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Of Cicadas and Ducks: Humor in Emmanuel Chabrier\u27s Les cigales and Villanelle des petits canards
Get PDFThe goal of this performing arts presentation, upon which the 3MT is based, is to analyze the use and presentation of humor in Emmanuel Chabrier’s “Les cigales” and “Villanelle des petits canards,” two French mélodies. The program notes that accompanied the original performance detail the historical context of Chabrier’s work and give a brief summary of the mélodie genre. In addition, they trace the steps inherent in presenting a work of performance art. The primary research question behind the study is, “How can a vocalist successfully portray the humorous qualities of Chabrier’s work through performance art?” Subquestions include the following, “In what ways, if any, is the performance enhanced by the interplay between vocalist and pianist?” and “What influence, if any, did Chabrier’s work have on other composers of French mélodie (accompanied art song) composers?” These questions are answered through a thorough literature and performance review, including a statement of Biblical worldview, and are followed by suggestions for future research
A Futurist Exegesis of Matthew 24:1-42
Get PDFThis thesis explores a Futurist exegesis of Matthew 24:1-42, emphasizing its prophetic fulfillment in future events rather than historical or allegorical interpretations. It critiques Preterist and Historicist views, arguing that key elements—including the abomination of desolation, the great tribulation, and the second coming of Christ—remain unfulfilled. By analyzing the text in its historical, grammatical, and theological context, and correlating it with Daniel’s visions and Revelation, this study defends the position that Jesus’ discourse predicts end-times events such as the rise of the Antichrist, the rebuilding of the third temple, and global tribulation. This work affirms the hope of Christ’s imminent return and calls for vigilance and faithfulness in light of eschatological certainty
Vampyres Reimagined
Get PDFThis thesis explores the intricate interplay between imagination and reality in fantasy literature, encapsulated within the first ninety pages of my novel, A Ruin of Memories. It is an explorative contribution to the genre, with themes of mental health, loss, and belonging in an environment that morphs reality with the supernatural.
The artist statement serves as a reflective insight into my creative process and personal journey as a writer. It outlines my motivations for crafting A Ruin of Memories, rooted in my desire to paint a picture of spiritual warfare through the lens of vampyres, werewolves, and witches. Through this narrative, I aim for my readers to understand the background of my creative piece and invite readers to question the boundaries of their own reality.
The critical paper dives into three craft elements of fantasy novels: characters, setting, and plot. I dissect the three elements separately, giving examples of fantasy novels that coincide with each. Then, I describe how the three elements work together to create a stronger novel. If a writer is missing one element, then the novel can still be tweaked or improved upon. In the end, I describe how I plan on using characters, setting, and plot to form an impactful, planned, and engaging fantasy novel.
The final section is an excerpt of my novel, A Ruin of Memories, where readers will follow three perspectives: Esme Orbbally, the Vampyre; Conor Whitlock, the human; and Danielle, the witch. Through these three characters, my readers will become acquainted with the city of Bled, home to the Al Tav’i–Vampyres and Werewolves–beings that fight to protect humans. Readers will also get a first look at the valley of Karah, a bustling city that reflects life as we know it, but they will also see the darkness that attacks humankind.
