughout the research. The information provided is not intended to be …

Choosing Evidence Over Theory: How The Evidence For The Resurrection Undermines A Priori Arguments Against Miracles, Benjamin D. Graber

Masters Theses

For centuries, the prevailing arguments against miracles have been based on David Hume and others’ a priori arguments. These theoretical arguments continue to be debated as they are not especially persuasive to those who are ideologically opposed. Because these arguments are theoretical in nature, they exclude the possibility of miraculous events. As such, there are two ways of arguing against a priori arguments. First, one can argue from an opposing theoretical viewpoint and debate the logic within the arguments. Second, one can argue for the probability of one miraculous event. If one event can be proven likely to have occurred, …

Wrongfully Accused: Germany And The Origins Of World War I, Jauschua Curtis Stout

Masters Theses

By examining the events that led to the outbreak of the First World War, one can determine whether any one nation was responsible for starting the war or failed to exercise its ability to prevent it. The origins of The First World War have seen no shortage of attention from historians in the hundred-plus years since its conclusion. Nevertheless, none have successfully presented a case that explains how what should have been a relatively minor diplomatic crisis transformed into the First World War. Instead, the traditional stance of blaming Germany for the war has been the de facto argument since …

Chaplaincy Upholds The West’S Value Of Tolerance Not Acceptance, Monique Decandido

Masters Theses

Throughout history, the differences between humanity led mankind to experience many hardships, even wars. These differences include religion or beliefs, tribal differences, racial differences, and geographical differences. Over time, and after much bloodshed and despondency of life, critical thinking men began to develop a strategy for humanity to get along together despite their differences. The question and the challenge of how mankind can get along together without engaging in conflicts about their differences became the chief thinking cap throughout the West. Humanity realized that the answer to their question and challenge was tolerance. Now forwarding into the 21st century, the …

Potential Impacts Of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Infestation On Forest Overstory And Avian Assemblages In West Michigan, Usa, Nathaniel Sq Wagner

Masters Theses

Invasive species threaten the health and resiliency of native ecosystems wherever they are found. The damage caused by invasive species often leads to a cascade that degrades the ecosystem as a whole. In eastern North America, the invasive insect, hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae; HWA), threatens the continued existence of eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) and the species that are associated with it. Often considered a foundation species, eastern hemlock influences the structure and composition of eastern forests by lowering soil temperature, subsequently raising soil moisture content. In the absence of hemlock, many forests become dominated by …

God Alone Is Good And Wise: A Free Will Defense For The Logical Problem Of Moral Disagreement, Maria Carolina Reis Baeta

Masters Theses

Moral disagreement is commonly regarded as a threat to objective morality in academic literature and popular culture and perhaps one of the most significant objections against the Christian theistic moral theory. Some skeptics argue that, since people diverge about what is right and wrong, and in doing so, they provoke moral evil and human suffering, the Christian view that an all-powerful, all-knowing, and all-good God is behind morality is inconsistent. Numerous questions about the revelation of God's moral law, God's power to prevent moral disagreement, and even the reasons for creating a world with such moral disagreements lead people to …

The Advantage Of An Iterative Writing Process For Novels And Short Stories, Annie Jackson

Masters Theses

Many writers struggle with completing a novel when they follow the traditional process of working through plot, character and world building problems in prewriting activities followed by sitting and drafting the story in a linear process scene by scene and chapter by chapter. This thesis proposes an alternate iterative approach. Iterative drafting creates multiple smaller versions of the full story that build to a first draft. By moving several problem solving activities into the draft itself writers can find increased opportunity for quick analysis, low effort corrections and a more efficient drafting method. This thesis lays out the description and …

New Models For Worship: Music Education Philosophy In The Multiculturally Fragmented Sanctuary, Sandra Diana Constanze Hendricks

Masters Theses

Worship seems to have been approached from theological and sociological perspectives but not through the lens of ideas and frameworks in music education philosophy. This study uses a survey of scholarly works to examine the influence these ideas and frameworks could have on the event of worship leading regarding changes to the agency of fragmented and multicultural worship identities. The study is based on a model of transformative historical research. It analyses ideas and frameworks of music education theory in the context of Christianity in the post-structuralist era. The results and interpretation confirmed that the application of tendential rhizomatic models …

