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Full-Text Articles in Rhetoric and Composition

Editing Choices In Narrative Oral History: A Case Study On Representation And Attribution, Deann Eldredge Hubberd Sep 2011

Editing Choices In Narrative Oral History: A Case Study On Representation And Attribution, Deann Eldredge Hubberd

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the popularity of narrative oral history projects, there is a lack of discussion about the process involved in crafting an oral history transcript into a cohesive and engaging narrative oral history. The editing decisions made in this process impact the ethos of the narrator, placing the responsibility of representation on the oral historian, and complicate attribution. This thesis broadens the discussion of the ethical and methodological dilemmas encountered when creating a narrative oral history and will elucidate current theories on the effects editing choices have on representation. This discussion is illustrated by a case study of my experience as …


A Proposal For Creating A Sports Themed First-Year Writing Course For Student-Athletes, Christopher Osborn Bell Aug 2011

A Proposal For Creating A Sports Themed First-Year Writing Course For Student-Athletes, Christopher Osborn Bell

Theses and Dissertations

A sports themed writing course could be a good start to helping student-athletes with their college writing. Studies have indicated that the majority of student-athletes are academic underachievers and are considered to be at a high risk of dropping out when they reach the college level. Many institutions are struggling to find ways to help their student-athletes succeed because colleges depend upon athletic programs to generate revenue and prestige which can also lead to higher enrollments. There is a general agreement that student-athletes aren't getting the same value out of their education as non-student-athletes, but there seems to be a …


"Macabre Parables: The 'Slasher' Film As Morality Play", Brad Scott Pierce Sep 2010

"Macabre Parables: The 'Slasher' Film As Morality Play", Brad Scott Pierce

Theses and Dissertations

Many film genres have experienced their periods of popularity and eventual fallout, some to their demise. The horror genre, on the other hand, has never lost its audience. Many times, critics have declared horror "dead" and yet have been amazed to see its resurgence again. What makes terror so much fun for America? This project seeks to understand the continual popularity of the often maligned genre known as "horror" and asks if there are rhetorical implications in these films that reach far beyond exploitation. Does horror tap into certain religious paradigms that have spiritual resonance within our American culture? Do …


Scientific Language: The Fear Of The Unknown (A Ualr Course Proposal), Ashley Stanley Block Sep 2010

Scientific Language: The Fear Of The Unknown (A Ualr Course Proposal), Ashley Stanley Block

Theses and Dissertations

Scientific Language: The Fear of the Unknown (A UALR Course Proposal) is a final project written as a proposal for the implementation of a science writing course within the Department of Creative Writing at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. The project is complete with a syllabus, assignments, an extensive review of relevant literature, as well as a personal reflection regarding the importance of communicating scientific knowledge to lay audiences.


Tangles: Conversations About My Life, Patricia M. Hornbeck Sep 2010

Tangles: Conversations About My Life, Patricia M. Hornbeck

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis is a collection of nonfiction narrative essays. It reveals an examination of my life from childhood through several crises, recounting episodes within a dysfunctional nuclear family, marriage at an early age, and serious illness in my twenties. The autobiographical pieces reveal my journey out of childhood poverty, to becoming a successful parent, eventually divorcing, and entering college as an adult student. Each piece tells part of my story in coming closer to self-actualization and independence. It begins with a brief introduction followed by seven chapters. The final, concluding chapter explores my thoughts, memories, teachers, and theories that have …


Stories From Life: A Collection Of Creative Nonfiction Shorts, Amanda Michelle Brucks Sep 2010

Stories From Life: A Collection Of Creative Nonfiction Shorts, Amanda Michelle Brucks

Theses and Dissertations

Stories From Life: A Collection of Creative Nonfiction Shorts deals with different aspects of and a different time periods in the author's life. The pieces in this collection are meant to stand alone, but when read together give a solid understanding of who the author is, where she comes from, and how she became the person she is today. The final piece deals directly with creative nonfiction as a genre, and defines both shorts and creative nonfiction for the reader.


