Legacy Theses and Dissertations (1940-2009)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10657/6771
This collection gathers digitized University of Houston theses and dissertations dating from 1940.
Browse
Browsing Legacy Theses and Dissertations (1940-2009) by Department "Communication, Jack J. Valenti School of"
Now showing 1 - 20 of 57
- Results Per Page
- Sort Options
Item A case study of the national debate tournament fund-raising efforts from 1980-1984(1984) Daniels, Ruby Ann; Thomas, David A.; Heath, Robert L.; Gelb, Betsy D. B.This research explores, describes and evaluates the National Debate Tournamentรขโฌโขs fund raising efforts from 1980 to 1984 within a fund raising/marketing framework. Several naturalistic methods are used, including compilation of personal documents, telephone and personal interviews. The effort raised approximately $7000 but suffered from legal problems and a general lack of fund raising expertise. In the future, the NDT Board of Trustees (as well as the leadership of other small non-profit organizations) should adopt a new attitude toward fund raising, create and clarify official responsibilites of its fund raisers and seek professional fund raising consultation.Item A comparative study of academic and journalistic speech criticism of MacArthur's address to Congress(1966) Jordan, William John; Linsley, William A.; Judd, Larry R.; Welch, Patrick E.; Streeter, Donald C.This study compares the theory and practice of academic and journalistic speech criticism in an attempt to determine how journalistic criticism of a selected speech compares to academic criticism of the same speech. Scholars in rhetoric and journalism are studied for their theories of speech criticism. Critical studies of General Douglas MacArthur"s address to Congress, April 19, 1951, by both academicians and journalists are studied for analysis of their critical practice. The journalistic and academic theories of speech criticism of MacArthur"s address to Congress illustrated noteworthy differences. Whereas the academic theorists have developed a critical theory based on rhetorical precepts, journalists have not developed a theoretical approach to speech criticism. In practicing criticism, the journalists presented criticism based on a single set of principles. The academicians presented criticism based on multiple sets of principles. Whereas journalists considered the speaker"s accomplishment as the ultimate concern, academicians considered the speaker"s method of accomplishment. Unlike the journalists who directed their criticism to a mass reading audience, the academicians directed their criticism to a specialized audience. The Journalists worked in the immediate context of the event. Academicians worked after the event. In addition to these differences, the journalists provided more depth in idea analysis. Academicians provided more depth in rhetorical technique analysis. Working without a theory, journalists presented critical studies which Illustrated an Immediate รขโฌลideaรขโฌ๏ฟฝ approach to speech criticism. Academicians showed little concern for the ideas and their meaning. This comparison suggests that journalistic speech criticism emphasizes elements of rhetorical criticism which academic criticism does not. The value of the journalistic approach as another aspect of academic criticism suggests an area for further investigation.Item A comparison of the rhetorical works of Hugh Blair and Edward Tyrrell Channing(1978) Wilbanks, Charles Lionel; Thompson, Wayne N.; Heath, Robert L.; Goodwin, Gerald J.The purpose of the study was to determine the extent to which the rhetorical works of Edward Tyrrell Channing encompasses the same philosophical, practical, and ethical viewpoints as those of Hugh Blair. The findings reveal that Channing's rhetoric reflects the work of Blair in that they both view rhetoric as (1) a comprehensive art, (2) a functional art, and (3) as an art that is based upon the character of the artist. These similarities, considered jointly, constitute a significant reflection. In a larger sense, the findings reveal that Edward T. Channing is reflective of the same "cultural community" as is Hugh Blair.Item A critical review and synthesis of some ways of identifying epideictic(1983) Mundell, Daniel Lloyd; Harwood, Kenneth A.; Heath, Robert L.; Thomas, David A.; Thompson, Wayne N.Scholarly examination of epideictic as a genre coequal in importance with forensic and political rhetoric has been neglected. Using descriptive non-quantitative analysis, this study isolates and categorizes properties of epideictic for brief, qualitative and quantitative identification. The theory-based analysis is supported by the content of a modern body of epideictic-oratory- inaugural addresses of the Presidents of the United States. It was concluded that the selection and categorization may be useful as a basis for critical analysis of oratory.Item A house divided(1977) Alonso, Yocel; Haun, Martha J.; Thompson, Wayne N.; Lence, Ross M.On the second day of January, 1959, Fidel Castro Ruz completed the overthrow of the government of Fulgencio