Communication Commons^™

"Does My Student Need Aac?": Identifying The Factors Influencing Speech-Language Pathologists' Initiation Of Aac Evaluations Through Survey, Charisse Lapuebla

Honors Theses

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) methods and devices enable individuals to communicate when otherwise unable to communicate fluently and verbally. Introducing AAC to children with developmental disabilities encourages increased communication and speech production (Yuan et al., 2024). ASHA states that there are no prerequisites for AAC use. The authors wholeheartedly agree with this position (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, n.d.). However, if no exclusion criteria for AAC use exists, AAC should be considered for each and every student. This is not common practice in the field. Due to the absence of exclusion criteria, the factors that prompt speech-language pathologists to initiate an …

Zero Textbook Cost Syllabus For Com 1010 (Speech Communication) - College Now, Giselle Blanco

Open Educational Resources

This course provides training and practice in the preparation and delivery of original speeches, encourages the use of clear language, develops students' awareness of intellectual and ethical aspects of communication, and promotes critical thinking and academic research. This course is required for all undergraduate degrees granted by Baruch College.

This course is designed to acquaint students with the theory and practice of basic speech communication skills. The focus of the course is on extemporaneous public speaking, with particular emphasis on the speaking situations and genres that students are likely to encounter. Along with formal speeches, the course incorporates other forms …

Queer Advocacy For Palestinian Liberation, Andrew J. Joseph

SPARK Symposium Presentations

This paper is an examination of the ways that queer individuals have advocated for the decolonization of Palestine, and the ways in which tensions have arisen as a result of the intersection of the movements.

Competitive Language Use: A Linguistic Analysis Of Speech And Debate, Gina Iberri-Shea

Studies in Debate and Oratory

This study explores linguistic variation in competitive debate and prepared speech. A corpus of competitive public speech was collected and the situational characteristics of two contexts were analyzed. The linguistic characteristics of texts in each category were calculated along five dimensions of variation found across texts in English, and placed among other types of texts. Results show that three of the dimensions were able to distinguish between the two registers. The results indicate a clear direction for future work and implications for English for Academic Purposes instruction.

Cripistemology And Creative Practice: Disability, Aesthetics, Digital Art, Generative Ai, Talan Memmott Phd

CLASP Lecture Series

Dr. Memmott’s presentation will showcase “Introducing Lary”—an ongoing AI project that explores the re-invention of the self following life-changing cancer surgery and treatment. This talk profiles the artist’s experience with a laryngeal cancer diagnosis and the medical interventions that follow. Utilizing a variety of AI platforms for both video and image production along with journal entries and medical reports as text prompts, the resulting work is a set of distinctive media that range, in Dr. Memmott’s words, “from the mythic to the horrific; the historical to the speculative.” Though at times the resulting media may emphasize the emergent body horror …

Reenvisioning Identities That Precede Us: “Body Acknowledgement” As Social Justice Practice Within A Communication Ethics Course Redesign, Wendy Kz Anderson, Ollivia Webster, Nicole Yang, Cass Bryant, Taylor Herr

Feminist Pedagogy

We infuse this conversation of “body neutrality” through social justice responsiveness (compassion, equity, and accountability of body/presence privilege) by specifically attending to intersections of race, gender, and body mindset built into our identities. In reimagining the term “body-neutrality” through identity engagement, we introduce the term “body acknowledgment” as an active interpretative state. As a co-authored pedagogical “co-conspiring” for racial justice (Houdek and Ore, 2021, p. 92), we (instructor, teaching assistants, and previous students) offered a course redesign centering social justice strategies to address the following question: How can dialogue about intersectional communication work toward redesigning learning with difference and develop …

Navigating Trauma: A Linguistic Exploration Of Bilingual Trauma Expressions, Amira Mahmoud Othman

Theses and Dissertations

This study explores the relationship between language, trauma, and emotional expression among bilingual Arabic-English speakers, focusing on code-switching patterns and euphemisms, and more broadly the emotional roles of native and non-native languages in trauma narratives. Through qualitative interviews with 20 Egyptian participants, the research reveals that code-switching serves as both a linguistic and emotional tool, allowing speakers to navigate trauma by creating distance or engaging more intimately. Such codeswitching patterns include the integration of English content words within Arabic structures, morphosyntactic innovations, and gender agreement applications, reflecting the creative adaptability of bilingual speakers in emotionally charged contexts, in line with …