Toward A Retention-Focused Compostion Pedagogy: The Composition Classroom As A Space To Promote Retention, Mark Isbell Sep 2010

Toward A Retention-Focused Compostion Pedagogy: The Composition Classroom As A Space To Promote Retention, Mark Isbell

Theses and Dissertations

Retention scholarship and theory is discussed, synthesized, and brought into juxtaposition with concepts and practices of composition pedagogy in order to elicit an understanding of the role that composition pedagogy might play in retention initiatives. Surveys conducted at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Department of Creative Writing are drawn on to determine what practices might be seen as "retention friendly" in light of the review of retention scholarship. Empirical data is described that shows a correlation between participation in composition classes at UALR and increased student retention. A readily accessible theoretical model is offered for use by composition …


Identity As Performance And Narrative Within Facebook, Trent Michael Kays Sep 2010

Identity As Performance And Narrative Within Facebook, Trent Michael Kays

Theses and Dissertations

How does a user construct and maintain identity within Facebook is the central question of this thesis. This question is approached from an identity as performance and narrative perspective. The available means for performance and narrative are examined in this work and formed into categories based on Facebook user types.


Caught Between Two Paradigms: Changes In The Community Foundation Field And The Rhetoric Of Community Foundation Websites, Sarah Elizabeth Kinser Sep 2010

Caught Between Two Paradigms: Changes In The Community Foundation Field And The Rhetoric Of Community Foundation Websites, Sarah Elizabeth Kinser

Theses and Dissertations

In this investigation, I analyzed the websites of three community foundations and interviewed communications personnel from each foundation to determine how and to what extent their websites address the rhetorical challenges implied by ongoing changes in the field that necessitate a more collaborative, community-oriented approach. The stated key messages of the personnel I interviewed emphasize community involvement and partnership, yet their comments indicate that they view their websites as tools for informing rather than interacting. The sites' structure and functionality foreground institutional information and push community-oriented and interactive content to the periphery. Additionally, the sites' formal language and use of …


Students Say The Darndest Things! A Conversation Analysis For Teaching Assistants In The First-Year-Writing Classroom, Meredith Mcmillan Sep 2010

Students Say The Darndest Things! A Conversation Analysis For Teaching Assistants In The First-Year-Writing Classroom, Meredith Mcmillan

Theses and Dissertations

Teaching writing is about more than just the writing itself. It's about effective communication between students and teachers, which should create a positive and productive writing environment. However, within conversations, challenges of authority are likely to occur. This project discusses the pitfalls of communication between teaching assistants and students in the first-year-writing classroom. These pitfalls are defined as discourse violations, and are further explained and analyzed using concepts of language theory. Case studies of discourse violation scenarios are presented for discussion. Each scenario illustrates various types of discourse violations, and creates an awareness of the need for classroom management. Ultimately, …


Seeing Through The Clouds, Sandra Louise Bakke Dec 2009

Seeing Through The Clouds, Sandra Louise Bakke

Theses and Dissertations

A memoir written in vignettes shows how the writer's childhood, family, and faith connect the past with the present. In searching for words to express memory, the writing uncovers and discovers what needs to be said. The selected narratives attest to events and influences that reveal the ever hovering shadow of the past as I see it. Through the clouds of memory, the stories mold themselves until they become the truth, a portrait of the author's self identity as daughter, mother, wife, Christian, and storyteller.


