title: Depression in autobiographical sports writing: A backstage pass into the dark locker room

authors: Shepherd, Caleb

subjects: Depression

abstract: Autobiographical sports writing (ASW) enables authors to provide the general public an insight into their world as an elite athlete. Access to the lives of these athletes is otherwise left to sports media and journalism, which can often skew material for the right headline. This autobiographical insight also allows athletes the opportunity to discuss their battles with depression and mental health without the scrutiny of media and without the risks of giving their competitors an edge. It is important for all autobiographical writers to establish a connection with the reader and recognise that by entering into the field of ASW they are also entering into an unwritten contract that implies their story is truthful. This requires a level of vulnerability and bravery from the writer, particularly with a topic such as depression. The resulting ASW grants the audience a backstage pass into their often dark and confronting ‘locker rooms’. 

This thesis will examine and critically analyse three primary texts from this field: Graeme Obree’s Flying Scotsman, Andre Agassi’s Open and Amanda Beard’s In The Water They Can’t See You Cry. I will undertake a literature-focused consideration of the methods each author uses to craft their narrative. These texts represent individual stories which are unique and set them apart from the vast majority of sports writing. Each author uses specific literary techniques to craft their narratives; which include a combination of first-person narration, present tense, outward expression of internal voice and careful selection of opening scenes. 

This is a creative practice thesis and the critical analysis will be followed by an extract from my own memoir in the same field, The Other Games. The creative component is thematically linked to the critical analysis, examining my personal life as an Olympic rowing coxswain and detailing some of my periodic battles with depression. This section will also incorporate and display some of the literary techniques that bring my chosen texts to life, in particular a carefully selected opening scene and an outward expression of internal voice through italics.

text: Depression in autobiographical sports writing: A backstage pass into the dark locker room Autobiographical sports writing (ASW) enables authors to provide the general public an insight into their world as an elite athlete. Access to the lives of these athletes is otherwise left to sports media and journalism, which can often skew material for the right headline. This autobiographical insight also allows athletes the opportunity to discuss their battles with depression and mental health without the scrutiny of media and without the risks of giving their competitors an edge. It is important for all autobiographical writers to establish a connection with the reader and recognise that by entering into the field of ASW they are also entering into an unwritten contract that implies their story is truthful. This requires a level of vulnerability and bravery from the writer, particularly with a topic such as depression. The resulting ASW grants the audience a backstage pass into their often dark and confronting ‘locker rooms’. 

This thesis will examine and critically analyse three primary texts from this field: Graeme Obree’s Flying Scotsman, Andre Agassi’s Open and Amanda Beard’s In The Water They Can’t See You Cry. I will undertake a literature-focused consideration of the methods each author uses to craft their narrative. These texts represent individual stories which are unique and set them apart from the vast majority of sports writing. Each author uses specific literary techniques to craft their narratives; which include a combination of first-person narration, present tense, outward expression of internal voice and careful selection of opening scenes. 

This is a creative practice thesis and the critical analysis will be followed by an extract from my own memoir in the same field, The Other Games. The creative component is thematically linked to the critical analysis, examining my personal life as an Olympic rowing coxswain and detailing some of my periodic battles with depression. This section will also incorporate and display some of the literary techniques that bring my chosen texts to life, in particular a carefully selected opening scene and an outward expression of internal voice through italics.

year: 2020

title: Bounded Eigenvalues of Fully Clamped and Completely Free Rectangular Plates

authors: Mochida, Yusuke

subjects: vibration

abstract: Exact solution to the vibration of rectangular plates is available only for plates with two opposite edges subject to simply supported conditions. Otherwise, they are analysed by using approximate methods. There are several approximate methods to conduct a vibration analysis, such as the Rayleigh-Ritz method, the Finite Element Method, the Finite Difference Method, and the Superposition Method. The Rayleigh-Ritz method and the finite element method give upper bound results for the natural frequencies of plates. However, there is a disadvantage in using this method in that the error due to discretisation cannot be calculated easily. Therefore, it would be good to find a suitable method that gives lower bound results for the natural frequencies to complement the results from the Rayleigh-Ritz method. The superposition method is also a convenient and efficient method but it gives lower bound solution only in some cases. Whether it gives upper bound or lower bound results for the natural frequencies depends on the boundary conditions. It is also known that the finite difference method always gives lower bound results. This thesis presents bounded eigenvalues, which are dimensionless form of natural frequencies, calculated using the superposition method and the finite difference method. All computations were done using the MATLAB software package. The convergence tests show that the superposition method gives a lower bound for the eigenvalues of fully clamped plates, and an upper bound for the completely free plates. It is also shown that the finite difference method gives a lower bound for the eigenvalues of completely free plates. Finally, the upper bounds and lower bounds for the eigenvalues of fully clamped and completely free plates are given.