Flaming Hot Queers: Queer Warmth In Forensics, Caleb Webb

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

In order for Queer people to feel safe enough to disclose their identity they must feel safe and comfortable to do so. In the context of forensics, Croucher et al. (2009) detailed how team identification and comfort carry similar variables, thus linking team identification and comfort. When Queer people can feel the comfort coming from the space reflecting Queerness, they sense the Queer warmth in the space. Sekimoto et al. (2020) described how Queer individuals use this warmth in the space as a social navigational tool in order to ensure safety. As forensics has seen an increase in Queer performances …

A Perspective On Imbalance: A Memoir Through The Lens Of Eating Disorders Anonymous, Samantha C. Lasky

Scripps Senior Theses

A Perspective on Imbalance uses a crab shell essay format within the adjusted framework of Eating Disorder Anonymous’ “Perspective on Balance” letter. This original letter speaks to how physical, social/emotional, and spiritual balance came to exist in the founder’s life after working the 12 steps of the program, but the author of this thesis felt more inclined to examine what life looks like in each of those categories before the 12 steps, as well as what happens when you choose not to work them (as this has been her experience thus far). The resulting linear prose essay includes themes of …

Resilience And Reality: Exploring The Lived Experiences Of People Living With Hiv In Texas During The Covid-19 Pandemic – A Qualitative Study., Ahmed F. Alanazi

Social Work Dissertations - Archive

This study investigated the lived experiences of individuals living with HIV (PLWH) in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area of Texas during the COVID-19 pandemic, using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) framework. The research examined the intersection of health, social dynamics, and psychological resilience among PLWH, who faced compounded vulnerabilities due to systemic inequities and the dual public health crises of HIV and COVID-19. Through semi-structured interviews with ten participants from diverse backgrounds, the study captured the profound impacts of disrupted healthcare systems, heightened stigma, and social isolation on this marginalized population. The findings reveal that the pandemic exacerbated existing inequities …

President Eisenhower’S Farewell Address, Is Hindsight 20/20?, Max Seldon Winslow

Communication 300 Papers

While less famous than MLK's “I have a dream” speech or George Bush's “Axis of evil” speech, Dwight D. Eisenhower's farewell address stands as an equally important part of American speech history. Eisenhower’s farewell address holds great significance in terms of 20th-century American political development, from its direct appeal to the people in regard to the all-but prophetic prediction of the rise of the military industrial complex, to its standing as a “Last Hurrah” of small government traditional American conservatism. The United States may have changed entirely, yet Eisenhower’s farewell address stands in time as an unheeded warning to the …

The Media Framing Of India’S Nuclear Weapons Discourse, Sitakanta Mishra, Hely Desai

International Journal of Nuclear Security

The Indian media has had an immense role in framing public perceptions of nuclear weapons within the Indian subcontinent. Examining the largely nationalistic tone of news coverage helps analyze how the media has shaped India’s idea of its status as a nuclear weapon state. Examining the sociocultural discourse around the bomb, this paper analyzes the major influence that the Indian media has in information distribution and how that influence translates to the formation of the atomic attitudes of the masses. In situating the Indian media’s approach to nuclear weapons at large, this work studied the framing of domestic nuclear weapons …

Improving Concentration -- Three Techniques, Lauren Martins

A. Listening in Class and in Professional Settings

A one-page infographic based on the work of Clifford G. Schuette and others. The three techniques for improving concentration are especially important for classrooms and professional settings. These techniques are:

Be Here Now

The Spider

Worry Time

Cluster Conversation: (Re)Writing Our Histories, (Re)Building Feminist Worlds: Working Toward Hope In The Archives, Ruth Osorio, Lamaya Williams, Megan Mcintyre

English Faculty Publications

[Introduction] "Hope is not like a lottery ticket you can sit on the sofa and clutch, feeling lucky. [...] Hope is an ax you break down doors with in an emergency." - Rebecca Solnit

In 2018, Cheryl Glenn wrote, "The work of feminist rhetorical historiography is far from done; in fact, it has just begun-and it is anchored in hope." Following Glenn, we explore hope in this cluster as a methodological imperative in the archives. Informed by theorists Paulo Freire, bell hooks, Rebecca Solnit, and Cornel West, the writers in this Cluster Conversation envision hope as a radical orientation toward …

"They Just Don't Have The "Doctor" In Front Of Their Name:" Dimensions Of Trust In Physician Assistants, Staci Defibaugh, Leah Onosato

English Faculty Publications

Physician assistants play a major role in healthcare delivery in the United States, yet what we know about how patients perceive the care they receive from PAs is limited. Prior research on patients’ impressions of PAs has focused primarily on survey data, limiting the scope of what we can learn about patient impressions to predetermined, quantifiable categories, and has focused on post-visit impressions of a single encounter. In an attempt to better understand patient impressions, we conducted open-ended, semi-structured interviews with 30 participants prior to their medical visit, focusing on general impressions of PAs. Through an analytic process of reflexive …