Making Music Theory Fun, Jordan E. Montana Richards

Masters Theses

This curriculum project will attempt to demonstrate how having fun can facilitate learning music theory. Furthermore, in this project, I also propose that using games, songs, mnemonic devices, and other types of wordplay and edutainment (the marriage of education and entertainment) can combat summer learning loss and other learning gaps or school breaks, in addition to inspiring the motivation, interest, and desire within students to learn. My curriculum project will also claim that by having fun and enjoying their learning, students will be more likely to improve and develop their musicianship skills. Within this curriculum project, I will attempt to …

Defending The Resurrection Of Jesus Through The Reliability Of The Credible Witnesses, Gregory K. Cherven

Masters Theses

The purpose of this thesis is to illuminate the fact that there is sufficient evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ through the reliability of the credible witnesses. Although physical evidence is lacking, it does not mean there is not sufficient evidence. Is it necessary to have physical evidence to secure a conviction? Criminal cases will be explored in which murder convictions were secured without the recovery of a dead body, physical evidence, or a confession. The convictions were secured based solely on witness testimony. The eye-witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus are evaluated through a modern lens and there …

Independence, Slavery, And Freedom: Southern Women’S Thoughts During The Civil War, Bethany Susan Harper

Masters Theses

This study explores the complex relationship between southern women and their ideas of independence and freedom during the Civil War years. In addition, this study seeks to investigate how southern women’s attitudes regarding slavery changed from 1861-1865. With their husbands, brothers, and fathers serving in the war, southern women were forced to become the sole white authority figures on their estates. This reality shift made them come to understand just how dependent their independence was on slavery. Southern women believed that independence could only come to the Confederacy, and it was inconceivable to have a simultaneous future where the Confederacy …

Then Sings The Church A New Song, Ian D. Bula

Masters Theses

The collective life of the Ancient Israelites was defined by a tumultuous journey through the desert as the primary setting where God continuously sought a relationship with them. Their liberation from Egyptian bondage was the central element that resulted from God’s self- revelation and action toward His people. Their response to Him in worship reflects the nature instilled in all humankind to respond in many ways to divine action. One of these ways is through the use of music. Music has accompanied the worship of God’s people since the time of the Patriarchs. The Exodus was the experience that sprung …

Songs Of Travel: An Analytical Study Of Ralph Williams’ Compositional Styles, Jonathan Jacobs Lawton

Masters Theses

Ralph Vaughan Williams is perhaps one of the most prolific and diverse composers from the British Isles to grace the world with his compositions. He was born in the middle of the English Musical Renaissance, a time of musical rejuvenation of the British Art Song that embraced the principles of the Romantic period and placed significance on the importance of national identity. Ralph Vaughan Williams was the embodiment of musical citizenship – a musical philosophy that leans heavily on national identity for inspiration of word and song. In 1901, a young Ralph Vaughan Williams began writing music for Songs of …

The Importance Of Regional Music To Music Education: The 1927 Bristol Sessions, Valerie E. Pickard

Masters Theses

It is widely accepted that the culture in which one lives is important to his/her understanding of self. Likewise, it has been shown that a working knowledge of cultural music aids in developing one’s musical identity. Although research indicates that there appears to be a gap in cultural music education, there has been little written as to how that gap can be filled, especially with respect to Appalachian cultural music. The Southern Appalachian Mountains are rich in musical diversity. In addition to the already present Native Americans, settlers came from Ireland, Germany, Africa, and other European countries and brought with …

Curriculum Development For Beginning Band: Recruitment And Retention Of Minority Students Living In Poverty, Thomas Andrew Langford

Masters Theses

Despite efforts in many schools to offer quality music education to all students, issues still prevent many minority students from participating in band programs. There are important and unique implications for minority students and students who live in poverty and their ability or desire to participate in a band program. Developing curriculum and teaching strategies to reach minority students and students living in poverty is one way to bridge the educational gap and provide an avenue for students to make a better way for themselves. The study examined existing literature to determine factors attracting or retracting this student population from …

Biblical Principles To Prevent Burn-Out For The Music Educator Based On Paul Tripp's Book, "Lead", Shannon Leigh Forester