Setting Expectations And Finding Respect And Job Satisfaction As A Technical Writer, Heather Iacobacci-Miller Dec 2009

Setting Expectations And Finding Respect And Job Satisfaction As A Technical Writer, Heather Iacobacci-Miller

Theses and Dissertations

Out of an unhappy work experience as a lone technical writer, I became curious about the experiences of other technical writers. Were they similar to mine? If not, what did they know that I did not? What does the literature say? I answered these questions using my personal experiences, literary research, and a three-part study that included an initial survey, an in-depth survey, and personal interviews. I found three common themes: 1) varied definitions and job descriptions for technical writers, 2) a common feeling that many employers do not understand what technical writers do, and 3) a common need to …


Storied Things: A Memoir In Possessions, Erin Pennington Dec 2009

Storied Things: A Memoir In Possessions, Erin Pennington

Theses and Dissertations

Storied Things: A Memoir in Possessions is a personal essay collection comprised of stories behind objects of importance to the author. The subjects of the essays range in scope from family heirlooms and artifacts to those objects intended for consumption. The objects explored reflect the author's identity, become the touch points for present and past, indicate connection and disconnect, and serve as catalysts for the author's imagination.


Defining The Role Of Citizens In Dialogic Environmental Risk Communication, Holly Lynn Anderson Nov 2009

Defining The Role Of Citizens In Dialogic Environmental Risk Communication, Holly Lynn Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

Risk communication has evolved into an interdisciplinary study involving the work of communication specialists, psychologists, attorneys, and rhetoricians. Of particular interest has been the interaction between government and citizens in environmental risk communication. This interaction has been characterized by citizen outrage in response to dictatorial governmental decision-making. In response, researchers have called for true two-way dialogue between government and the public. This project addressses risk communication during the permitting of hazardous waste management facilities under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, identifying the failure to implement two-way dialogue. The project addresses two concerns: (1) the impact of existing legal barriers, …


Leigh And Lorne: Lost In The Credit Maze, Tatanya Stewart Mar 2009

Leigh And Lorne: Lost In The Credit Maze, Tatanya Stewart

Theses and Dissertations

Leigh and Lorne: Lost in the Credit Maze is a tool designed to teach teenagers, ages 15-17, about key consumer credit terms and concepts. Included in this document is the "Leigh and Lorne Credit Adventure Series," which is a collection of short stories introducing adolescents to key credit terms and concepts. The document also consists of the storyboard for an interactive video game, "Leigh and Lorne: Lost in the Credit Maze," the rules for the interactive game, initial questions for the game. A reflective essay notes the theories consulted when designing the project and explains how they influenced the final …


Communication Handbook For Beginning Entrepreneurs, Janet Emanuella Harris-George Mar 2009

Communication Handbook For Beginning Entrepreneurs, Janet Emanuella Harris-George

Theses and Dissertations

This document is an unpublished book manuscript termed Communication Handbook for Beginning Entrepreneurs. It consists of step by step instructions to assist students to compose documents they will encounter in a business setting.


Wing Beats And Rice Fields, Tommy Alan Bennett Mar 2009

Wing Beats And Rice Fields, Tommy Alan Bennett

Theses and Dissertations

"Wing Beats and Rice Fields" is my story about my outdoor adventures that took place in the fields of Stuttgart and across the Grand Prairie of Arkansas. These fields helped me realize my greatest triumphs as a hunter and as a human being. My memoir reflects my respect and admiration for nature and the waterfowl I hunted. It also provides a message of hope through one of life's toughest challenges.


The Rhetoric Of Leadership: A Look At Leadership Through The Rhetorical Triangle, Kathryn M. Oliverio Jan 2008

The Rhetoric Of Leadership: A Look At Leadership Through The Rhetorical Triangle, Kathryn M. Oliverio

Theses and Dissertations

The rhetorical triangle (sender/message/receiver) applies to more than just writing papers and delivering speeches. It is applicable to effective leadership as well. This leadership triangle includes the leader, the message or the leader's goals, and the follower. In order for leaders to be effective, they must understand their strengths and weaknesses, because both help form a leader's morale character (ethos). Leaders must also analyze their audience. A leader's audience, referred to as followers in this Final Project, is made up of human beings and all humans are different. These differences can be analyzed by looking at differences in personality, needs, …