Cultivating The Competitor: Advocacy, Competition And Education, Vanessa Fowler

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

This thesis explores the intricate balance between advocacy, competition, and education within collegiate forensics, aiming to understand how these elements coexist and influence the experiences of students and coaches. The literature review highlights the multifaceted nature of student success, emphasizing the importance of a holistic approach that includes personal development, emotional well-being, and societal contributions. The research examines the critical role of self-efficacy and motivation, both intrinsic and extrinsic, in driving student achievement. It also addresses the tension between competition and education, advocating for a balanced approach that supports holistic student development. Through semi-structured interviews with current competitors, coaches, and …

Audience Attention: A Lesson In Confident Public Speaking, Leah F. Stein

ENGS 15.11: Design and Education

We’ve all sat through a speech that lost our attention. This lesson helps students ensure their own isn’t one of them. This lesson serves as an introduction or a supplementary lesson in the art of public speaking. Many people have nerves about public speaking, so this lesson will provide students with tools to grow more confident in public speaking, specifically in keeping their audience engaged. Through discussions, a mini-lecture, and interactive speeches, students explore how rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, and logos) and the concept of identification help build a stronger connection with their audience. The lesson begins with a discussion …

Debating Justice, Tom Rozinski

Open Touro Created

2025

This book introduces students to a modified form of Lincoln-Douglas debate that is suitable for use in college philosophy or political science courses. Students will learn how to make good arguments and identify bad ones. They will learn how to structure the affirmative and negative cases in debate and the specific duties of each speech in the debate. There is also a section on preparing for, conducting, and defending against cross-examination. Students learn about four value systems to use in their debates: utilitarianism, libertarianism, Kantian justice, and Rawlsian justice. The text includes two full debates to illustrate how students …

I Am Not A Dictator; I Am A Defender: The Rhetoric Of Coup D’État In Francophone Africa, Isaac Asare Kwakye

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines the rhetorical strategies used by coup leaders in Francophone Africa to authorize their actions and garner public support. Focusing on recent military takeovers in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger since 2020, I investigate how coup leaders construct narratives of legitimacy within the context of contemporary geopolitical dynamics. I utilize Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to analyze speeches by three key coup leaders: Colonel Assimi Goïta, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, and General Abdourahamane Tchiani. My analysis reveals four interconnected rhetorical frameworks: framing interventions as emergency measures, cultivating savior personas, weaponizing anti-colonial grievances, and deploying anti-corruption narratives. A comparative analysis of …

Exploring The Shadows: How Taylor Swift's Music Embodies Dark Sound As A Popular Music Artist, Kristyn E. Cole

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

To challenge the conceptual matter of “dark sound”, this major research paper centers around the popular music artist, Taylor Swift to demonstrate an overarching feminist wisdom in an alternative style of music to identify how Taylor Swift presents and embodies qualities of “dark sound”. Research done by D. Ferrett, Theodor Adorno, Roland Barthes and Paul C. Jasen are used to examine her popular music, and its intersections and influence on our culture and society. Using multimodal critical discourse analysis, this research paper discusses three of Swift’s songs; “willow” (evermore, 2020) for her sound, All Too Well: The Short …

Minds, Made Up Or Malleable? Covert Commands At The Eclipse Of Vaccine Communications, David H. Lee

Publications and Research

Abstract: Although millions have died from SARS-CoV-2 illness, COVID vaccines are credited with stemming the tide. Vaccinations and boosters significantly decrease the incidence of severe illness and death (even if they don’t usually prevent COVID-19 infection). Despite the success of global vaccination efforts, frequent reports of vaccine hesitance and refusal suggest that public health communications need improvement.

The chapter begins by acknowledging adverse events associated with COVID vaccination, including rare cases of anaphylaxis, GBS, and myocarditis. An inoculation-theoretic rationale is offered for this admission of vaccine risks: just as immune defenses mount when organisms are exposed to pathogens, so too …

Digital Orthodoxy And Political Populism In Eastern Europe: How Orthodox Media Facilitate Political Mobilization, Dmytro Garaschuk, Oleh Sokolovskyi

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

This article examines the intersection of Orthodox digital media and political populism in Eastern Europe, focusing on how religious institutions utilize digital platforms to facilitate political mobilization, reinforce nationalistic narratives, and undermine democratic institutions. Drawing on a comparative analysis of six countries–Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Georgia, and Montenegro–the study identifies a shared ideological matrix that fuses populist rhetoric with theological motifs. The research highlights the strategic use of digital media by Orthodox actors to construct moral binaries, sacralize political resistance, and disseminate disinformation framed in religious language. Particular attention is given to the role of the Russian Orthodox Church and …

Volume 60, Issue 1, 2024 Speaker & Gavel

Speaker & Gavel

Complete digital issue (Volume 60, issue 1, 2024) of Speaker & Gavel.

