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NURTURING CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS IN EARLY YEARS ESL CLASSROOMS: PERCEPTIONS, PRACTICES AND CHALLENGES FOR TEACHERS IN PAKISTAN This study explores the perspectives, practices, and challenges faced by early years ESL teachers in Pakistan. The research aims to address the significant implementation gap in the early childhood ESL curriculum, particularly in incorporating critical thinking skills into the educational system. The Community of Inquiry model is used as the theoretical framework, with a purposive sample of teachers from eight kindergarten classrooms across three branches of Beaconhouse School System. Data collection methods include document analysis, semi-structured interviews, and classroom observations. Observations provide firsthand knowledge on instructional strategies and student interactions, while semi-structured interviews reveal teachers' perspectives, experiences, and methods for promoting critical thinking abilities. Lesson plans, curricular materials, and instructional aids are analyzed to create a contextual framework for evaluating observed and reported data. The study found that while teachers acknowledge the value of critical thinking abilities and desire to apply them in their lessons, they face difficulties such as conventional teaching techniques, lack of expertise, and limited resources. Some teachers use creative approaches to encourage critical thinking, such as problem-solving techniques, stimulating class debates, and incorporating real-world events into classes. The results highlight the need for thorough teacher preparation programs and curriculum changes that prioritize the early development of critical thinking abilities. The study aims to improve ESL instruction in Pakistan by attending to these needs, equipping students to face the challenges of the twenty-first century.
AGENDA SETTING AND PORTRAYAL OF SOCIAL ISSUES IN PAKISTANI ANIMATED MEDIA: A MULTIMODAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF TEAM MUHAFIZ Thesis Title: Agenda Setting and Portrayal of Social Issues in Pakistani Animated Media: A Multimodal Discourse Analysis of Team Muhafiz In the modern world of digitalization and globalization, transmission of information is no longer limited to a single medium or mode of communication. Therefore, multimodal discourse is becoming more and more important in different aspects of life. One such example of multimodal communication is animated media. Animations amuse the audience while at the same time, through their cinematic reflections, promote societal beliefs. In such context, the present study explores and analyzes visual and textual modes used in the animated series Team Muhafiz to highlight their role in the process of agenda setting. For exploring multimodal elements, Kress and Leeuwen’s Theory of Multimodality is used. For analyzing the role of multimodal elements in agenda setting process, McCombs and Shaw’s Agenda Setting Theory is used by the researcher. The findings of the research reveal that animated media used visual discourse in forming narratives for society and impose critical thinking on the audience. Animators not only foreground a topic, but also tell the audience about how to perceive that topic. For this purpose, animated media incorporates visual and textual signs in its representation of issues. The conscious selection of topics and techniques of composition influences public perception and promotes discourses on the nuances of change in society. Media uses visual and textual elements in its discourse to influence the perceptions of public about a narrative. This study concludes with the proposed directions for future researches in this field.
SPATIAL CRISES AND THE PLANETARY TURN: A RHYTHMANALYTIC READING OF SMITH’S SEASONAL QUARTET The increasingly globalised world of the twenty-first century has led to many spatial and cultural crises. This dissertation is a reading of Ali Smith’s Seasonal Quartet by applying rhythmanalysis to explore how it engages with a counter-globalist paradigm, planetarity. It achieves this via a methodology that allows for a two-fold analysis; to study the rhythmic alliances present between various instances in the novels and situate the spatial crises that exist there within a geomethodological planetary reading as outlined by Christian Moraru. I apply Lefebvre’s rhythmanalytical reading and explore the multiple coexistences of harmonies and disharmonies exhibited by Smith’s characters.The research also investigates the multiple iterations of a planetary epistemology across the 4 books. Studying Autumn (2016) uncovers Smith’s engagement with spatial crises, particularly bureaucratic monotony, climate despair and catastrophe created by late-capitalist globalization. In Winter (2017), a geomethodological ethical relating to the past is applied to survey crises of hypernationalism and anti-immigrant hatred. The study of Spring (2019) evaluates the crises of immigration and border control, and the violence embedded in them within the cultural space of contemporary Britain, whereas examining Summer (2020) reveals governmental apathy and indifference toward people of marginalised identities during the pandemic within the national and cultural space of the UK. Characters from all four books cross boundaries of nationality and ethnicity as a planetary expression of their shared humanity. The research appraises the disjointed rhythms of history and present in the texts as it recounts classic narratives. Smith’s linguistic flair for puns and wordplay places the texts within a planetary existence, free from the policing influence of globalization. The books may also be further studied from a political and social perspective to study how these crises are manifested in the novels.
