Composition 211: Sophomore Research Conference

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https://mcstor.library.milligan.edu/handle/11558/47
The Milligan College Composition Program offers a 2-semester sequence that begins with a focus on rhetoric and argument during the spring semester of the freshman year. The initial foundation in argumentation prepares students to read, think, and write critically in preparation for work in all disciplines. Students learn the art of rhetoric: how to recognize effective arguments, how to construct effective arguments, and how various rhetorical situations shape the context of effective communication. As sophomores, students begin to focus on advanced analysis and synthesis in the broader context of the Humanities and of their specific disciplines. This unique course prepares students to think, read, and write in upper division liberal arts classes as well as in their various fields. Students build on the first semester’s rhetorical foundation by focusing on different citation styles, longer essays, and multi-faceted argumentation. The Writing Faculty showcases some of the most innovative and well-written research in a Research Conference at the end of the Fall semester.

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Browsing Composition 211: Sophomore Research Conference by Title

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    The 2012 Sophomore Composition Research Conference on Trust and the Cultivation of Community
    (2012-12-11)
    Program of the 2012 Sophomore Composition Research Conference.
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    The 2013 Sophomore Composition Research Conference on Sustainability
    (2013-12-11)
    Program of the 2013 Sophomore Composition Research Conference.
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    2015 Sophomore Conference on Exclusivity
    (2015-12-08)
    Program of the 2015 Sophomore Composition Research Conference.
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    The Age of Political Fact-Checking
    (2012) Harris, Fitzroy
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    Alice and Wendy: Disney’s Other Evolving Female Roles
    (2012-12-11) James, Chelsea
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    The American Church: A House of Prayer or A Den of Thieves?
    (2016-11-17) Greene, Hunter
    Have churches become so focused on getting wealthier that they have forgotten their calling of taking care of the poor, despised, and marginalized? Churches across America are marked with expensive interior décor, over-sized buildings, and expensive administrative salaries. They seem to be prospering as many individuals are struggling with poverty living pay check to pay check. This project evaluates how the average American church fulfills the command of using money to build the Kingdom of God. According to Scripture, churches should be giving more to their hurting communities than they are spending money on modernizing the church. The project will also look at how churches advertise their church and Christ to their communities in such a way that encourages attendance, resulting in more money, and not discipleship. The early church set a Christ-like example by living lives that were saturated with charity and missions, but these have taken a backseat to the financially focused American church. In order to fill pews with disciples, it must find its identity in the compassionate, mission-centered Christ once again.
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    Artificial Intelligence: An Innovative Technology in a Vital Industry
    (2019-12-04) Carrasco, Diego
    One of the leading causes of death in America after heart disease and cancer is medical errors. Although not yet officially recognized by the Center for Disease control (CDC), medical errors account for a startling number of deaths, and this is primarily down to preventable human errors in the healthcare industry. Eliminating these errors could save thousands of lives, improving the healthcare industry all around, and one of the most promising methods is artificial intelligence technology. First, I will look at the progression of artificial intelligence technology and examine some modern applications of the technology in other industries like business and automotives. Then, I will research these errors and determine the some of the primary causes of these mistakes in the industry. I will take some of these applications of AI technology and examine how they could be used to both alleviate human error and improve the effectiveness of the industry. Finally, I will look some of the current social barriers to implementing AI technology.
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    Autism: Inclusive Diagnosis vs Exclusive Treatment
    (2016) Temple, Kirsten
    The focus of this research lies in examining both the inclusivity of diagnosing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as well as the importance of an exclusive approach to treatment. This research aims to encourage professionals to tailor their research and treatment plans to the idea that each case of autism is unique and must be treated as such. A conflict arises as the definition and diagnosis of ASD continue to broaden but treatment remains the same. With the broadening spectrum for diagnosis, many are asking this question: Has ASD become so inclusive it is no longer practical to treat people exclusively? This research shows the opposite; a broader scale should only mean that each person should be treated exclusively as autism manifests itself very differently in each of their lives. Although there is not a cure for autism yet, those with all kinds of ASD can and should be encouraged to develop their individual uniqueness. Autism does not need to be a disability in a person’s life, instead it can be seen as the ability to make a unique contribution to society.