Batista and assumed the leadership of the Republic of Cuba. This act, and the wholesale rearrangement of Cuban life which followed, resulted in an unprecedented mass emigration of Cubans to the United States, from where they hoped to bring about the overthrow of Castro. [...]Item A pluralistic approach to Walt Whitman's 'Song of the Open Road' for the oral interpreter : explicative, archetypal and rhetorical analyses(1972) Tobias, Donna Royal; Moran, Josephine; Streeter, Donald C.; Dachslager, Earl L.The purpose of this critical study is to demonstrate the pluralistic approach to literary analysis for the oral interpreter by examining Walt Whitman"s "Song of the Open Road" according to the explicative, the archetypal, and the rhetorical methods of criticism. The importance of literary analysis in oral interpretation is widely agreed upon, but a survey of major interpretation textbooks reveals that literary analysis in oral interpretation is generally limited to an intrinsic textual analysis of the poem. Recognizing that textual explication is an important first step for the interpreter, but not the only one, this study begins with the explicative analysis of the poem, followed by an archetypal analysis and a rhetorical analysis. An explanation of each critical method precedes each analysis of the poem and a discussion of the significance of that approach for the oral interpreter follows each analysis. A comparison of the three analyses reveals that, although the three critical methods arrive at similar answers about the progressive unity of the poem or the tone of optimistic exhortation, each method makes special contributions which add to a more thorough understanding of the poem. The explicative analysis calls for a line-by line explication which the other methods do not. It also demands consideration of various poetic devices, of the relationship of the fifteen sections to the whole, of the position of the fulcrum in section nine, and of the abundant kinesthetic imagery. The archetypal analysis uncovers universal types and motifs and classifies them as devine as opposed to demonic. Unlike the others the archetypal approach compares the "I" figure and the road motif to similar images in other poems and attempts to reveal man"s natural participation in the collective unconscious. The rhetorical analysis, unlike the other two, views the poem as persuasion. It considers Whitman as speaker, his message, and his audience and makes conclusions as to the failure of the immediate rhetorical attempt. The pluralistic approach to literary criticism gives the interpreter a multi-dimensional view of the persona and prevents him from making too literal or too abstract an interpretation. To avoid a shallow analysis, the interpreter should be on guard against excessive faith in a single approach and consider any analysis which will send him to his interpretative act with illumination.Item A program of speech for the seventh grade of Deer Park schools(1967) Poole, Shirley Charlene Diehl; Sterrett, Marvin D.The purpose of this thesis is to develop a speech program for the seventh grade of the Deer Park Junior High Schools, Deer Park, Texas. A study of the records of the 1967 graduating class of Deer Park High School led to the conclusion that a large majority of the students in Deer Park secondary schools need to have a course available in the seventh grade. Otherwise they may not get a course at all. The writer believes that speech training is necessary to accomplish the aims of education, and offers the thesis for this paper: speech in the seventh grade is valuable to the social and educational adjustment of the junior high school child; therefore a course should be designed especially for that grade. The history and facilities of the speech departments of the Deer Park junior high schools are favorable for a program of seventh grade speech. A course of study for seventh grade speech was developed within the limits of the philosophy of speech education and with consideration for the administrationรขโฌโขs attitude, the community, and the students. The program, as developed, includes units in orientation, story telling, oral reading, self-expression by means of the short talk, pantomime and dramatics. While this study pertains specifically to the seventh grade speech program in the Deer Park schools, many aspects of the study are applicable to other communities with similar characteristics.Item A Readers Theatre presentation based on literary and documentary materials of the Great Depression of the 1930s(1970) Rogers, Patricia Jane; Moran, Josephine; Streeter, Donald C.; Olson, Donald W.; Pryor, William LeeThe purpose of this study was to present a Readers Theatre script combining documentary and literary materials to portray the Great Depression of the 1930s revealing the pervasive despair of the people. The Great Depression was a period of great economic erosion which affected all classes of people. While historical studies document events, literature reveals the despair of the people as they reacted to the deprivation and hardships. Thus, this script offers