Topic Paper and Presentation – 

Each student will write a research paper and present it to the class.  The topic should be of interest to the student but must be an area that we have discussed in class (lecture videos, course material, etc.).  Additionally, since you’ve taken great notes you’ll be able to refer to those in support of this project.

As an example, you may choose to discuss a business system that you have used in the past or currently use at your company.   Topical sections of the paper might include, the purpose of the system, the type of data collected, how the data is collected, any input devices, the processing of the data, output devices, interactions with other systems, etc.  You will present via a recorded video/or live video call a 5 to a 7-minute overview of your topic (points will be deducted for presentations under 5 minutes and points will be deducted for presentations over 7 minutes).  In your presentation, please include at least 2 forms of visual aids (Excel, PowerPoint, video, samples, demonstration, etc.).  Additionally, you will be required to provide a 5-7-page review (12 pt. font, times new roman, 1” margin, double-spaced) of the topic on the assigned due date.  The topics paper should serve as an outline for your presentation. 

Lavf58.12.100

Tim Oyler

Scene:

Grandma Shada’s hut, near Awassa, at the edge of the Sahara, in the shadows of the Bale Mountains. Tightly drawn and bent boughs to keep out the bugs and the occasional rains, floors covered in woven mats.  Two young girls, under their cover, are talking about tomorrow’s festival.

HIBA:  Let’s run away

AKIFA:  Be quiet.  Shada will hear you outside

HIBA: We have to run away.  I have to run away.

AKIFA: Shhh

HIBA: Why do they do this to us?

AKIFA:  I told you.  It makes us pure

HIBA:  Why aren’t we pure?

AKIFA: I don’t know. Be quiet.

HIBA: I won’t let them tie me to that tree. I saw them cut Ameen. I am running away.

AKIFA:  Be quiet.  No man will want you if you aren’t closed.  No man will pay father for you. Now hush.

HIBA: I can’t

AKIFA: It will be ok. 

HIBA:  Ameen doesn’t even play with us anymore.  She just sits and stares at the tree all day.

AKIFA:  I’m tired.  Be quiet.  Tomorrow their will be drums and dances and wonderful foods and treats. Don’t you remember how much fun it was last year? And we will be women.

HIBA: Yes, but last year we weren’t old enough to be tied to the tree.

Please, let’s run away.

AKIFA:  Runaway? To where?

HIBA:  To Aunt Yusa’s in Jaba.

AKIFA:  Aunt Yusa was cut, too.

HIBA:  But we heard mother tell Shada that she didn’t want us cut.

AKIFA: But mother isn’t here anymore.

HIBA: But Aunt Yusa and momma were twins.  Like us.  They think alike.  Like we do.

AKIFA: I think I just want to go to sleep

HIBA: Please, sister, let’s run away. 

AKIFA: It’s too dangerous.  We can’t be alone on the road.

HIBA:  I know what to do.  Mother taught us.  We know the prayers.  We know our family history. I know how to do the move.

AKIFA:  The move?

HIBA: The Qworeguys.  If a stranger approaches you on the road, you say “Allah, be my witness, I have no conflict with you.”  And if we can’t find a common ancestor, you do the move.

AKIFA:  You think you could actually do the move to a grown man?

HIBA:  Yes, we are small but quick. Run behind them, reach under their cloth, grab what is hanging and squeeze until they faint or vomit.

AKIFA: HIBA! Stop that.  Be quiet.

HIBA:  But mother taught us.

AKIFA:  But Shada says a woman alone in the desert is like a piece of fat in the sun.  All the animals will find you and devour you.

HIBA: If you come with me, I won’t be alone.

AKIFA:  But if we are raped it will bring dishonor to our entire family.

HIBA:  I know.

What is rape?

AKIFA:  Being alone with a man, I think.

HIBA:  I don’t ever want to be alone with a man.

AKIFA: Be quiet. Let’s pray in our heads and go to sleep.

HIBA: No, let’s run away.  There’s bread cooling outside for tomorrow.  Lets take it and go.

AKIFA: No.  Grandma Shada said everything will be fine.  She told me I am going first, since I was born first.  I will be brave and show you.

HIBA: I can’t.  I’m so scared.  I’m leaving.

AKIFA: This is our tradition. We must be purified.  The more we are closed, the more our husbands will love us.  They will brag to others about our submission. And, we get gifts.

HIBA:  I don’t want gifts.  I don’t want cut.

AKIFA:  Shada says if you don’t get cut, it keeps on growing.  And when you are old it hangs down between your legs and sways back and forth when you walk.  Then you will be like the Western women, who can’t control themselves and are alone with many men. They are going to hell.  I don’t want to go to hell.

HIBA:  Neither do I. but I don’t want to get cut.  And I don’t care about gifts and sweets and dances.

AKIFA: Just pray, Hiba.  Prayer is your strength.  After tomorrow, we will be purified women.  We will no longer be children.

HIBA: Maybe I will just sit and stare at the tree all day with Ameen,

AKIFA: No man will want Ameen. She will just be someone’s second or third wife.  Remember that short, fat man that came through the village last year and bought two wives?  Do you remember how badly he smelled? Do you remember how ugly he was? Is that the kind of man you want?

HIBA: No, but I…

AKIFA: SHHH! Shada is coming!

The flap of the hut is opened, and a woman holding a woven bag enters the room. 

YALDA:  Girls, wake up, lets go.

AKFIA: Shada, is it time?  I don’t hear the drummers

YALDA:  I’m not Shada.  I’m your mother.

