Your Final Project from this course will enable you to compare
cultural viewpoints toward death and dying in Western society to those in other
parts of the world.
Final Project Information
Overview
Your Final Project will be a medium-length essay in which you
address the cultural viewpoints toward death and dying in Western society and
compare these to the perspectives toward death and dying in other parts the
world. As the course content will point out, much about the Western response to
death and dying amplifies the process of grief and bereavement, perhaps
unnecessarily. In the West, death is something that is denied and, in many
ways, is something that people seem ill-equipped to deal with once the event
occurs or is imminent. Your job in this paper will be to put on your social
scientist cap and offer “cultural solutions” to the way that death and dying is
dealt with in Western society.
Assignment
Based on your own independent research in which you compare the
cultural beliefs toward death and dying in Western societies to those in
Eastern societies such as China, Vietnam, Japan, and so forth, write an essay
that addresses the following points:
1.
Describe in detail the major differences between the Western
viewpoint toward death and dying and those in these Eastern societies (you may
focus on one country, such as China, or talk about Eastern societies more
generally). Be sure to describe the rituals involved with the process of death
and dying, the various technologies, or anything that helps explain these
differences.
2.
Give one specific example of a famous case of death and dying in
Western society that demonstrates some of the problems or dysfunctions of the
Western viewpoint (examining cases in the media, for example, will be a great
place to start!).
3.
Finally, conclude your final paper with a detailed commentary
about what we can do to change the cultural beliefs toward death and dying in
Western societies in a way that makes us less afraid of the dying process. Be
very specific in your commentary.
Basic Writing Expectations:
·
This Assignment should be between 750–1000 words in length, using
1 inch margins, 12-point font, double spacing.
·
Following APA format and citation guidelines.
·
This Assignment should also use at least five references, one of
which may be from the Reading in your course.
·
This Assignment should include a title page and references page.
·
The Assignment should follow the conventions of Standard American
English (correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling).
·
The Assignment should be well ordered, logical, and unified, as
well as original and insightful.
·
Writing assistance is available through the Kaplan University
Writing Center. The KU Writing Center also offers sup port and additional
information on APA formatting and citation