a new approach to understanding an historical period through oral communication. Techniques employed in arranging this script were adapted from current procedures in the compilation of readers theatre material. Modification of these techniques was necessary to adjust to the combination of documentary and literary materials. These techniques were evaluated according to general literary principles applicable to the fine arts. Therefore, the methodology demonstrates that literary principles may be utilized in combining the evocative power of literature with the factual content of documentary materials.Item A readers" theatre production of Mark Twain"s Personal recollections of Joan of Arc(1967) Baugh, Peggy Ward; Anderson, Robert Gene; Larson, David J.; Streeter, Donald C.; Luke, Auley B.Readers" Theatre is an increasingly popular facet of oral interpretation. Through this medium, literature of all kinds maybe shared with audiences. Finding usable material for Readers" Theatre, however, is both a challenge and a problem to directors. For this reason, a production thesis, using a Mark Twain novel for material, was presented. In this way, adaptations of suitable novels were justified as usable material for Readers" Theatre. The study established a record of the production process from selection of material to the performance of that material. Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc by Mark Twain was chosen because of the abundant dialogue, colorful characters, and the popular basic story of the book. After the selection of material, the director researched fifteenth century France and Joan of Arc in her environment to better understand the setting and time period of the novel. In addition, the researcher analyzed the book itself and considered Mark Twain"s compelling urge to write it. With the initial background material completed, the director then cut the novel down to the required hour-and-a-half reading program. The various reasons for deletions were stated and demonstrated by examples from the text. The text itself was included in its final form. The sixth chapter of the study discussed the various steps in the production process. The aspects that are included are casting, rehearsals, costumes, lighting, movement, expenses, performance, and special problems. The study reported the various techniques used to put these steps into practice in the production of Joan of Arc. With a medium such as Readers" Theatre, in its experimentation stages, many problems arise that have no concrete answer in textbooks. The director must solve each problem as it arises in his own production. In Joan of Arc, three special problems arose: The use of locus, multiple casting, and the question of acting or reading. This study established a record of how each of the three problems was handled in this particular production. The study concluded with a summary and conclusion chapter and a bibliography. This production thesis, then, further established the use of some novels for Readers" Theatre material. The study justified especially the use of Mark Twain"s Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc for such material. The thesis also recorded the production process, from selection of material to performance. As Readers" Theatre continues to grow through experimentation, records such as this will add to the existing knowledge concerning possible materials and techniques for this medium.Item A study of religious references in selected speeches of Booker T. Washington(1968) Eiland, Millard Fayne; Linsley, William A.; Sisco, John I.; Shuford, Haywood R., Jr.; Streeter, Donald C.One of the prominent Negro figures in American public address was Booker T. Washington. He became a well-known educator of Negroes and a highly successful speaker. He spoke thousands of times, but his theme was always essentially the same: that the solution to the race problem lay in giving Negroes the opportunity to elevate themselves in every possible way through practical education of the mind, body, and heart. He urged white people to support Negroes in this effort, for the benefit of both races. He urged the Negro to concentrate on utilizing the opportunities he had. In supporting his position Washington, a very religious man, utilized religious references liberally in his speeches as well as in his writings. The purpose of this study is to examine the religious dimension in selected speeches of Washington"s. The study emphasizes Washington"s invention and audience adaptation through religious references. The references were an out growth of his philosophy, a significant part of his general message, and one of the ways he related this philosophy and program to specific audiences. To understand Washington"s use of religious references is to understand better his rhetoric. Religious references are defined as the words. or phrases, which he used in one of three ways: type-one references are direct references to "God," "Christian," "church," or other definitely religious terms; type-two references are the Biblical allusions, paraphrases, or quotations; type-three are