With increasing numbers of first-generation college students enrolling in colleges and universities across the US, so too is the need to begin preparing such underrepresented students for graduate school and a career in academia. As a phenomenological case study of student transformation, this dissertation examines the experience of nine first-generation college students in the summer research portion of the Ronald E. McNair Achievement Program (McNair) at University of Arizona. The qualitative data collected includes in-depth interviewing, observing the students' in-class presentations on the progress of their summer research, and reviewing the students' written work. Drawing on Adult Transformational Learning Theory (Mezirow, 1991) and Gee's writings on student identity (2000) and Discourse (2005), this study primarily addresses the following questions: 1) How do UA McNair students take on and use the Discourse of research during the 10 week summer program? And 2) as they engage in the Discourse of research (in classes, with mentors, with peers, in written work), what academic identity transformations are observed (in the classroom, in interviews, and in written work)? Narrative inquiry (Clandinin & Connelly, 2000) was utilized to organize and examine the data, and research texts consist of academic biographies written for each student. Findings reveal that student transformation is the noticeable difference in the students' utilization and integration of a language system used to describe their summer research and to define their research interests. Defined as the Discourse of research, this becomes the basis for students enacting the identity of undergraduate researcher. As a cohort of nine McNair Scholars, students share the experience of undergraduate research and engage in conversations which address the insecurities they have as first-generation college students. Through this formation of an affinity group (Gee, 2005) and their utilization of the Discourse of research, students engage in critical reflection, reevaluate their academic identities, and begin preparing themselves for their transition from undergraduate students to first-year doctoral students.

This paper intends to examine animal portrayal in literature with the guidance of three literary works; Charlotte’s Web, The Call of the Wild and The Guest Cat. The overall purpose is to explore the representation of animals in text and see what it possibly could show about our – the humans – view of animals. Through this I investigate what we do when we interpret animals in text and how this portrayal can effect animals, with the help of a moral philosophical angle. I put focus on how the view of animals can be effected depending on if one sees animals as an object or a subject – someone or something. Questions used are: How are animals portrayed in this fiction? What can this portrayal show about our relationship with – and view of – animals? The analysis show consequences of both sides through the thought that both views still can be a sign of power over animals, since we never completely can understand animal’s thoughts or actions. I argue, however, that there still is a value to reflect about the animal in literature because it can demonstrate a shifting animal view and let us reflect not only about the animals in literature ­– but in the reality as well. / Denna uppsats ämnar undersöka djurs gestaltning i litteratur med vägledning av tre litterära verk; Charlotte’s Web, The Call of the Wild och Gästkatten. Det övergripande syftet är att undersöka representationen av djur i text och se vad de möjligtvis kan säga om vår – människans – djursyn. Genom detta undersöker jag vad vi gör när vi tolkar djur i text och hur denna gestaltning kan påverka djur, med hjälp av en moralfilosofisk vinkel. Denna vinkel lägger fokus på hur djursynen kan påverkas beroende på om man ser djur som objekt eller subjekt – någon eller något. Frågeställningarna är: Hur gestaltas djur i denna fiktion? Vad kan denna gestaltning säga om vår relation till – och syn på – djur? Analysen visar konsekvenser av båda sidor genom tanken att båda ändå kan vara ett tecken på makt eftersom vi aldrig helt kan förstå djurs tankar och handlingar. Jag argumenterar däremot att det ändå finns ett värde att reflektera kring djurbilden i litteratur eftersom det kan demonstrera en skiftande djursyn och låta oss reflektera kring djur inte bara i litteraturen – men i verkligheten. ­