This thesis combines primary and secondary research in order to make an argument about the need for better educational practices for Appalachian students. A problem is first established that, because of how Appalachian people and their culture are represented in the media, negative stereotypes are spread about those from the region who are easily identified by their use of Appalachian English. Standard English is widely taught and students are encouraged to suppress their accent and dialect in order to mediate this. However, these practices allow no room for these students to use and embrace their own language. This thesis investigates the responses of Appalachian people regarding their perception of Appalachian English, experience in writing classrooms, and exposure to Appalachian literature which establishes that as students they are negatively impacted by the current treatment of their language. Further, this thesis lays groundwork for better pedagogical practices for Appalachian English speakers including the honoring students’ own languages, assessment of student work, teaching of code-meshing, inclusion of positive examples of Appalachian culture, and use of creative writing in the classroom. This study aims to establish a more Appalachian-focused pedagogy that promotes a greater sense of pride for the students in the area, which will in turn lead to a reinvestment into the region.
","abstract_html":"<p>This thesis combines primary and secondary research in order to make an argument about the need for better educational practices for Appalachian students. A problem is first established that, because of how Appalachian people and their culture are represented in the media, negative stereotypes are spread about those from the region who are easily identified by their use of Appalachian English. Standard English is widely taught and students are encouraged to suppress their accent and dialect in order to mediate this. However, these practices allow no room for these students to use and embrace their own language. This thesis investigates the responses of Appalachian people regarding their perception of Appalachian English, experience in writing classrooms, and exposure to Appalachian literature which establishes that as students they are negatively impacted by the current treatment of their language. Further, this thesis lays groundwork for better pedagogical practices for Appalachian English speakers including the honoring students’ own languages, assessment of student work, teaching of code-meshing, inclusion of positive examples of Appalachian culture, and use of creative writing in the classroom. This study aims to establish a more Appalachian-focused pedagogy that promotes a greater sense of pride for the students in the area, which will in turn lead to a reinvestment into the region. </p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Hampton, Rachel Nicole"],"institution":"Eastern Kentucky University","degree_name":"Master of Arts (MA)","degree_level":"Master's","degree_discipline":"English and Theatre","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2022,"date_issued":"2022-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2022-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:00Z","subjects":["Appalachia","Appalachian Literature","Composition","Dialect","Pedagogy","Writing Instruction","Appalachian Studies","Curriculum and Instruction","Educational Methods","Reading and Language"],"languages":[],"rights":["Copyright 2022 Rachel Nicole Hampton"],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/724","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Hampton, Rachel Nicole"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Encompass Digital Archive, Eastern Kentucky University"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Master Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["English and Theatre"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Master's"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Arts (MA)"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Eastern Kentucky University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Appalachia","Appalachian Literature","Composition","Dialect","Pedagogy","Writing Instruction","Appalachian Studies","Curriculum and Instruction","Educational Methods","Reading and Language"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["Copyright 2022 Rachel Nicole Hampton"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/724"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This thesis combines primary and secondary research in order to make an argument about the need for better educational practices for Appalachian students. A problem is first established that, because of how Appalachian people and their culture are represented in the media, negative stereotypes are spread about those from the region who are easily identified by their use of Appalachian English. Standard English is widely taught and students are encouraged to suppress their accent and dialect in order to mediate this. However, these practices allow no room for these students to use and embrace their own language. This thesis investigates the responses of Appalachian people regarding their perception of Appalachian English, experience in writing classrooms, and exposure to Appalachian literature which establishes that as students they are negatively impacted by the current treatment of their language. Further, this thesis lays groundwork for better pedagogical practices for Appalachian English speakers including the honoring students’ own languages, assessment of student work, teaching of code-meshing, inclusion of positive examples of Appalachian culture, and use of creative writing in the classroom. This study aims to establish a more Appalachian-focused pedagogy that promotes a greater sense of pride for the students in the area, which will in turn lead to a reinvestment into the region.
"]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["application/PDF"]},{"key":"dc:source","label":"Dc Source","values":["Encompass Digital Archive: Online Theses and Dissertations"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Asking Appalachia: Appalachian English in the Writing Classroom"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:creator":["Hampton, Rachel Nicole"],"dc:description.abstract":["This thesis combines primary and secondary research in order to make an argument about the need for better educational practices for Appalachian students. A problem is first established that, because of how Appalachian people and their culture are represented in the media, negative stereotypes are spread about those from the region who are easily identified by their use of Appalachian English. Standard English is widely taught and students are encouraged to suppress their accent and dialect in order to mediate this. However, these practices allow no room for these students to use and embrace their own language. This thesis investigates the responses of Appalachian people regarding their perception of Appalachian English, experience in writing classrooms, and exposure to Appalachian literature which establishes that as students they are negatively impacted by the current treatment of their language. Further, this thesis lays groundwork for better pedagogical practices for Appalachian English speakers including the honoring students’ own languages, assessment of student work, teaching of code-meshing, inclusion of positive examples of Appalachian culture, and use of creative writing in the classroom. This study aims to establish a more Appalachian-focused pedagogy that promotes a greater sense of pride for the students in the area, which will in turn lead to a reinvestment into the region.
"],"dc:format":["application/PDF"],"dc:identifier":["https://encompass.eku.edu/etd/724"],"dc:publisher":["Encompass Digital Archive, Eastern Kentucky University"],"dc:rights":["Copyright 2022 Rachel Nicole Hampton"],"dc:source":["Encompass Digital Archive: Online Theses and Dissertations"],"dc:subject":["Appalachia","Appalachian Literature","Composition","Dialect","Pedagogy","Writing Instruction","Appalachian Studies","Curriculum and Instruction","Educational Methods","Reading and Language"],"dc:title":["Asking Appalachia: Appalachian English in the Writing Classroom"],"dc:type":["Master Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["English and Theatre"],"thesis:degree_level":["Master's"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Arts (MA)"],"thesis:institution_name":["Eastern Kentucky University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T02:16:00Z"}