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    Blessed are the Peacemakers? : Christianity's Perpetuation of Violence against Women of Color
    (2020-12-01) Brokaw, Olivia; Hoover, Heather
    Violence against women of color takes many forms. These forms include domestic violence, racialized violence, and institution-initiated violence. While Christianity may not be a direct cause of violence against women, it nevertheless perpetuates this violence. This paper attempts to trace Christianity’s perpetuation of violence, which is often traced to theological and cultural perversions of the Bible’s messages of peace, love, and forgiveness. This paper also addresses current examples and facts regarding violence against women of color, along with systemic injustices prevalent within modern society. Finally, the paper proposes actions to mitigate and abolish violence against women of color. These actions include improving theological viewpoints on women and improving dialogue within the Christian church on issues of race and violence.
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    Breaking the Chains of Meth Addiction
    (2017-11-17) Douglas, Sarah
    This paper is designed to argue for behavioral therapy methods to allow for sustainable recovery from methamphetamine. Before providing treatment options, the paper discusses the history and lure of methamphetamine. The research comes from a compassionate viewpoint on addicts, including a book that contains interviews straight from former addicts. The paper includes users’ voices instead of solely an outsider’s perspective. Other research discusses dangers of methamphetamine. Much of this portion of the research comes from academic journals on the environmental, cultural, and physical repercussions of meth use. In order to look over the treatment methods for methamphetamine, the research uses many types of sources. Some come from the internet, while others are scientific studies done on various treatment methods. The paper also includes sources accessed through YouTube. The videos allow the first-hand perspective of withdrawal among other experiences while recovering from addiction. The implications of the research prove to be that there are many ways to begin treatment. Not all treatments are equally helpful, though. This paper provides the evidence to place behavioral therapeutic methods as the most sustainable treatment because of the manner in which they treat patients.
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    Bridging the Gap between Common Core and Common Practice: Engaging Tennessee Teachers
    (2015-12-07) Tuscani, Brianna
    Since 2010, the United States has seen a radical attempt to raise its standards of knowledge and skill in its school systems across the country. The reason behind this attempt is for American students to reach the educational level of other developed countries. In order to do so, individual states are using one common series of standards for curriculum and skill sets to prepare students for “college, career, and life” otherwise known as the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). I will explore what has already been done with Common Core for teachers across the United States, especially in Tennessee, and propose suggestions on classroom implementation for both school systems and the individual teacher who desire to hold students to a higher standard while not leaving any one student behind. While many have already taken to this task, I will present a fresh perspective with research on how the state of Tennessee has attempted to raise its standards to an international level. I will also explore how educators can aid students in reaching their full potential under these standards.
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    Bridging the Gender Gap in the Field of Engineering
    (2018-11-29) Hudelson, Lauren
    Despite efforts to increase female representation in STEM careers, the engineering field has struggled to recruit more women. While women make up half of the undergraduate population, only twenty percent of undergraduate engineering students are female (Yoder, 2017). In this paper, I explore aspects throughout women’s education and career that inhibit and discourage them from pursuing engineering. I examine factors in high schools, universities, and the industry that directly or indirectly affect women’s interest in STEM subjects. I researched the role of policies in enforcing this underrepresentation and how mentors and people in leadership positions can bridge the gap. I also focus on any societal and career expectations that make it difficult for women in these careers. I examine initiatives that have already been taken to increase female representation within engineering and then analyze how they have been effective and where they can still be improved. Using this research, I will outline a few tangible steps that can be taken by schools of all education levels, but Milligan specifically, in recruiting more women to the STEM field and retaining them in these careers.
