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Reporting Verb Usage in Academic Discourse: A Study of the English, Mathematics and the Agricultural Disciplines
(KNUST, 2023-01) Owusu, Collins Junior
ABSTRACT This research work analyzes the categories of reporting verbs employed in the literature review chapters of scholarly writings in master of philosophy theses in Agriculture, English and Mathematics departments in the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. The mixed method technique was employed for data collection. The sample was selected with the help of the simple random sampling method with a purpose. Forty-five (45) master of philosophy theses made up the study‟s entire sample. The first research question was analyzed using a quantitative approach to data analysis, and results were given as numbers and percentages. The second and third research questions underwent qualitative analysis. The organization of the data for analysis typically employed the descriptive, content, and inductive analysis. According to the study, the literature review chapters of master of philosophy theses in Agriculture, English and Mathematics employed the discourse, research and cognitive acts verbs. They employed them in varying degrees. In all, discourse acts verbs were the highest with respects to number of occurrences. This was followed by research act and cognitive act verbs respectively. The results indicate that in the English data, discourse acts were the highest followed by research and cognitive act verbs. As far as mathematics data is concerned, research acts were the highest followed by discourse and cognitive acts. In the agriculture thesis, discourse act was the highest followed by research act and cognitive act verbs. According to the analysis, the usage of reporting verbs in the literature review chapters of the theses in Agriculture, Mathematics and English serves a variety of purposes, including the statement of findings, countering of fact, statement of procedures, indication of writer‟s opinion about a proposition, and others. The study identified that point of view, institutional culture and aim of the writing all affect how reporting are employed when writing theses.
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Theological response to Open Defecation in Asokore Mampong Municipality.
(KNUST, 2023-02) Polley-Johnston, Stephen
ABSTRACT Inadequate environmental sanitation and open defecation has been recognized as a public health hazard worldwide. In some Ghanaian communities, living with waste and defecating in gutters as part of the natural environment has become a way of life. This study is to identify the theological response on sanitary condition of urban communities in Asokore Mampong Municipality. The study uses a cross sectional survey design for a sample population of 6,770 household head of four communities in the municipal. Simple random sampling technique as well as purposive sampling was used in selecting 350 inhabitant/household head in these communities and structured questionnaire was used for data collection, both primary and secondary data were also considered in the study. Data was analysed using frequencies, percentages and Cronbach Alpha. Result of the findings shows that, both communities were beset with extremely poor waste management practices. Large volumes of waste were observed in almost every open space with the few poorly maintained gutters being clogged by waste. Improved toilet facilities coverage was extremely low (2.8% for Aboabo number 1, 4.8% for Aboabo number 2, 1.4% for Aboabo Extention and 8.9% for Asawase) leading to an average number 227 representing 64.9% of households patronizing the few public toilet facilities in the communities. Majority of the private toilets were also shared by more than three households. High levels of indiscriminate disposal of children‘s excreta on open plots, streets, gutters and dump sites were observed as well as the practice of open defecation. Due to this, high levels of water related diseases, particularly diarrhoea (12.7%, 16.2%, 24.4% and 11.6 respectively) were high in children under five years in both communities. The study also reveals the various unsatisfactory personal, domestic and environmental hygiene practices, contributing to various diseases in the communities. These findings could be used by residents and city authorities for planning and effective management of the sanitation sector in order to protect public health and ensure good environmental quality. Therefore, to enhance the sanitary condition and open defecation in these communities, the government should establish and enforce a more robust environmental sanitation approach and health education.
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Homosexuality and the youth in the catholic church: A case study in the Ejisu municipality
(KNUST, 2023-02) Bassuah, Betty
ABSTRACT Homosexuality is gradually becoming a controversial issue in Ghana today. Homosexuals are demanding to be given equal rights and treatment as heterosexuals in the Ghanaian society. Human rights organisations are claiming that all laws that discriminate against people on the basis of their sexual orientation, violates human rights. However, many nations globally, including Ghana, still maintain laws that discriminate against homosexual acts. In Ghana today, homosexuality is an illegal and ethical subject is attracting diverse opinions. Whilst some Western countries recognize homosexuality as legal and provide free movement as well as resident permits for same-sex couples, homosexuality is repressed, criminalized and forbidden in Ghana. A bill to criminate homosexuality in Ghana is before the Ghanaian Parliament for consideration. However, there has been an intense debate among Ghanaians on whether to legalize homosexuality or not. Homosexuality is common among the youth especially in boarding schools. Meanwhile most of them are Christians with some belonging to the Roman Catholic Church. As already mentioned, homosexual acts are illegal in Ghana for now, hence their acts are hidden and it is a problem to deal with especially, among the youth as peer pressure plays very important role in their decision making. This study aims at exploring the attitude of the youth in the Roman Catholic Church in the Ejisu Juaben Municipality towards homosexuality. A qualitative study is employed to investigate why the youth, engage in homosexuality, the Church’s pastoral role towards the youth in the Church concerning homosexuality and also to assess the views of the youth on the effects of homosexuality. The study further contributes to the current debate on homosexuality from the reactions of the Ghanaian youth in particular in relation to the global dimension.