Through this thesis, I aim to illuminate the artistic and critical dimensions of my work, showcasing how fantasy can reflect deeper truths about the human experience. Readers are invited to engage with both the pages of A Ruin of Memories and the analytical insights provided here, fostering a deeper appreciation for the craft and its potential for emotional resonance
The Opening of the American Mind: The Christian Educator\u27s Involvement in Public Education
No full textTwo kingdoms theology has impacted the church and guided individual believers in various aspects of their personal lives. Religious leaders, ministers, and Christians founded the American education system. The public education system of America now serves a multicultural population of students. The works of Charles Taylor and Allan Bloom highlight changes that have occurred in the 21st century and have impacted education. The misapplication of a two kingdoms theology perspective may have caused Christian educators to leave the secular classrooms. Christian educators as redemptive citizens may serve in the secular, multicultural classrooms across America to provide unintrusive education for all the students that the American secular schools serve. The Christian educator may provide beneficial instruction in natural sciences, humanities, and literature in the secular classroom by taking small steps that will encourage the students to search for answers that the secular curriculum leaves unanswered
The Difference in Parent Involvement and Parental Satisfaction in Suburban, Rural, and Urban Schools
Get PDFThis quantitative causal-comparative study examines the influence of parental satisfaction on school choice, parental involvement, and socioeconomic status in suburban, rural, and urban elementary schools. The Parent Involvement Satisfaction Survey (PISS) and the Parenting Satisfaction Scale (PSS) were administered to a purposive sample of parents (N = 126) from Texas public elementary schools through online surveys. The primary objective was to explore how parental satisfaction varies by community type (suburban, rural, or urban) and socioeconomic factors. Data were analyzed using a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to assess differences in parental satisfaction based on school location and socioeconomic status. Results revealed statistically significant differences (p \u3c .05) in parental satisfaction across the different community contexts. Specifically, parents in suburban communities reported higher levels of satisfaction compared to their urban counterparts, highlighting disparities related to educational quality and access. The study concludes that parental satisfaction is a crucial factor in shaping parental involvement and school choice, with socioeconomic status and school context playing significant roles. The findings suggest that educational policies need to be adapted to address these disparities, focusing on increasing equity and access to high-quality education in underserved areas. Recommendations include the development of targeted interventions to improve parental involvement and satisfaction in urban and low-socioeconomic areas, as well as further research to examine the long-term impact of these factors on student achievement and retention
Territorial Scars: The Legacy of the Eugenics Movement in Puerto Rico
Get PDFThe United States-Puerto Rico relationship was strongly impacted by the eugenics movement of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The groundwork for the paternalistic relationship that the United States imposed on the island was set by the Spanish colonization. Once the United States gained the territory in 1898, many assumed that it would progress to statehood through the same process as former U.S. territories. However, the impact of the eugenics concerns over race, population density, and undesirable genetics had affected U.S. imperialism. The lack of white migration to the island, in combination with the perceived undesirable and overly dense population inhabiting the island, led to efforts to exclude Puerto Ricans from full statehood and to limit the growth of its population. Unlike other territorial peoples and immigrants, Puerto Ricans were subject to a targeted campaign to limit their population on the island and the mainland. The two areas of Puerto Rican life most impacted by the eugenics movement were their legal and political status in the United States and the formation and function of their medical institutions. Eugenic concepts were prominent factors amongst the layers of paternalism, racism, and colonialism that impacted the relationship between Puerto Rico and the United States. The scandal of Dr. Cornelius Rhoads serves as a case study that illustrates the complexities of the relationship well. While both the political status of Puerto Ricans and their medical institutions have experienced shifts over time, there has been a lack of substantial change to Puerto Rican political inequality with mainlanders and to their lack of self-determination in healthcare. The current conditions in Puerto Rico are the result of a complicated history where eugenics played a leading role
Heroines of Their Own Stories: Lower Socio-economic Black and Hispanic Giftedness
Get PDFThe purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of racially, ethnically, and economically diverse (REED) learners in developing gifted traits and behaviors for female students who have taken part in an extracurricular online course from the northeastern United States. Gifted traits and behaviors, or giftedness, was generally defined as what might be perceived as advanced ability or the potential for advanced ability in one or more specific areas. The theories guiding this study are Vygotsky’s sociocultural theory, which aids in understanding the influence of a student’s culture on higher-order mental functions originating in the social environment, and Ogbu’s oppositional culture theory, which builds on Vygotsky’s theory to help illuminate race-specific issues. The central research question was: What are the lived experiences of REED learners in developing their gifted traits and behaviors? A qualitative study using van Manen’s hermeneutic phenomenology approach permitted interpretation using the structural steps of Saldaña’s (2015) coding manual with the data from a survey activity, interviews, and focus groups to reflect on themes and determine the nature of the lived experiences of heroic female REED students ages 16-26 who shared the phenomenon of developing gifted traits and behaviors. The findings show that the participants answered cultural and familial pressure to excel by leveraging resources available in school and engaging in extracurricular programs and other cultural and subcultural activities to supplement their lack of gifted services in their schools. They also show that underrepresented female gifted learners face obstacles as women, REED individuals, and gifted learners that make the development of their gifted traits and behaviors extraordinarily complex and challenging
Common Ground: A Phenomenological Ethnographic Inquiry in Intercultural Communication, Telling Stories with the Oglala Lakota People on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, SD
Get PDFAn interdisciplinary and collaborative movement in cross-cultural research is emerging and challenging Western academic practices in the United States. As a non-indigenous Communications scholar working on the Pine Ridge Reservation, I was unable to find a model, or scholarship that included the practical application of theory and methods for scholarship with Indigenous Americans. Over a ten-year period, I documented stories and worked with Lakota elder Unci Rita Long Visitor Holy Dance and her son Nathan Blindman to develop a mutually beneficial working relationship.