Washington"s use of terms such as "grace," "Brotherhood," religious-in-context, but not inherently religious. This study is not a traditional content analysis. The references were counted only to show relative strength and number in the selected speeches, and to show with which themes and ideas, and with which audience values these references were related or connected. The only known complete texts of his speeches have been used: the Armstrong speech (1895), the Atlanta speech (1895) , the Harvard speech (1896) , the Buffalo N.H.A. speech (1896), the Shaw Monument speech (1897) , two speeches at Muchakinock, Iowa (1899), the Charleston N.E.A. speech (1900) and the Vanderbilt speech (1907). The original manuscripts in the Library of Congress or the first reporting of each speech were used. Religious terminology and ideas were a part of Washington"s normal thought patterns. But he had also a lively sense of audiences and a desire to communicate. The references present, in every speech studied, did coincide with the general religious and philosophic setting of his era, and they were a part of how he related to his diverse audiences. To Northerners he spoke to humanitarian impulses, and to Southerners, to religious convictions and self-interest through religious references. Washington related his theme of Negro education through this medium to the audience values of individualism and belief in the providence of God. He openly appealed to religious values in pleading the Negroes case. To Negroes he called, in religious terms, for patience and forbearance in lifting themselves up through non-political effort and hard work.Item A study of the rhetorical strategy of maligning as exemplified in anti-Mormon rhetoric, 1847-1890(1975) Center, Donald Bruce; Heath, Robert L.; Linsley, William A.; English, William B.; Morgan, George T., Jr.This thesis analyzes a cross-section of anti-Mormon rhetoric, 1847-1890, to determine how maligning was employed as a persuasive strategy and the effect it had on the Mormon movement. Maligning is defined as a rhetorical strategy characterized by invective and/or misleading devices designed to discredit a person, cause, or movement. Polarization, ego-involvement, source credibility, fear appeals and scapegoating are central concepts in the strategy of maligning. Each of these concepts plays a specific role in the formation of attitudes. Thus, the end product of maligning is to create, through the use of various devices, negative attitudes result ant in negative behavior toward the person or movement being attacked. Specific purposes of the study were: 1. To define and identify the motives and objectives of certain anti-Mormons who employed maligning, 2. To define and identify the various rhetorical devices that comprise the strategy of maligning, 3. To determine how maligners employed these devices in an attempt to achieve their objectives, and 4. To evaluate, pragmatically, the success of the maligners. By determining how maligning was used as an identifiable rhetorical strategy to gain certain objectives, the thesis of this study can be concluded: that the rhetorical strategy of maligning was skillfully used to produce political and social effects detrimental to the espoused purposes of Mormonism, 1847-1890. The results of this study demonstrate the maligners were instrumental in producing certain political and social effects that forced the Mormon Church to dissolve the "People's Party" and abandoned its doctrine of plural marriage; statehood for Utah was withheld until these two conditions were forthcoming.Item A survey : The employment of women in certain phases of television production(1955) Solomon, Sybil Ryemon; Schwarzwalder, John C.; Avery, John W.; Battin, Tom C.; Uray, Richard M.In the field communcation, television has become the most prominent source of entertainment, education and information. The growth of the television industry has been extremely rapid. As a result of this remarkable growth many new jobs have been created and are being created as the industry continues to mature and expand. Television as a means of earning a livelihood is now attracting a great many people. More and more women are turning to careers in television. This study is an investigation into the problem of the current employment of women in certain phases of television production. What are the specific jobs that women are now holding in television production, and what salaries do they earn at these jobs? How does the number of men compare with the number of women who are doing the same job? How do their salaries compare? Because of the newness of the industry none of this information had previously been gathered. Young women considering television as a career had no information concerning what jobs to train for, what salaries they could expect to earn, and what the attitude of the stations is toward employing women. [...]Item A survey and study of commercial television news programming in the United States(1955) Gilpin, Helen Moore; Schwarzwalder, John C.; Uray, Richard M.; Avery, John W.Television news programming is now in the very early