The Noachic Deluge is often portrayed within Scripture as being a disastrous, death-inducing, catastrophic event that had the power to forever shape and change the world that then was (Matt 24:36-44; Luke 17:26—27; 1 Pet 3:20-21; 2 Pet 3:6). Via “self destructive lawlessness” (חמס(, humanity had the effect of “corrupting” (שחת (the “good” (טוב (earth that God had created, thus leading the Creator to proclaim that he would “destroy” (שחת (and “blot/wipe” (מחה (it out, along with “all flesh” (בשר כל(. Fortunately, “Noah found favour in the eyes of the LORD” and God chose to “establish” or “confirm” (קום (his covenant with him and to preserve a remnant of humanity and all life (Gen 6:18-21; 7:1-3, 7-9, 13-16; 8:16-22; 9:1-17). As such, despite the vivid picture of devastation that the Noachic Deluge account depicts, this study will seek to demonstrate by means of rhetorical analysis that the emphasis of the narrative is on redemption, salvation, deliverance, renewal, and the upholding of life. The Noachic Deluge event functions to recalibrate the kinship relationship of God and humanity that was lost in the Fall via the structure of covenant. In this way, the Noachic Deluge narrative is persuasive. As intellectual, world-view formative rhetoric, the scribe convincingly communicates that God’s intentions for creation, the establishment of order via covenant, will not be thwarted. This includes human beings— as his image-bearers—employing the principle oflex talionis (blood-for-blood). Despite the present scholarship, a lacuna exists concerning the persuasive nature of the Noachic Deluge narrative, its rhetorical function, and a thorough, methodologically rigorous, description of the scribe’s persuasiveness. As such, this work seeks to delineate the scribe’s essential persuasive strategy—noting also his literary artistry—as it engages in a detailed reading ofthis specific portion of ancient Scripture (Gen 6:9—9:29). This study leverages a form of George A. Kennedy’s model of rhetorical criticism: (1) determining the rhetorical units, (2) determining the rhetorical situation, (3) determining the rhetorical strategy, and (4) determining the rhetorical effectiveness. A brief conclusion rounds out the analysis. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The Noachic Deluge is often portrayed within Scripture as being a disastrous, death-inducing, catastrophic event that had the power to forever shape and change the world that then was (Matt 24:36-44; Luke 17:26—27; 1 Pet 3:20-21; 2 Pet 3:6). Via “self- destructive lawlessness” ( חמס ), humanity had the effect of “corrupting” ( שחת ) the “good” ( טוב ) earth that God had created, thus leading the Creator to proclaim that he would “destroy” ( שחת ) and “blot/wipe” ( מחה ) it out, along with “all flesh” ( .(כל בשר Fortunately, “Noah found favour in the eyes of the LORD” and God chose to “establish” or “confirm” ( קום ) his covenant with him and to preserve a remnant of humanity and all life (Gen 6:18-21; 7:1-3, 7-9, 13-16; 8:16-22; 9:1-17). As such, despite the vivid picture of devastation that the Noachic Deluge account depicts, this study will seek to demonstrate by means of rhetorical analysis that the emphasis of the narrative is on redemption, salvation, deliverance, renewal, and the upholding of life. The Noachic Deluge event functions to recalibrate the kinship relationship of God and humanity that was lost in the Fall via the structure of covenant. In this way, the Noachic Deluge narrative is persuasive. As intellectual, world-view formative rhetoric, the scribe convincingly communicates that God’s intentions for creation, the establishment of order via covenant, will not be thwarted. This includes human beings— as his image-bearers—employing the principle of lex talionis (blood-for-blood). Despite the present scholarship, a lacuna exists concerning the persuasive nature of the Noachic Deluge narrative, its rhetorical function, and a thorough, methodologically rigorous, description of the scribe’s persuasiveness. As such, this work seeks to delineate the scribe’s essential persuasive strategy—noting also his literary artistry—as it engages in a detailed reading of this specific portion of ancient Scripture (Gen 6:9—9:29). This study leverages a form of George A. Kennedy’s model of rhetorical criticism: (1) determining the rhetorical units, (2) determining the rhetorical situation, (3) determining the rhetorical strategy, and (4) determining the rhetorical effectiveness. A brief conclusion rounds out the analysis. / Dissertation / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Part of the importance of the problem can be seen through the value of speech contests. One of the various means of realizing the purposes of speech education is through the speech contest, the practice of getting together with others for the comparison of formal speaking activities. The value of the speech contest was recognized centuries ago by the Greeks. “Speech contests are old devices; that stimulate a student to his greatest endeavors by a desire to win approval or victory over his fellows in not a product of this mad, modern naturalistic age.” From that early beginning contests have had an eventful history, hitting many rough spots on the way. From the depression to the post-war period of World War II there was a trend toward abandoning speech contests.

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The purpose of this dissertation is to explore how diversity discourse inscribes oppressive institutional structures (slavery, racism, and whiteness), specifically, institutional power, and offer possibilities for making sustainable change. This dissertation is an institutional critique (Porter et al. 2000) that includes Black women's experiences in diversity leadership roles at Virginia Tech, an analysis of the institution's bureaucratic structure, an analysis of diversity discourse published by Virginia Tech's Office for Inclusion and Diversity (OID), and climate surveys. By following diversity discourse, I explore how the discourse and modalities inscribe institutional power, the "outsider-within" construct of Black women, and obstructions to institutional change through discursive practices. In general, change happens at institutions but does not connote equitable, sustainable change. I argue that mapping the discursive and material construction of institutional power can reveal discursive methods/methodologies for remapping the institution toward inscribing structures of resistance. / Doctor of Philosophy / The purpose of this dissertation is to explore how diversity discourse inscribes oppressive institutional structures (slavery, racism, and whiteness), specifically, institutional power, and offer possibilities for making sustainable change. This dissertation is an institutional critique (Porter et al. 2000) that includes Black women's experiences in diversity leadership roles at Virginia Tech, an analysis of the institution's bureaucratic structure, an analysis of diversity discourse published by Virginia Tech's Office for Inclusion and Diversity (OID), and climate surveys. By following diversity discourse, I explore how the discourse and modalities inscribe institutional power, the "outsider-within" construct of Black women, and obstructions to institutional change through discursive practices. The "outsider-within" positionality is "a marginality that stimulated a distinctive Black women's perspective on a variety of themes" (Collins, 2022) from a dual existence as an outsider within oppressive white spaces. Change happens at institutions but does not demonstrate equitable and sustainable change. I argue that investigating the discursive and material construction of institutional power (following the discourse) can reveal discursive methods/methodologies for implementing acts of resistance.