Between the Real and Unreal: Exploring Immersive and Interactive Experiences in the Selected 21st Century GameLit Fiction GameLit is a rising subgenre of science fiction, which originated as a mix of tabletop games and Cyberpunk fiction and consists of a plot built around games. This study aims to analyze the creation of hyperreal immersive and interactive experiences of the characters in virtual reality games set in the 21st century GameLit fiction. The primary texts taken for this purpose are Warcross (2017), Otherworld (2017). The study uses the framework of Hyperreality by Jean Baudrillard given in his book Simulacra and Simulation (1981) as the foundational theory and the concept of “Immersion” and “Interactivity” given by Marie-Laure Ryan's in her book Narrative as Virtual Reality 2: Revisiting Immersion and Interactivity in Literature and Electronic Media (2015) as the main theory for the research. The research design of the study is qualitative interpretive. The analysis for the research is conducted after using the method of narrative inquiry to analyze the immersive and interactive techniques from a narratological viewpoint. The findings generated after the analysis suggest that the VR games played by the concerned characters’ result in their deep immersion aided by the characters’ avatar’s internal-ontological interactions within the game-world resulting in their rising hyperreal experiences. The above-mentioned research framework and method develop the significance of this research as it provides an understanding of how 21st century virtual simulations overshadow real experiences.
Covalent Narratives: Exploring Thematic Resonance via Visual Elements in Selected Animated Documentaries This study focused on the selected animated documentaries Funan (2017) and The Breadwinner (2018), with the goal of investigating the affective and cognitive effects of ‘covalent narratives’ in animated documentaries. The study examined how narrative and visual symbolic acts could improve audience involvement and the story’s thematic depth by fusing Roland Barthes' theory of semiotic codes with Mieke Bal's concept of narrative focalization. The analysis focused on elements such as perspective, character development, and narrative structure, with the aim to explore how these texts’ narrative and visual approaches add to the emotive resonance and thematic depth within the genre of animated documentaries. The significance of this study lies in its potential to bridge gaps in existing research, particularly in the context of animated documentaries as a way to gain a better understanding of how narrative and visual strategies impacted emotive qualities and cognitive responses, ultimately enhancing the storytelling power of animated films with regard to themes like identity, resistance, and cultural oppression. The study's conclusions demonstrate that animation is a creative medium that improves thematic depth and emotional resonance in documentary storytelling, in addition to being an aesthetic option. The Breadwinner and Funan successfully captivated audiences with complex depictions of tragedy, resilience, and cultural identity through the use of focalization and symbolic language. The idea of "covalent narratives" brought to light the dynamic interaction between artistic depiction and factual substance, illustrating how animation enables a more nuanced and personal comprehension of oppressed human situations. By highlighting the importance of semiotic cues like attire, color, and location in expressing identity and surviving, the study strengthened the emotional effect of the films. This study added to current academic discussions by demonstrating how animated documentaries are powerful mediums for memory, resistance, and sociopolitical commentary.