stages of development; therefore, there is a need for a survey and study of what is being done in this country today and to determine what trends are being established. It is the purpose of this study to (1) describe the typical commercial television news department; (2) to determine significant trends within television news programming; (3) to compare radio trends with television trends; (4) to offer recommendations for news programming; and (5) to offer recommendations for qalifying graduates who plan to enter the field of television news. [...]Item A Toulmin analysis of John C. Calhoun's use of logical proof as a means of audience adaptation(1969) Upchurch, Hal Rhea; English, William B.; Linsley, William A.; Sisco, John I.; Ransom, Crisler B.Many apparent inconsistencies and contradictions surround history"s record of the life of John Caldwell Calhoun. During his political career, he made a complete reversal in his philosophy of the powers of the Federal Government. This radical switch from nationalist to sectionalist forced his opposition to those issues which he had earlier advocated. Yet in spite of this radical shift, he consistently maintained the reputation of a great logician. This study investigates how Calhoun was able to be inconsistent, politically, and logical, rhetorically. The Toulmin construct for reasoning, which is used in this study, enables the critic to chart changes in Calhoun"s logical appeals. The issue of internal improvements crystallizes the dichotomy of Calhoun, the inconsistent, and Calhoun, the logician. Hence, this study investigates his three major speeches on this subject. Support for the thesis entails three major areas of analysisรขโฌโan examination of Calhoun"s political philosophies and his position on internal improvements, an analysis of the three audiences under consideration, and an analysis of his speeches on this issue.Item An alternative application of telecommunication technology as a feedback mechanism for sociocultural adaptability(1979) Duffy, Gavan; LeRoy, David J.; Fogel, Daniel S.; Heath, Robert L.; Roemer, Robert E.This is an interdisciplinary study concerned with the larger view of problems which presently beset Western civilization. One suggestion is offered for the amelioration of these problems. It is explicitly stated, however, that this proposal does not represent a panacea for all Western ills. Rather, a telecommunication system is proposed based upon the perspective developed in general systems theory, which if adopted would apply telecommunication technology as a sociocultural feedback mechanism, facilitating systems analyses of social problems from which strategies can be developed for the gratification of the needs of the social system and its component systems. The paper begins with a discussion of the concept of progress or development. These are found to be teleological, value-laden concepts. In the twentieth century, social teleology has apparently taken a negative turn, as represented by a shift in the era's image of the future from a positive, utopic vision to a megative, dystopic one. This shift is compounded by modern technological developments, which have made the traditional normative environment of individualism and laissez-faire untenable. The values of social responsibility are found to be necessary due to the exigencies of the modern, technological era. Social evolutionary processes are found to be analogous to natural evolutionary processes. They differ mainly in that the former is teleological while the latter is not. It is suggested that social evolution be directed toward the survival of the sociocultural system and its components in the construction of social teleologies. In order to enhance survival, attention must be paid to human needs. A model of needs is proposed based upon the formulations of general systems theory. Values are found to interact closely with needs, sometimes stimulating the acceptance on the part of systems of pathological, or false, needs. Any assessment of needs must include an assessment of values. Suggestions are made for improvements in the present methods of value mensuration. Two examples of the values of laissez-faire and individualism at work in the formation and formulation of American telecommunication policy are offered. These are found in the debates over the enactment of the Radio Act of 1927 and over H. R. 13015 in the 95th Congress. American telecommunication policy is found to be formulated without a coherent teleological perspective. Based upon the teleological perspective of enhancing the survival of the sociocultural system and its components, established earlier, a proposal is made for the construction and institution of an integrated telecommunication-computation system. Certain proposals are also made concerning the software applications of such a system which would enhance sociocultural survival.Item An analysis of the use of report and inference/judgment in The Advocate : a study of social movement rhetoric, A content analysis, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1978, and 1983(1988) Battista, Patrick