HIBA: But you are dead!

YALDA: No dears.  I’m not.  I fled from your father.  I heard that the festival was soon, so I am taking you away.  I have a bag full of bread.  We must leave now and walk all night.

AKIFA: Where are we going?  What about our ceremony?

YALDA:  There will be two less girls crying under the tree tomorrow.  We are going to Jaba. Yusa is waiting at the border.  Let’s go…

Faith Bibby

The Red Clipboard

This scene takes place in present day America at a psychiatric ward of a hospital in a metropolitan area. The ward is set up in a circle around the desk for nurses and doctors. The high risk rooms are further down the floor away from the circle with their own staff desk. These rooms have one-way glass all around them so that the nurses and doctors can see into these solitude rooms, but the patients cannot see out. The two patients I discuss in this poem are in normal rooms that are like hospital rooms; they have a normal door minus things that could be used for self-harm and large windows.

As the scene begins, Marla is sitting in her hospital bed without restraints. The nurse walks in to do her periodic vitals check on Marla, tapping her pen on her clipboard. Marla is sitting up in her bed with a blank expression on her face.

Nurse: Good morning, Marla. I am here to check your vitals and check in with you before Dr. Armdaziack arrives later today. It is now day 4 of your stay at this hospital, and I would like to see you released as soon as possible. I cannot do that until I am sure you will not harm yourself when you leave. 

Marla: I want to get the hell out of here. But I’m just going to be sent back to the children’s home where I have no friends. I’m 17, hell I’ll probably be homeless next year. Who wants to adopt a teenager? I’d be better off dead. I should’ve just taken more pills. 

Nurse: (says this as she is taking Marla’s vitals) Marla, there are ways to change this mindset you have. I had a hard life too, I was homeless for a few months in college when I was studying to be a nurse, and look at me now. Dr. Armdaziak is an expert in psychotherapy, especially with adolescents. He is so widely sought after, I’m sure he will be of great help to you.

Marla: You see, you don’t really know about my life like you think you do. My best friend was just adopted at 16, chosen over me. I don’t even have my friends anymore. I’ve never had parents. I’m about to graduate and go into a world that doesn’t give two shits about me. 

Nurse: Marla, I’m sorry you feel this way about yourself. I’ve got other patients to get to now, but if you need anything you make sure to push that call button.

Marla: Whatever, lady. 

A few minutes have passed. Marla is coloring. She looks around the ward, feeling abandoned and left alone like usual. Then, she notices a girl with curly red hair around her age right across the ward from her. She begins to sneak out of her room across the ward as the nurses are doing their rounds away from her area.

Marla (turns the handle into the girl’s room)

Patty: Mike, is that you? I told you not to come . I’m tired of your bullshit games. I don’t want to be your baby momma. You’re treating me like a pot to piss in! 

Marla: I’m not Mike. My name is Marla, and they’ve got me in the room right across from here. I tried killing myself last week, but I don’t think it’s that big of a deal. I just want out of here. What’s your name?

Patty: I’m Patty. My mom forced me in here a few days ago. She has told me for years Mike isn’t real, but I see him all the time. I graduated a year or so ago, I started working at McDonalds until Mike started visiting me everyday. I had to run away and hide from him. Mom found me and brought me here, but I was damn sure safer out there than I am in here. 

Marla: I’m sorry you feel that way. I don’t have a mom, so I don’t know what that’s like. I do know how it feels to lose someone though. My best friend was just adopted, and now I’m all alone.

Patty: We can be friends. I don’t know if you’re like Mike or not, but why not give it a shot. Do you see the lady with the red clipboard?

Marla: You mean the nurse?

Patty: That lady, she keeps telling me that Dr Arm is going to help me get rid of Mike. Click clack, that damn clipboard goes all day long. I want to get rid of him, I hate his games. I just can’t be the one to do it or he’d kill me.

Marla: C’mon then, let’s go. Out of here, to I don’t know where. We can help each other. 

Patty: Are you serious?

Marla: Of course I am. 

Patty: That bitch with the red clipboard thinks she knows everything. Trying to give us all drugs to “help us”. That ain’t gonna nothing. What I need is to hide from Mike until I can figure out what to do with him.

Marla (hears the sound of footsteps coming towards the room): Come on. If we don’t go now. We’ll never get out of here.

Marla grabs Patty and pulls her off the bed. Patty runs with Marla towards the door, but they get stopped by a tall woman with long blond hair: Patty’s mother.

Mother: Girl, you run off. Patty, get back in bed or else. I better not have to tell you twice. Honey, whatever Patty is saying to you, it’s not true. You’re better off without her. And obviously you’re crazy too or you wouldn’t be in here. 

Patty: Mom, are you serious right now? If you can see her that means she’s real. She’s the only person who’s ever understood me.

Mother: Patty, don’t be silly. You don’t need any more craziness in your life. You need help, and Dr. Arm is going to give that to you. 

(Nurse runs up and grabs Marla): Marla, what are you doing? You know you’re not supposed to talk with others until you see Dr. Armdaziak. 

Marla: Where the hell is he? I’ve been here four days and haven’t seen him. It’s a waste of my time. I want out of here so I can finish what I started.

Nurse: You listen to me young lady. I’ve tried being nice but I’m done helping people like you who won’t even help themselves. Dr. Armdaziack will be here this afternoon, he’s been on vacation. Now get back in your bed or else I’ll put you in solitude with the real crazies.

Marla (walks back into her room and sits down again with the same blank expression on her face, losing any hope of ever finding another friend)