Linguistic Cues in Cybercrime: Profiling Criminal Behavior through Language Analysis In recent years, the digital landscape in Pakistan has evolved dramatically, driven by rapid technological advancements and increased internet accessibility. This transformation has brought about numerous opportunities for communication, commerce and information sharing. As individuals increasingly rely on digital platforms for personal and professional interactions, the vulnerabilities associated with these platforms have become more pronounced. It has also led to a surge in cybercrime. This rise of cybercrime has necessitated innovative approaches for understanding and preventing criminal behavior. The present research attempts to formulate an integrated model for criminal profiling for holistic understanding of cybercrime. “Routine Activity theory (RAT)” of criminology has been merged with the “Politeness and impoliteness theories (PIT)” of linguistics. By integrating RAT with PIT, the framework allows for a comprehensive analysis of both the environmental and social dynamics of cybercrime. It considers not only the motivations and behaviors of the offenders but also the linguistic strategies cybercriminal employed in conducting a successful cybercrime. Only cybercrime cases related to “Phishing” and “Cyber harassment” has been selected for this research study. Separate sections of data had been made for the analysis of cybercriminal’s sentiments and language. Data collected mainly from the platforms like Twitter, Email, and WhatsApp has been used for analyzing the sentiments of cybercriminals using a pre-trained Roberta model and training it on both Phishing and Cyber harassment datasets separately. On the other hand, Case studies mainly collected from “High court cybercrime judgements” has been used for linguistic analysis. This combined analysis allowed for more nuanced profiling of cybercriminals, as it captures not only what is being said but also how it is said. This can provide a clearer picture of the motivations and psychological states of individuals involved in cybercrime. The results of the study had been validated through expert feedback via an open-ended questionnaire.
GOING BEYOND BINARIES: A POST- HUMANIST STUDY OF JAMES CAMERON’S FILM SERIES, AVATAR This research study examines the cinematic landscape of James Cameron’s Avatar (2009) and its sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), through the theoretical frameworks of Donna Haraway’s A Cyborg Manifesto, Judith Butler’s Gender Trouble and Laura Mulvey’s Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema. Grounded in post-humanist ideology, the study examines the blurred boundaries between the male and female gender binaries and the empowerment of women by challenging traditional gender representations. The research employs a qualitative film analysis approach by Timothy Corrigan, closely examining specific scenes, characters, and dialogues to identify and interpret blurred gender binaries and women empowerment, and a textual analysis approach by Catherine Belsey to analyze script and subtitles as text. The constant comparison of data and an iterative process ensure a dynamic and comprehensive understanding of post-humanist dimensions, the representation of female characters in contemporary cinema, and the dismantling of the gender binary in the Avatar film series. The study examines the portrayal of selected female characters in James Cameron’s film series Avatar and its subsequent sequel, Avatar: The Way of Water, within the context of gender representation in mainstream cinema. By analyzing narrative structures and visual strategies, the research argues that the film presents women characters as empowered figures with agency and depth, subverting conventional Hollywood tropes and the male gaze. It discusses how contemporary science fiction, which includes cyborg entities, portrays women with fluid gender identities, active roles, and agency, in contrast to traditional cinema, which represented women as objects to be looked at and portrayed them with rigid, stereotypical gender identities and passive roles. By addressing the male-female gender binary and the representation of women in cinema, this research contributes to the interdisciplinary discourse, integrating perspectives from gender, cultural, film, and literary studies.
ENHANCING WELL-BEING THROUGH ENGLISH GRAMMAR: A CASE STUDY OF HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS In addition to the learning needs of English language students, their psychological well- being remains an important consideration in English language teaching. This study aimed to investigate the impact of integrating Seligman’s (2011) PERMA model into the teaching of English grammatical tenses on both PERMA-based sentences construction and the well-being of higher secondary school students in Pakistan. The study employed a quasi- experimental, mixed-methods case-study design. The sample included 50 female students from a private college in Rawalpindi, divided into an experimental group (n=25) receiving a PERMA-based intervention through using techniques of CLT, and a control group (n=25) taught through the non-PERMA example sentences. The results of paired t-test analysis of the pre- and post-test quantitative data showed both groups had similar mean scores with no significant differences (p > 0.05). After the intervention, the experimental group showed significant improvements across all elements compared to the control group (p < 0.001). These results indicate that the intervention was highly effective. Additionally, qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews indicated a noticeable enhancement in students’ well-being, as they reported increased positive emotions, deeper engagement in enjoyable activities, stronger relationships, a clearer sense of meaningful life, and a greater ability to set and achieve regular, small goals. The findings suggest that incorporating well-being principles into the English language teaching can create a more holistic and engaging learning environment, benefiting both academic performance and overall well-being.