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    The Business of Show Business
    (2015-11-19) Alford, Madeleine
    Regional theatres in East TN and Southwest VA face an imminent threat of financial disaster. Financial disaster that stems from the struggle to get audiences into the theatre. This struggle is persistent across America but, in East TN and Southwest VA theatres must battle religious, monetary, and cultural inhibitions. Some of the inhibitions are constant but there are some artistic and cultural demands that are always in a state of flux. This constant flux requires theatres to be flexible in their art and at times make small artistic sacrifices. Regional theatres that refuse to change with times and cling to their high artistic ideals find themselves losing money hand over fist. To prevent this major loss of money theatres must find a way to become inclusive of all different audiences. They must be inclusive without losing the art that makes regional theatre vital to the artistic life of America. Failure to fix this problem will lead to regional and repertory theatres in East TN and Southwest VA and across America to close their doors for good. So the questions remain, how can regional theatres in East TN and Southwest VA keep up with the ever changing artistic demands? How can they remain inclusive of all demographics? One way theatres can accomplish their goals is by a combination of exclusivity in marketing and inclusivity in production choice
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    Careful the Things You Say: Sondheim’s Didactic Nature and its Effects on Community
    (2012-11-29) DeLong, Darcie
    Other title: “Careful the Things You Say”: Didacticism in Sondheim’s theatre”
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    Caring for the Elderly: Eliminating an Annual Cap on Physical Therapy Visits
    (2019-12-09) Dotson, Abby; Rangel, Trini
    Most physicians encourage a physical therapy program to be completed after a major surgery or injury. Since Medicare started in 1965, elderly patients have struggled with receiving enough physical therapy visits after their surgeries or injuries. Unfortunately, since Medicare limits the number allowed, they often cannot fully heal. I will take a closer look at why Medicare patients have an annual cap on physical therapy visits. I will investigate the ways local and national Physical Therapists, Physical Therapy students, and physicians can partner with these patients in their recovery journey. Focusing on ways to provide a healthier life for Medicare patients, I will defend and advocate for these patients by exploring practical ways to enable Medicare patients to obtain more physical therapy visits.
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    Changing Traditions: Letting God Speak through Women in Church
    (2015-12-08) Way, Mikaela
    Abstract: The Stone Campbell Movement has historically prohibited women from publicly teaching baptized male believers. This tradition was founded on carefully selected Scriptures that were originally taken out of context and clearly contradict other Biblical accounts instructing women to teach. Through the continuation of this tradition, the church movement prioritizes tradition rather than obeying God. This tradition hurts the body of Christ by keeping over half of the people in churches silent. The validity of this tradition has been debated by top theologians since it was created, but continues to be a major church issue today. In this essay, the out-of-context Scriptures used to forbid female teachers will be put in context and placed alongside Scriptures that address this issue. This essay will also explore how the Stone Campbell Movement can align their traditional beliefs about female teachers with the Bible’s commands in order to unite the church under God instead of leaving it bound under traditions.
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    Cinema Sans Sin: Imaginatively Transforming Evangelical Cinema
    (2019) Williams, Taylor
    Saints and sinners alike are enthralled by cinema, and the statistical majority of American Christians subscribe to Evangelicalism. Yet dissimilar to their ample presence on bookshelves and radio, Evangelicalism remains noticeably absent from American cinema. Recurrent anti-Hollywood rhetoric from the pulpit confines Christ to traditional media such as literature and music, forsaking the millions more inclined to sit in a theatre seat than a church pew. Such negligence, coupled with unimaginative filmmaking, isolates Evangelical films into a singular genre, effectively effacing Christian influence from the American film industry and its respective audience. In my research, I discuss the historical relationship between American cinema and Christianity. Likewise, I demonstrate how Evangelical filmmakers are guilty of creating palatable, unimaginative films, and how Evangelical audiences are weak in their support of the medium. Following this, I outline not only why Evangelical influence in cinema is an effective outreach to American society, but also how Evangelicals can transform their production tactics and entertainment priorities to promote a Christ-centered worldview. If Evangelical filmmakers commit to transforming American cinema with imaginative narratives, and if Evangelical audiences simultaneously embrace nuanced cinematic entertainment instead of palatable entertainment, their collective influence upon the medium will evolve from obscurity to stability.
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    Classroom Diversity, RTI and Their Effects on Inclusion
    (2015-11-19) White, Justin
    The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was reauthorized in 1990. It has allowed our classrooms to become fully inclusive of students with disabilities. This inclusive classroom structure has become the norm across our nation. It is believed and widely accepted that keeping all students with multiple abilities within a classroom fosters the best learning environment. Researchers have stated that the social benefits outweigh any negative aspects. There are however educators that do not fully believe this model. They state that some students would be better served in smaller separate classrooms. My research has found that the inclusive classroom is effective until students reach high school. Here students are better served when separated in classes based on needs and ability. The students still are benefited by inclusion but their education is greatly enhanced when they can learn in classrooms accustomed to their needs. This research will be beneficial to educators, administration, parents, and lawmakers. It will allow them to better understand the needs of individual students and make decisions based on the information that will benefit the students and their education.