I need to begin this project by saying that the characters in my genres are works of fiction. These are not real people. I "cut and pasted" family member's names to create these characters. I don't have any relatives with these full names. I did research to support my views, but the views presented in the project are mine - an undergraduate student at Marshall University who created them to fulfill a requirement for CD 315 in the fall semester of 2002.
This Multi-Genre Research Project was difficult from the very beginning. I always have a difficult time narrowing down what I want to focus research on. I decided I wanted to research a topic pertaining to hearing, but I thought I would focus on cochlear implants. As I got further into the details of the MRP, I decided I didn't want someone to look at my research and my genres and use them to help make such an important decision for their child. It is not that I am for or against cochlear implants, I just didn't believe it was possible to do as much in-depth research into the pros and cons of them to be able to present the information as it should be in one semester, which is how long this class is. I believe that there would have had to be much more intensive research than I was able to do in this length of time. That was when I was really in a dilemma. I had done the majority of my research into cochlear implants. I was reading through some of my information, and I started to think of what it would be like to find out one of my children was unable to hear. I wondered how I would react, what amplification options were available, how exactly I would go about deciding whether hearing aids or cochlear implants were the best choice, and what kind of information I would need to know. One thing led to another until the project was finished. I knew I had a three required genres for the project: poem, webliography, and powerpoint presentation. The remainder of the genres I was able to choose from a list. I was not really excited about the poetry requirement, but I survived and actually included two in my project. I actually had to exclude a genre I had planned on because I forgot about the powerpoint requirement. This assignment has been a challenge, but it forced me to think in different ways, which is good.

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I would like to thank everyone who has helped me complete the major project for this class. It has been a long haul, and I really appreciate Kelly and Michelle for giving me advice and helping me think of ideas when I was completely blocked. I am also grateful to Mrs. McComas for pointing me in the right direction many times during this project. First and foremost I am grateful to my husband and family for keeping me on track and sane during this stressful semester.

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I am a senior in the Communication Disorders department at Marshall University in Huntington, WV. I will graduate in May 2003 with a bachelor's degree. I hope to continue on to graduate school here in Huntington, and eventually work in early intervention or in the school system. I have three children and a husband who have been very patient and understanding about the amount of time involved in classwork and projects this semester.

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