text: Bounded Eigenvalues of Fully Clamped and Completely Free Rectangular Plates Exact solution to the vibration of rectangular plates is available only for plates with two opposite edges subject to simply supported conditions. Otherwise, they are analysed by using approximate methods. There are several approximate methods to conduct a vibration analysis, such as the Rayleigh-Ritz method, the Finite Element Method, the Finite Difference Method, and the Superposition Method. The Rayleigh-Ritz method and the finite element method give upper bound results for the natural frequencies of plates. However, there is a disadvantage in using this method in that the error due to discretisation cannot be calculated easily. Therefore, it would be good to find a suitable method that gives lower bound results for the natural frequencies to complement the results from the Rayleigh-Ritz method. The superposition method is also a convenient and efficient method but it gives lower bound solution only in some cases. Whether it gives upper bound or lower bound results for the natural frequencies depends on the boundary conditions. It is also known that the finite difference method always gives lower bound results. This thesis presents bounded eigenvalues, which are dimensionless form of natural frequencies, calculated using the superposition method and the finite difference method. All computations were done using the MATLAB software package. The convergence tests show that the superposition method gives a lower bound for the eigenvalues of fully clamped plates, and an upper bound for the completely free plates. It is also shown that the finite difference method gives a lower bound for the eigenvalues of completely free plates. Finally, the upper bounds and lower bounds for the eigenvalues of fully clamped and completely free plates are given.

year: 2007

title: E Toru Ngā Reo: A Case Study of a Spanish Language Programme in a Kura Kaupapa Māori

authors: Flavell, William

subjects: Kaupapa Maori Research

abstract: Learning Languages is a new area in the 2007 New Zealand Curriculum.  However there have not been many studies in this subject.  Kura Kaupapa Māori, established in 1985 in New Zealand with over 6,000 students currently attending, have English language programmes (Hill, 2010), however few, if any, studies of the teaching of other languages have been conducted.  The purpose of this study was to describe and evaluate an additional international language programme at a Kura Kaupapa Māori.

This qualitative case study describes the views of the Principal, five teachers, five students and three parents of a Kura Kaupapa Māori about an additional Spanish language programme. The primary means of gathering data was through individual semi-structured interviews.  Interviews were used to collect data in the areas of identifying the attitudes of the participants towards learning an additional international language, the perceived benefits, if any, of learning an additional international language and if there is a relationship between the learning of an  additional international language, and Kaupapa Māori.  The narrative data was transcribed, coded and categorised into four themes related to the research questions.  

 The success of this Spanish language programme can be understood in terms of several factors such as whānau support, programme leadership, quality teachers, international excursions and positive attitudes to foreign language learning.  

These findings will contribute to literature concerning additional language learning programmes, specifically those based in indigenous language immersion settings and they will also provide useful information and ideas which other Kura Kaupapa Māori can take advantage of when implementing additional international language learning programmes.

text: E Toru Ngā Reo: A Case Study of a Spanish Language Programme in a Kura Kaupapa Māori Learning Languages is a new area in the 2007 New Zealand Curriculum.  However there have not been many studies in this subject.  Kura Kaupapa Māori, established in 1985 in New Zealand with over 6,000 students currently attending, have English language programmes (Hill, 2010), however few, if any, studies of the teaching of other languages have been conducted.  The purpose of this study was to describe and evaluate an additional international language programme at a Kura Kaupapa Māori.

This qualitative case study describes the views of the Principal, five teachers, five students and three parents of a Kura Kaupapa Māori about an additional Spanish language programme. The primary means of gathering data was through individual semi-structured interviews.  Interviews were used to collect data in the areas of identifying the attitudes of the participants towards learning an additional international language, the perceived benefits, if any, of learning an additional international language and if there is a relationship between the learning of an  additional international language, and Kaupapa Māori.  The narrative data was transcribed, coded and categorised into four themes related to the research questions.  

 The success of this Spanish language programme can be understood in terms of several factors such as whānau support, programme leadership, quality teachers, international excursions and positive attitudes to foreign language learning.  

These findings will contribute to literature concerning additional language learning programmes, specifically those based in indigenous language immersion settings and they will also provide useful information and ideas which other Kura Kaupapa Māori can take advantage of when implementing additional international language learning programmes.

year: 2012