LANGUAGE ATTRITION AND LEXICAL GAP ACROSS GENERATIONS: A CASE STUDY OF SARAIKI COMMUNITY Language attrition and the emergence of lexical gap across generations have become a critical concern within minority language communities, as the exposure to the dominant languages has caused the shift in sociolinguistics dynamics, influencing the flow of intergenerational communication. This study aims to examine the attrition of Saraiki and the emergence of lexical gap across the generations of Saraiki community emphasizing aspects such as intergenerational language transmission and intergenerational communication. A mixed method approach combining quantitative and qualitative methods has been used for this study. Questionnaires and semi- structured interviews were employed as research tools in the present study. The reliability and the validity of the questionnaire have been checked. The data collected through questionnaire was analyzed by using SPSS software. For the interviews, the thematic analysis has been conducted. The theoretical framework adopted in this study comprised the Dynamic System Theory (DST) by Biot, Lowie and Verspoor (2007) and the Ecology of Language Framework by Hornberger & Hult (2008). With the help of these theories, this study has explored and discussed both the external (social) and internal (cognitive) factors playing hard behind the attrition process of Saraiki. However, this research mainly contributes to sociolinguistics as it has dealt with the social issue of language attrition and intergenerational communication affected by language attrition. The findings of this study have revealed that in Saraiki there are various lexical gaps occurring other than innovation and cultural gap. This signals towards the vast range of attrition in Saraiki. Other findings have unveiled that the usage frequency of Saraiki among younger generations has been diminished to the level near to no usage at all. This adversely impacts both the intergenerational communication and transmission of Saraiki that in turn, gives birth to the lexical gap. Few suggestions regarding preservation of Saraiki language have also been provided in the last chapter of this research
SEMIOTICS OF DECEPTION: A LINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF PACKAGING INDUSTRY IN PAKISTAN This study explores the semiotic construction of cultural meanings and consumer perceptions within the Pakistani biscuit packaging industry, employing Roland Barthes’ Semiotic Theory (1964) as its foundational framework. Through an in-depth qualitative analysis of one hundred packaging samples from ten local biscuit brands, the research deciphers both linguistic elements—such as brand names, slogans, and textual descriptions—and visual components, including color schemes, imagery, and symbolic motifs. The findings reveal that packaging functions as a complex site of myth-making, where layered connotative and denotative messages shape consumer understanding beyond the product’s physical attributes. By applying Barthes’ tripartite model of linguistic message, non-coded iconic message, and coded iconic message, this study elucidates how brands craft narratives that evoke cultural familiarity, tradition, and modernity. The concept of “deception” is reframed here as a semiotic process of idealization and symbolic embellishment, rather than deliberate dishonesty. Eschewing empirical methods, the research maintains a theoretical focus, offering valuable contributions to linguistics, marketing, and media studies. It highlights the ethical considerations inherent in packaging design and advocates for a critical awareness of semiotic strategies in shaping consumer identity and behavior.