Successful cross-cultural scholarship using Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and Participatory Action Research (PAR) methodologies, Intercultural Communication Theory (ICC), and Liberation Theology are present in Anthropology, Social Sciences, Health Sciences and Education. This inquiry gathers experience and success, and compares them to experience on the reservation, and the voices of the Lakota people.
This inquiry tells the story of our intercultural relationship, integrating Lakota and Western worldviews and traditions, and approaching the research process with humility and prioritizing relationality. Analysis revealed the intersection and overlapping of codes in the data that was collected. The three largest areas of overlap were relationality, storytelling, and the importance of including Indigenous knowledge, culture, prayer and ceremony: pointing the way to new theory for this work.
Other notable themes explored are acknowledging the impact of colonialism, life on the reservation, and the role of the non-indigenous scholar. While acknowledging the limited generalizability of a single case study, the author suggests that this collaborative, storytelling-centered methodology is grounded in the data, and could be adapted for other Indigenous communities, contingent upon a significant time investment and a commitment to understanding specific cultural contexts.
This foundation can allow non-indigenous scholars to learn to collaborate and tell the stories of the Lakota people that are missing from both the current narrative and the historical record. The findings support a transformative shift in research design for non-indigenous scholars, in academic research practices, emphasizing the value of authentic research relationships, and accommodating Indigenous needs to conduct research that is ethical, transparent, and beneficial to the Lakota people
Exploring the Role of Professional Development in Reviving the Passion of Teaching: A Case Study
Get PDFThe purpose of this case study was to examine professional development as a means of restoring passionate teaching for in-service K-12 teachers at Cresthill Public Schools (CPS). The theory guiding the study was the Learning-Oriented Leadership Model, as it explores how professional development fosters continuous teacher growth and retention. The central research question for the study was: How do teachers describe the ways professional development may help them stay in the profession? The study utilized a qualitative case study design. A purposive sample of 15 teachers who participated in required professional development was selected. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and a questionnaire to gather teachers’ perceptions and experiences. Manual hierarchical coding, including open and axial levels, was used to identify themes. Findings revealed three main themes: Teacher Well-being and Preventing Burnout, Enhancing Classroom Management and Student Engagement, and Professional Growth and Collaboration. Sub-themes included Self-care and Psychological Support, Engagement Strategies, and Personalized and Relevant PD. Teachers emphasized the need for professional development that supports well-being, enhances instructional strategies, and fosters collaboration. Results suggest that personalized and supportive professional development can improve teacher satisfaction, reduce burnout, and increase retention, contributing to the broader discourse on sustainable teaching careers
Qualitative Analysis of Chaplains’ Experiences Supporting Military Service Members and Veterans with Moral Injury
Get PDFThis transcendental phenomenological study explored the frequent themes identified by chaplains while supporting service members and veterans (SM/V) from diverse Christian denominations, such as Catholics, Protestants, and other Christian groups, who have suffered a moral injury. I described the lived experience of chaplains using in-depth surveys as part of a phenomenological approach to data collection. In the qualitative interview, the interest is hearing the chaplains’ thoughts on the nature and manifestations of moral injury in chaplaincy contexts. The study explored chaplains’ observations concerning what service members and veterans have in common when they experience moral injury. This qualitative research approach allows the detection, evaluation, and characterization of patterns corresponding to themes expressing a specific meaning within data sets and to identify implicit and explicit concepts. The transcendental phenomenology method was used to determine the moral injury and self-condemnation phenomenon by bracketing out an individual’s experiences and gathering data from chaplains who have supported service members and veterans who have encountered the phenomenon. The researcher then analyzes the data by reducing the material to critical statements or quotations and combining them into themes