9.10 Chapter Assignment

Obituaries & Eulogies Assignment

This chapter’s assignment is about writing obituaries and eulogies. There are two options to select from for this assignment: writing your own obituary or writing your own eulogy. There are three parts to completing the assignment (for either option), the first two parts require you to write different versions of your obituary or eulogy, and the third part involves reflecting on your experience writing your obituary or eulogy. It is important to: (1) complete all chapter materials (chapter content, including all embedded links to readings and videos, and the required course materials) prior to starting the assignment; and (2) cite relevant course material (from current and previous chapters) throughout your assignment to support your points, credit sources of concepts/ideas, and demonstrate completion of assigned course materials.

Assignment Formatting & Style for Written Report

• Assignment formatting requirements: Arial 12-point font; 1 inch/2.54 centimeter margins; single spaced; APA in-text citation style, reference section and cover page.
• Use proper essay/paragraph style in obituaries/eulogies and the short reflection paper.
• Use APA in-text citation style to support points, credit sources of concepts/ideas, and demonstrate completion of assigned course materials.
• Proofread your submission to make sure it is clear, well written and intelligible.

Options for Chapter #9 Assignment

Option 1

Write two personal obituaries (obituaries for yourself), one for if you were to die tomorrow and the other for if you died at your normal life expectancy, and a reflection paper based on the obituary writing exercise. Be sure to use and cite the resources on obituary writing from the chapter to help you outline and frame your obituaries and reflection paper. If you use an obituary template to help construct your assignment, you must also note this and cite the source. 

Steps to completing the Option 1 assignment

1. Be clear in your assignment which option you have chosen for the assignment.
2. Write your obituary for if you were to die tomorrow (200-300 words) and indicate where it would appear.
3. Write your obituary for if you were to die at your normal life expectancy (200-300 words) and indicated where it would appear.
4. Write a properly sourced, short essay (500-750 words) where you address/reflect upon:
   • Why you wrote what you did?
   • Why is this how you think you should be remembered in your obituary for the two different time periods?
   • What will you need to do to in your life in order to have the obituary you wrote for a normal life expectancy?  What do you need to change?
   • What was it like writing your own obituaries?
   • What did you learn completing this assignment?
5. Use APA in-text citation style to support points, credit sources of concepts/ideas, and demonstrate completion of assigned course materials (current and previous chapters). In-text citations that source/support your information/points are essential and required. Be sure to use a diverse range of materials as opposed to relying heavily on one, or a few sources.

The following must be submitted as part of Option 1 assignments

1. A proper APA style cover page.
2. A properly sourced 500-750 word reflection essay.
3. A proper APA reference section that contains all the material cited and/or relied on in the assignment.
4. Proper APA format appendices containing:
   • An obituary for if you died tomorrow (200-300 word).
   • An obituary for if you died at your normal life expectancy (200-300 word).

Option 2

Write two personal eulogies (eulogies for yourself), one for if you were to die tomorrow and the other for if you died at your normal life expectancy, and a reflection paper based on the eulogy writing exercise. Be sure to use and cite the resources on eulogy writing from the chapter to help you outline and frame your eulogies and reflection paper. If you use any additional materials to help in framing your eulogy, you are required to make note of this and cite them. 

Steps to completing the Option 2 assignment

1. Be clear in your assignment which option you have chosen for the assignment.
2. Write a 3-5 minute eulogy for yourself for if you were to die tomorrow (the average reader reads 300 words per minute).
3. Write a 3-5 minute eulogy for yourself for if you were to die at your normal life expectancy (the average reader reads 300 words per minute).
4. Write a properly sourced, short essay (500-750 words) where you address/reflect upon:
   • Why you wrote what you did?
   • Why is this how you think you should be eulogized for the two different time periods?
   • What will you need to do to in your life in order to have the eulogy you wrote for a normal life expectancy? What do you need to change?
   • What was it like writing your own eulogies?
   • What did you learn completing this assignment?
5. Use APA in-text citation style to support points, credit sources of concepts/ideas, and demonstrate completion of assigned course materials (current and previous chapters). In-text citations that source/support your information/points are essential and required. Be sure to use a diverse range of materials as opposed to relying heavily on one, or a few sources.

The following must be submitted as part of Option 2 assignments

1. A proper APA style cover page.
2. A properly sourced 500-750 word reflection essay.
3. A proper APA reference section that contains all the material cited and/or relied on in the assignment.
4. Proper APA format appendices containing:
   • A eulogy for if you died tomorrow (3-5 minute).
   • A eulogy for if you died at your normal life expectancy (3-5 minute).

Note: If you like what you have produced, consider sharing it with family and friends and including it with your end-of-life documents (see Chapters on “Advanced Directives & Planning for Death” and “Dealing with Bodies at the End of Life”).