An American Drama: The Debate of Slavery in Antebellum Theatre

In the 1850’s the dramatization of Uncle Tom’s Cabin initiated a decade of theatre that revolved around the question of slavery. As a result, the American theatre became another medium for the debate on slavery that was raging between Democrats and Republicans. Uncle Tom’s Cabin was used as abolitionist propaganda in the North. The success of Uncle Tom’s Cabin prompted a wave of pro-slavery plays in the South. None of these were very successful. In the North, anti-slavery drama became increasingly popular, and productions such as Dred and The Octoroon were able to thrive in the aftermath of Uncle Tom’s Cabin

Physical education for language acquisition in middle school ELLs

English language learners (ELL) are a growing population in U.S. schools. ELL students are expected to meet the same learning standards as their native English-speaking peers. The progress of ELL students has been poor and evidence suggests that teachers are not prepared to help these students. Many best practices in teaching ELL students are similar to best practices for teaching physical education (PE). The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a four week “PE Plus” intervention designed to incorporate Greek and Latin stems into the PE classroom. A curriculum was designed including warm-up activities which incorporated Greek and Latin stems that were previously taught in the students’ English Language Arts (ELA) class. Students participated in three to four stem warm-up activities per week, for four weeks, as part of their regular PE instruction. Pre and post-tests on student knowledge of these stems were given in the ELA class and compared over time as well as with a control group who did not participate in the warm-up activities. After four weeks, the control group received the intervention, and the original experimental group served as the control. Following each “PE Plus” lesson, students were asked to complete a five-question survey about the effect of the warm-ups on their knowledge of stems and enjoyment of the activities. Although changes in stem test scores were not significant, the qualitative data analysis of the field notes, students responses, and reflections indicated that the “PE Plus” warm-ups were enjoyable, students were engaged in the activities, and students felt that participation helped them learn their Greek and Latin stems

Solomon “Sol” Bogart’s Letter to Martha Jane Misemer

This manuscript is a letter written from Solomon “Sol” Franklin Bogart to his sister, Martha Jane Misemer, wife of Henry Marshall “Marsh” Misemer. This transcription and its attendant annotations, explanatory material, and bibliography were prepared by students in ENGL618: Research Methods in English, the required gateway class for the MA in English at Western Carolina University

Solomon “Sol” Bogart’s Letter to Martha Jane Misemer April 17, 1865

This manuscript is a letter written from Solomon “Sol” Franklin Bogart to his sister, Martha Jane Misemer, wife of Henry Marshall “Marsh” Misemer. This transcription and its attendant annotations, explanatory material, and bibliography were prepared by students in ENGL 618: Research Methods in English, the required gateway class for the MA in English at Western Carolina University

Martha Jane Misemer’s Letter to Philip Misemer June 18, 1865

This manuscript is a letter written from Martha Jane Misemer to Philip Misemer, the brother of her late husband, Henry Marshall “Marsh” Misemer. Marsh was one of the passengers of the steamboat Sultana who perished following its explosion. This transcription and its attendant annotations, explanatory material, and bibliography were prepared by students in ENGL618: Research Methods in English, the required gateway class for the MA in English at Western Carolina University

Fontana Dam and the Road to Nowhere: Public memory, rhetorical remembering, and Appalachian identity in the Fontana region

In 1942, the United States Congress approved the construction of Fontana Dam in Swain County, NC. To carry out this project, Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) entered the region to construct the dam and its reservoir. In the process of construction, over 20 communities around the dam’s immediate area were condemned, leaving approximately 1,300 residents displaced from their homes. Additionally, the reservoir’s flooding led to the destruction of a highway which connected the cemeteries in these communities to the rest of the region. Ultimately, the road project was abandoned, leading to the creation of The Road to Nowhere. Fontana Dam and the Road to Nowhere serve as examples of contested sites of public memory, which stand as reminders of the legacy of stereotyping, resource extraction, and displacement in Appalachia. Residents of Swain County and public officials have retold the history of the Fontana region over the years, and the official and vernacular retellings of the area’s history showcase how rhetorical rememberings of the Fontana region shape the values in and around Swain County today. I argue that the Fontana region serves as a case study for how a history of exploitation in Appalachian communities contributes not only to the way the Fontana region’s history is remembered through official and vernacular memories, but also to the broader issues of stereotyping, resource extraction, and displacement in Appalachia as a whole