di; Heath, Robert L.; Ryan, Michael; Walker de Felix, JudithThis study analyzes the use of fact, and inference/judgment in the gay periodical The Advocate. The purpose of this study was to better understand social movement tactics by determining whether the news of a publication used in the gay movement differed in content in crisis and noncrisis years. The Advocate was content analyzed to determine whether the proportion of adversarial issues conformed to a pattern consistent with the stages of dialectical confrontation and to determine whether the proportion of reports, statements characterized by fact, or the proportion of inference/judgment, statements characterized by opinion, was greater in crisis years as compared to noncrisis years. This study found that the use of inference/judgment varied significantly as a function of year. The use of inference/judgment was greater in noncrisis years, while the use of report was greater in crisis years.Item An analysis of Zaikai influence in Japanese telecommunication liberalization(1987) Varan, Duane; Salvaggio, Jerry M.; Nelson, Robert G.; Gilmartin, ChrisOn April 1, 1985, legislation was enacted in Japan which made it the world's third liberalized telecommunications market. While much has already been written in English concerning the American and British experience in liberalization, very little examination has been given to the forces leading to such policy reform in Japan. Moreover, almost no scholarly study to date has analyzed the influence of Japanese big business (zaikai) in the evolution of this new telecommunications environment. [...]Item An evaluation of educational television in the Houston area(1952) Bailey, Louis Garland; Schwarzwalder, John C.; Cook, Wilton W.; Welch, Patrick E.; Uray, Richard M.Because of the newness of television, educators who desire to work with it have found that they are dealing with a great many intangibles. So far, there has been no direct application of television to education. The allocation of VFF channel for educational use, however, assures Houston an educational TV station. Television is particularly important to education because it has nearly all the advantages of motion pictures, although, to be sure, it has disadvantages which motion pictures do not have. Some of those disadvantages are its inability - at the present time - to transmit color, its lack of clear picture definition that every good film has, its small screen, and its very great cost. [...]Item An experimental study of listener comprehension of news commentary when rate of delivery is varied(1955) Asher, James J. 1929-; Schwarzwalder, John C.; Evans, Richard I.; Battin, Tom C.; Uray, Richard M.Each State in the Union is dotted with radio stations and most of these broadcast what is known as 'straight' news. Research has established that it did not matter how fast or slow the local newscaster delivered this news because the speed did not affect listener comprehension. People understood as well if the pace was slow and relaxed, or if it was at 'machine gun' velocity. [...]Item An inquiry into microphone placement for TV musical programs(1955) Tanner, Homer Archibald; Schwarzwalder, John C.; Thomson, Lillian; Owen, John P.A common question among musicians in television is concerned with the reasons for the inferior sound obtained. Having heard recordings and tapes of their work from radio programs or recording sessions, musicians are often disappointed after hearing a tape of a television show. With no accompanying picture, audio, the ten per cent of television assigned psychologically to this method of broadcasting, becomes the entire center of attention, and the faults are magnified many times. To inquire into this problem, a study was made first of sound conditions in radio. The study begins with the development of radio musical programs from their conception, and is concerned primarily with the acoustical conditions of studios and the qualities of microphones. In order to compare the favorable conditions for sound in radio with those same conditions in television, a survey is made of the acoustical conditions, microphones, and microphone techniques currently in use in radio musical programs. This is compared to the existing conditions in television, and many of the reasons for the differences in sound are exposed. In an effort to find out what the various individual problems are, and how they are met at different stations, and for different programs, a questionnaire was sent out to many audio engineers througout the country. Numerous responses were received stating that no live music is being telecast from that particular station, but twenty-four responses were received concerning local programs, and twelve responses were received regarding network musical shows. From these answers a compilation has been made, showing what some of the problems are and how they are overcome. Diagrams illustrating the seating arrangement of musicians, microphone placement, an in many cases, the acoustical treatment of the area surrounding the musicians, are included in the last portion of the thesis.