LINGUISTIC IDENTITY CONSTRUCTION OF PERPETRATORS AND VICTIMS: A CRITICAL STYLISTIC ANALYSIS OF CRIME REPORTING Crime reporting, as a journalistic genre, refers to the representation of criminal incidents through factual, concise, and socially impactful news narratives. The study explores the linguistic identity construction of criminals and perpetrators in the two prominent English newspapers of Pakistan. It is a common observation that news reports not only deliver information but shape the identity construction of the entities involved in it. The research is qualitative, and the sample consisted of twenty-six crime news reports from two famous English newspapers of Pakistan, i.e., The NEWS International and DAWN. The researcher collected data in the form of crime news excluding rape and terrorism news. By using Jeffries’s (2010) model of Critical Stylistics as the theoretical framework, the researcher analyzed the data using qualitative techniques. The findings of the study revealed that the identities of the perpetrators were constructed in such a way that they were depicted as active agents of actions and were foregrounded in the news reports. On the other hand, victims were presented as passive agents using lexical choices and their identities were backgrounded in the news reports. Moreover, the news reports also reinforced cultural stereotypes in several news reports. These findings suggest that media discourse reinforces cultural stereotypes and influences public perceptions of victims and perpetrators in ways that may affect societal attitudes toward justice. Future research may be conducted on exploring the other aspects of crime news reporting regarding perpetrators and victims.
INTERROGATING ANAESTHETICS, AFFIRMING SOUSVEILLANCE: A STUDY OF THE SELECTED CYBERPUNK DYSTOPIAN FICTION This study seeks to examine Samit Basu’s Chosen Spirits (2020) and David Brin’s Earth (1990). It seeks to investigate how the transformative power of AI goes beyond mere technological innovation by numbing society’s collective awareness. When technology floods our senses, we live our lives under a totalitarian regime of machines and AI. In order to analyse my primary texts, I employ Susan Buck-Morss’s concept of “Anaesthetics” and Steve Mann’s idea of “Sousveillance”, further elaborated by Kelly Ross in her essay “Watching from Below: Racialized Surveillance and Vulnerable Sousveillance”. “Sousveillance'' is a form of inverse surveillance in which individuals or groups use technology and AI to regain control over their representation and information. This alters the power dynamics of surveillance practices. “Anaesthetics”, according to Morss, refers to the numbing or desensitising effects caused by pervasive technological advancements. The research seeks to investigate how “sousveillance” acts as a counterbalance to “anaesthetics'' and provides means for individuals to exert agency, challenge power dynamics, and foster transparency. I use Catherine Belsey’s model of Textual Analysis as a research method in order to closely analyse the interplay of “anaesthetics'' and “sousveillance” in the selected texts. This study finds that technological and AI-driven systems function as anaesthetic mechanisms. It also finds that constant surveillance and information overload foster emotional detachment, producing passive conformity within dystopian societies. At the same time, sousveillance emerges as a counterforce, enabling ordinary citizens to document injustices, reclaim agency and consciously use technology. Resistance in these narratives does not manifest through large-scale revolutions but through subtle, everyday acts of observation and subversion. This research contributes to the production of knowledge by enhancing the scholarly understanding of how digital dominion is contested and negotiated, and how the selected fictional works echo the enduring human pursuit of autonomy in the midst of digital surveillance.
