Rachel McBride Christ - ENGL 3450

After Zooming with Dr. Bacabac yesterday, I have a better focus for my proposal. I wouldn't call myself passionate about my topic, but I would say that I'm hopeful that my research will create awareness. My non-binary pronouns lit review went well, and I learned a great deal. But, which way should I take this topic as I move forward. What is my main purpose? And how can my desire to create awareness match up with a PTW focus? Dr. B. always has the answers. She's a great instructor to help toss around ideas and sort things out. Now, my plans for revision and proposal are quite clear. And, I'm ahead of my capstone game for next semester. My proposal will include some sort of generic memo or professional correspondence. Those who participate in my study will read the quick memo and answer some qualitative questions along with some quick demographic data collection. This plan keeps my topic aligned with PTW and gets me the data I want to analyze.  Cool beans!

My research gap is actually what I was hoping for. People use singular they in conversation (sometimes without meaning to and/or not knowing it's not correct), and centuries of authoritative writers have used singular they on purpose (Geoffrey Chaucer, Shakespeare, etc.). So, my gap is identified in this realm: If English speakers are actually using this conventionally plural pronoun as singular and individuals are now requesting to be called they , has society actually adopted it after decades of protest? I think a carefully constructed survey might offer some insight into what various groups of people actually think (if they care at all).  Some groups I'd like to survey would likely answer in full acceptance of singular they (Facebook LGBTQ+ ally group) and may skew my results. Other groups would be more neutral but may lean toward a more conservative political outlook due to geographic region (Facebook St George Moms group). Including DSU students, staff, and faculty as surv...