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The use of modal auxiliaries: a comparative study of commencement speeches from Ashesi University and the United States of America
(KNUST, 2023-02) Duku, Berengar Irene
ABSTRACT The uses of modal auxiliaries in research papers and political speeches have been well established. The commencement speech, however, remains a green area as far as exploring modal auxiliary usage is concerned. This study explores the semantic contribution of modal auxiliaries in commencement speeches and their link to the speech act theory. To achieve this aim, commencement speeches from Ashesi University and selected speeches from the United States of America have served as the data for this study, with a total corpus size of 51,447 words. The study used AntConc 4.0 to generate the total frequencies of the modal auxiliaries as well as their instances of usage in the commencement speeches. Leech’s (2004) theory of modal auxiliary meaning and Searle’s (1969) speech act theory were employed to identify modal meanings and speech acts performed per their instances of usage, respectively in the commencement speeches. The results indicate that the American commencement speeches employed more modal auxiliaries than the Ashesi University commencement speeches. It was also established that the most frequent modal auxiliaries were ‘will’ and ‘can’ while the lest used modal auxiliary was ‘shall’ Again, it was established that modal auxiliaries tend to carry the import of the message being communicated i.e., the ability of graduands, a prediction of the future, the obligation, the possibilities etc. The study therefore contributes to a deeper understanding of modal auxiliaries and speech act in commencement speeches within the Ghanaian and the American contexts.
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The dark side of galamsey: depiction of the effects of galamsey on the environment using metal sculpture
(KNUST, 2020-06) Tawiah-Quashie, Reynold
ABSTRACT Illegal small-scale mining, popularly referred to in Ghana as ‘Galamsey’ has been a serious menace to the society. Due to the fact that gold is one of the most valuable natural mineral resources in the country, and legal mining is accompanied by a lot of rules and regulations, a lot of individuals in a bid to get rich quick find dubious means to dig for it. The government in efforts to combat the adage has implemented polices and a task forces (Operation Vanguard) whereas media houses have stressed on the effects of galamsey on the environment but it has however not made much impact. This study was focused on constructing a metal sculpture to depicts the negative effect of galamsey on the environment. Studio-based research method under the qualitative research methodology was used for the study, where a detailed written and photographic account of the process of designing and fabricating the work was laid down. The arc welding technic and the use of washers, metals rods and sheet metal were used in constructing the metal pieces. The project was successful and the results were analysed under the social, philosophical, artistic and intellectual contexts. Some of the major findings of the project were that, mining is never a problem until it is not registered, galamsey accounts for one of the leading causes of water pollution in the country and apart from its aesthetic qualities, art can be used as a strong tool for communicating social issues. The finished work was titled “ℇnkum yℇn wiase”, an Akan expression which means “Don’t destroy Our World”.
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Valorisation of selected Ghanaian seaweeds for biogas production
(KNUST, 2018-04) Opoku, Gertrude
ABSTRACT Seaweed biomass has been considered as a promising feedstock for biogas production because it contains high concentrations of biodegradable organic solids. The research aimed at producing biogas from seaweeds. In order to optimize the biogas yields of seaweeds, batch fermentation test was conducted to examine the effects of total solids load and inoculum type on methane content from brown seaweed Sargassum vulgare and green seaweed Ulva fasciata before biogas production of seaweeds were conducted. From the results obtained, the highest methane concentration for brown seaweed and green seaweed were 55.45% v/v and 60.6% v/v using rumen and large intestine contents from cattle respectively. 8% TS (Total solids) of green seaweed inoculated with large intestine contents yielded the highest methane gas (60.6%) whiles 10% TS of brown seaweed inoculated with rumen contents recorded the highest methane gas (55.45%) over a digestion period of 55 days. The 8% TS of green seaweed also gave the highest biogas and methane yields of 608.7 ± 37.84 ml/g VS and 218.22 ± 15.38 ml CH4/g VS respectively whiles 10% TS of brown seaweed gave lower biogas and methane yields of 308.48 ± 4.09 ml/g VS and 106 ± 2.4 ml CH4/g VS respectively compared to green seaweed. However, the biogas and methane yields of green seaweed were both inhibited at 10% TS whiles those of brown seaweed were both inhibited at 12% TS. From the results obtained in this study, both seaweed species have high potential as substrates for biogas production in Ghana.
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Production of wine from synsepalum dulcificum (miracle berry).
(KNUST, 2015-08) Aduboffour, Stephen Kwaku
Red wine was produced from Synsepalumdulcificum (Miracle Berry) extract. The effects of varying pH and Inoculum levels during fermentation on wine parameters like change in soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity, acid taste index, antioxidant activity and polyphenol concentrations were investigated. During fermentation, changes in brix and pH were monitored. There was a decrease in brix, pH, phenolic content and antioxidant activity for all samples fermented at varying pH after fermentation. There was, however, an increase in titratable acidity and acid taste index after fermentation. Wine sample fermented at pH 3.8 using 1% inoculum (Wine A), wine sample fermented at pH 4.6 using 1% inoculum (Wine B) and wine sample fermented at pH 5.8 using 1% inoculum (Wine C) produced 13%, 10% and 10% (v/v) alcohol, respectively. With respect to varying Inoculum, there was a decrease in brix, pH, phenolic content and antioxidant activity for wine sample fermented at pH 4.6 using 1% inoculum (Wine E) and wine sample fermented at pH 4.6 using 2% inoculum (Wine F). Wine E and F also recorded an increase in titratable acidity and acid taste index after fermentation. At the end of the fermentation process, wine sample E and Fhad alcohol content of 10% and 12% (v/v) respectively. The study revealed that it is possible to produce red wine from miracle berry and its qualities can be manipulated by controlling the pH and inoculum levels.