My Larry Story: Around The Horn, Susan Collie, Randy Cox, Daniel Cronn-Mills, Joel Hefling, Todd T. Holm, Vicki Karns, James Kimble, Lee Mayfield, Karen (Piercy) Morris, Richard Paine, John Perlich, Judy Santacatarina, Dan Smith, Leah White, David Whitt, David Worth

Speaker & Gavel

This article celebrates the life of Larry Schnoor.

Volume 60, Issue 1, 2024 Speaker & Gavel Front Matter

Speaker & Gavel

Front matter and table of contents for Volume 60, Issue 1, 2024 of Speaker & Gavel.

Rhetoric Vs. Reality: A Study Of Public Rhetoric And Private Behavior Across Party Lines, Elizabeth Callecod

Bakerman Student Research Awards

In the United States, Republicans and Democrats are viewed as being intrinsically distinct in their moral convictions. More specifically, Republicans are generally viewed as the party which more frequently upholds and uses religious and moral rhetoric, particularly regarding sexual activity, while Democrats are generally thought to rely on more pragmatic and inclusive rhetoric. Previous explanations explore why these partisan stereotypes exist but fail to compare how these different rhetorical styles compare to the actual behavior exhibited by both parties’ members. By using measurements of how often individuals from both parties participate in sexual morally contentious activities, such as viewing pornography, …

Búsqueda De Babosas Marinas: Understanding Barriers Of Environmental Literacy And Climate Advocacy Within Southern California Spanish-Speakers, Cintya Felix, Ashley Lam, Lorena Muñoz, Micah Kim

Student Scholar Symposium Abstracts and Posters

The Hispanic and Latino populations are the largest ethnic minority in California, and more than 10.4 million Californians consider Spanish their first language. However, English is the primary language in most educational and public spaces. This means Spanish-speaking communities have limited access to coastal ecosystems and learning opportunities about coastal areas impacted by climate change and extreme weather, which becomes a barrier to civic engagement, climate advocacy, and local decision-making. During the 2023 summer, we partnered with local climate advocacy organizations and held educational programs at two public beaches in southern California. The presentations in English and Spanish taught foundational …

The Role Of Media Literacy In Understanding Ideological Bias In News Coverage Of Texas Ag Ken Paxton's Lawsuit Against Annunciation House, Sybonae Acosta Castillo

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

In an era of rapidly evolving news media, understanding how information is framed and spread has become a critical skill for navigating today’s complex social and political landscapes. Media literacy allows people to critically evaluate news substance, discern bias, and acknowledge the influence of language on public perception. This research examines how Texas’s six leading news outlets (Houston Chronicle, Dallas Morning News, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, San Antonio Express-News, Austin American-Statesman, Everything Lubbock, El Paso Times, and the Tyler Morning Telegraph) reported on Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s recent lawsuit against Annunciation House, an …

Incorporating Families Experiencing Disabilities Into The Rhythm Of Small Groups At Saturn Road Church Of Christ, Robby John

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

This project addresses the critical gap in the inclusion of families experiencing disabilities within small groups at Saturn Road Church of Christ. The primary aim is to develop a curriculum that raises awareness among small group leaders about this significant issue. To provide a theological reflection on the necessity of such a venture, I explored the topic through the lens of four theological pillars: the image of God, the incarnation, ecclesiology, and eschatological hope. This exploration revealed several key themes that serve as foundational building blocks for the awareness curriculum. Ultimately, the final artifact is an awareness curriculum designed to …

A Teacher-Development Curriculum: Encouraging Community Discipleship Through Faith And Learning Integration At Bracken Christian High School, Denice F. Knight-Slater

Doctor of Ministry Theses and Dissertations

The title of this project is “A Teacher-Development Curriculum: Encouraging Community Discipleship through Faith and Learning Integration at Bracken Christian High School.” The purpose of the project was to create a seven-part curriculum that would empower educators to form an interconnected teaching community centered upon the practice of faith and learning integration. The development team hoped our work would articulate good practices and equip teachers to engage in faith conversations with their students. We utilized Parker Palmer’s classic, The Courage to Teach, as the scaffolding for our curriculum. The development team modeled faith and learning integration by creating a …