Thesis Archives Search
This search engine will let you explore the over 1800 theses written in Honors at The University of Maine since the Program’s inception in 1935. You may search our thesis archives based on any of the fields listed above. If the thesis is available at the Reynolds Library (Thomson Honors Center) or Fogler Library (Special Collections), the information will appear below the bibliographic data. At last count, we had about 1800 theses in the Reynolds Library.
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Search Results
“THE SUN SHINES, AND HITLER IS MASTER OF THIS CITY” THE APPEAL OF NAZISM TO GERMAN YOUTH DURING THE 1920S AND 30S
The focus of this Honors Thesis is the study and explanation of the reasons for the strong endorsement of National Socialism and Nazism by the youth of Germany during the late 1920s and the 1930s. Understanding why a comparatively well-educated and politically-conscious cohort of young men and women would accept and champion the cause of the developing Nazi Party en masse begs an exploration of the greater context of the social and political environment of Germany during this time period. The reasons behind the overwhelming support of the Party by young German men and women after the Great War reflect the overall social and cultural movements of the time, and stand testament to the ongoing gender and class struggles of the generation that had grown up in the shadow of the stinging defeat of World War I. The state of the German economy and the great political and social unrest following the war, in addition to the motif of youthful idealism, are all causes for the public sanction of Nazism; and in this Thesis I shall seek a greater understanding of these and myriad accompanying nuances.
“Things are Going to Get a Lot Worse Before They Get Worse”: Humor in the Face of Disaster, Politics, and Pain
Major: Journalism Graduation Year: 2020 Thesis Advisor: Holly Schreiber
Description of Publication:
From the Holocaust and slavery victims to medical professionals to firefighters, coping humor has been used throughout history even in the darkest of times. While it is common among victims of unfavorable situations, it is also utilized by late-night television shows to package the news of the day in a format that both addresses the issues and eases the emotions surrounding them. This thesis critically analyzes selected clips from late night shows and sketch comedy surrounding three different news events: Brett Kavanaugh’s Senate Confirmation Hearings, the Boston Marathon bombing, and Hurricane Sandy. By studying a political event, a domestic terrorist attack, and a natural disaster, this research examines the use and effects of coping humor across different types of events. In each chapter, the comedians studied employ humor tactics that respond to the needs and emotions of the audience. Whether used to distract, to vent, or to build connections, coping humor helps viewers grapple with current events. By easing the negativity surrounding the event, the comedians provide viewers with a space to safely digest and understand the news, acknowledge painful absurdities, and foster a feeling of community and connection.
Location of Publication:
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/625/
“Well, He Just Lost Man Points In My Book:” The Absence of Volunteerism Among First-Year College Men
Major: Sociology & Child Development and Family Relations Graduation Year: 2010 Thesis Advisor: Susan Gardner
Description of Publication:
A significant amount of research has been conducted on volunteerism in America. The majority of this research, however, can be characterized as comparing gender differences between men and women, grouping men and women as one representative group, or neglecting college students all together and focusing on adult volunteers. Given the benefits of volunteerism, the lack of involvement among college men, and the increasing need for volunteers in non-profit and civic organizations, this study documented reasons for the lack of volunteerism among first-year undergraduate men at a mid-sized research university in the northeast. Qualitative in nature, several themes appeared through a series of in-depth interviews indicating first-year men’s lack of motivation toward volunteering, perceived time and fun of volunteer activities, and unawareness of volunteer opportunities. There was also evidence that suggested men identify volunteering as emasculating or damaging to one’s social status. Taking into account themes that indicated a reason for the lack of volunteerism among men, suggestions on how to improve volunteer rates included utilizing skills and interests that first-year men already possess, making volunteer opportunities flexible, encouraging men to volunteer through already established groups, and advertising diverse volunteer opportunities. This study helped to provide a greater understanding of gender and its impact on one’s actions, and could assist administrators with future volunteer initiatives.
Location of Publication:
URL to Thesis: https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/honors/574
1, 3-Dipolar Addition to Certain Steroids
1, 3-Dipolar Cycloadditions of Diphenylnitrilimes to 1-Substituted Cyclopentenes
1000 DAYS, OR THE LESSONS FROM RIVERSIDE
1000 Days, or Lessons from Riverside is a novel, largely meant for a young adult audience, written with the intent to tell a story not just about a boy’s last three years of high school, or even about a boy becoming a man. Rather, this novel is about a boy becoming a man of God.
The protagonist, Paul Clark, has to complete community service hours for school credit. Disgruntled by the new assignment, Paul is assigned to work at Riverside Living Center, a group home for extremely ill children. There, he meets Timothy Pottinger, a classmate who volunteers at Riverside freely and acts as something as a chaplain for the ill children. Paul’s life is further complicated when his cousin, Julie, moves in with his family following her parents’ divorce. Julie, a pious, studious girl, is very different from anyone Paul knows.
Over the course of the next three years, Paul and Julie must learn how to live together as a family. Through their assignments at Riverside, they learn true compassion and understanding, and Paul begins to seek out just what is it about faith that makes Julie and Timothy as driven as they are.