Masters Theses

The Christian music educator and worship leader have common leadership roles where music and faith collide. Research and studies have been produced regarding the application of biblical principles to the role of the worship leader and other church leadership positions, but there is little information on how they apply to the role of the Christian music educator. This curriculum project was created to provide Christian music educators with a strong foundation for growing and maintaining spiritual wellness as they enter the field of music education and assist them in developing a plan for integrating these concepts into their everyday teaching …

Do The National Core Arts Standards (Ncas) Make A Difference In Music Education?, Jordan Mikaela Dues

Masters Theses

Fine arts advocates have pushed for arts to remain a foundation of education for decades Arguments have been made and published that participating in music courses increased scores in other subjects. A change occurred in the realm of music education when assessment-based learning and standardized curricula were introduced. The National Coalition for Core Arts Standards (NCCAS) was assembled to revise standards for the arts and create a way to assess them. The NCCAS presented the National Core Arts Standards (NCAS) in 2014 which led to its adoption in most states. There are many schools, however, that do not adhere to …

Ell Cultural Inclusion Initiative, Julia L. Gidley

Masters Theses

This project draws on Maslow’s theory of motivation using his hierarchy as a framework, as well as Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory. This project aims to engage and involve English Language Learners (ELL) in the classroom by informing educators of strategies that help to find commonalities among students and cultivate communication between Native English Speakers and ELLs thus developing a culturally inclusive classroom. By building the relationships between the two student subgroups (ELLs and NESs) teachers will gain a class of students who have a well-developed world view, increase language acquisition, and develop a deep appreciation and respect for other cultures. Through …

The Japanese Church And Cultural Engagement, Sarah Jane Garon

Masters Theses

This thesis addresses the current cultural engagement done by the Japanese church, with particular attention given to music and the arts. Japan has hosted Christian missionaries for over five centuries and yet most of the population do not claim the religion as their own. Much research has been devoted to understanding the history of Christianity in Japan and the relationship between Japanese Christians and non-Christian Japanese culture. However, very little research has been done on the interactions between Japanese Christians and music and art specifically. This thesis, therefore, is dedicated to discovering how Japanese Christians are currently engaging with music …

Developing Coping Strategies For Early Elementary Students In Relation To Anxiety, Kayle M. Ogrodzinski

Masters Theses

There has been a growing concern about the number of students exhibiting anxiety in schools. Research shows that implementing interventions can help reduce the amount anxiety in students. School counselors can implement small group lessons with a focus on a theoretical approach using cognitive behavioral therapy to help address this concern. This method allows the student to be in control of their feeling and learn to cope with what is making them anxious. This project acts as a guide for school counselors to implement small group lessons. It provides an outline of seven weekly sessions for students in early elementary …

The Concrete Ceiling Of Nonprofit Leadership, Leodis William Aaron Turner

Masters Theses

Abstract

This paper draws on a series of four in-depth interviews with African American executives who lead large non-profit organizations in West Michigan to argue that Black men and women in particular, and people of color more generally, experience a concrete ceiling to nonprofit leadership. The analysis is guided by a social innovation framework. In this case, that includes identifying the intervention needed (symptom to cause), designing methods (imagining solutions), developing solutions (prototyping), creating a plan to systemically innovate (recalibrating the nonprofit leadership pipeline for people of color and in particular, Black people), and scaling the plan (organizational growth and …

Financial Literacy: A Case Study On Current Practices, Briana Lee Hammontree

Masters Theses

In the last few years, the concern for financial illiteracy among teenagers has only grown as the economy has shifted. Many teenagers feel unprepared and unsecured moving forward with their finances as adults. This issue is intensified further among low-income and marginalized youths who deal with additional hardship in their lives. Accessibility is a huge issue among teenagers and the role of financial literacy of their lives in education is often predetermined by government officials and policies they can only really advocate for change for but cannot vote on. In this research I explore the concept of utilizing social innovation …

A Case Study Of Organizational Mobilization Best Practices For Natural Disasters, Jaclyn Ermoyan

Masters Theses

Researching mobilization best practices for natural disasters has concluded that volunteers respond best to having meaning behind the work that they do and when they are involved at all levels of the service they are doing. After interviewing a representative from the American Red Cross and a representative from Team Rubicon, it is clear that having a local focus leads to successful mobilization practices. Both organizations are able to move quickly and innovate because of their understanding that all disasters are different. The two organizations focus on training their volunteers and having various deployment requirements. According to this research, technology …