LANGUAGE IN THE PROXIMITY OF DEATH: AN APPRAISAL ANALYSIS OF DEATH ROW STATEMENTS Death row utterances or death row remarks are the final words a person utters before being executed. Usually, these emotive and succinct remarks occur in a correctional setting. They are used to express love, express regret, express forgiveness, declare one's innocence, and express one's opinions. Since it is the person's last chance to speak and is influenced by their approaching death, this kind of speech is special. These words can be addressed to the victim's own family, their own family, the public, or even God. They are very individualized, but they are also impacted by the rules and atmosphere of the jail. The majority of this study is qualitative, interpretative, and exploratory. The purpose of this study is to look into how death row inmates express their emotions, beliefs, and psychological responses to their impending death in their farewell speeches. By examining the language used in 102 final comments (out of which the ones which say nothing are excluded), the study hopes to reveal underlying coping mechanisms, cultural and personal influences, and the mental processes people go through when faced with death. The study also seeks to connect these data to psychological theories such as the Terror Management Theory developed by Jeff Greenberg, Sheldon Solomon, and Tom Pyszczynski in 1986, Appraisal Theory formalized by J.R. Martin and P.R.R. White in 2005 and Death Coping Model introduced by Elisabeth KüblerRoss in 1969 in order to better understand how people handle stressful situations. This goal connects the five objectives since they are all related to understanding, analyzing, and assessing the language used by death row convicts as a coping strategy. This study makes important theoretical and applied contributions. Theoretically, it broadens the use of Appraisal Theory in the emotionally charged discourse surrounding the death penalty by providing a linguistic framework for examining stories about death. Additionally, it illustrates the ways in which TMT and Death Coping Models engage with evaluative discourse, offering a more sophisticated comprehension of how people use language to cope with mortality. v Each of the research goals directly supports the study's primary objective, which is to find out how death row inmates use language to cope with their upcoming execution. The initial purpose is on how convicts express their feelings through language in order to gain a better understanding of this process. By linking psychological reactions to theoretical models such as the Terror Management Theory, Appraisal Theory, and Death Coping Model, the second objective aids in providing an organized psychological framework for understanding the inmates' conduct. The third purpose examines the cultural, religious, and individual impacts on these final assertions to investigate the belief systems and values that inform coping strategies. The fourth objective draws attention to the relationship between psychological processes and language use, highlighting the ways in which spoken language reflects more profound emotional and mental coping mechanisms. The fifth goal looks at how prisoners make meaning of their final moments to provide insight into how individuals create existential meaning in the face of death. Together, these objectives offer a comprehensive understanding of death row utterances as a unique expression of people's responses to death. The findings of the study show how effective language is for psychological coping, meaning- making, and emotional expression when faced with death. This suggests that by serving as a mirror and a coping strategy for extreme existential stress, language might provide information about human fragility and resilience. Future research should examine how male and female inmates differ in their final statements' issue substance, coping strategies, and emotional expressiveness. This might draw attention to gendered patterns in the ways that people construct meaning and cope with death. Several important considerations pertaining to accessibility, consistency, and the scope of the study led to the choice to use data from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice instead of death row statements from Pakistani people. First off, Pakistan doesn't have a centralized, openly accessible database of final statements like the Texas Department of Criminal Justice does. Second, because the study had to be done in English, it was difficult to use Pakistani death row statements because of language barriers, inconsistent translations, or a lack of original English transcripts. The majority of death row statements in Pakistan, if they are available at all, are probably in regional languages or Urdu, which makes it difficult to guarantee the veracity and correctness of translated material for linguistic or discourse analysis.
AI AND HUMAN NARRATIVES OF THE PARTITION: UNEARTHING DIFFERENCES IN EMOTIONAL RESONANCE This research explores the evolving relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) and literary production by examining how AI-generated narratives compare to human-authored stories in their depiction of the 1947 Partition of the Subcontinent. Focusing on selected short stories by Saadat Hasan Manto and Intizar Hussain—translated into English by Aatish Taseer and Alok Bhalla respectively—this study investigates the emotional resonance, thematic depth, and narrative style present in both human and AI-generated texts. Employing a qualitative, comparative methodology grounded in the theoretical framework of posthumanism, particularly the work of N. Katherine Hayles, the research evaluates the extent to which AI can replicate or diverge from human creativity, especially in culturally and historically charged contexts. The study finds that while AI can produce grammatically coherent and structurally competent narratives, it falls short in capturing the emotional depth, cultural specificity, and thematic nuance found in human-authored texts. AI-generated stories often rely on generalized representations, lacking the experiential and affective grounding essential to Partition literature. These findings underscore the limitations of AI in replicating the layered complexity of human storytelling and reaffirm the irreplaceable role of human authorship in articulating historical trauma and cultural memory.