|
| Syllabus
| Schedule
| Assignments
| Links
| Sociology 358
|
Sociology 358: Death and Grief
ASSIGNMENTS
Professor: Rosanne Martorella, Ph.D.
Office: Science Building 348
Office Hours: Posted on the door
Phone: 973 - 720-2388
Fax: 201 - 595-3522
Email:
romartin@frontier.wpunj.edu
Assignments and points allocated vary each semester. However, generally there are
field trips and a computer-mediated assignment. Assignments are to be carefully edited and typed double space.
They are to be handed in on time!
MUSEUM (ARTWORKS OF DEATH)
Select two works of art (sculpture or painting) and describe the painting in terms of: content of death
or dying theme; the expression of the dying ritual, and the cultural meaning given to death in the art work.
Only one of the works you select could be from the Ancient Egyptian section. The report should be no
longer than two pages, double spaced type. You may include a post card or zerox (taken from an art book) on your
selections if they are available.
THE CEMETERY AS A CULTURAL INSTITUTION
Select a cemetery nearby your home that dates from the late 17th or 18th centuries. Give a brief
description of the cemetery (its location in reference to the town, and its overall style and size.) Select three tombstones and record their:
content of epitaphs, design of tombstone, and artistic/decorative style. Take note of the age, gender, ethnicity, occupation, etc. listed on
these tombstones. How do they differ from cemeteries you visit today with your families? Three designs prevailed during 1720-1820 (the Death's head
as a symbol of orthodox Puritanism; the Cherub as a heresy icon for the orthodox; and the Urn and Willow as a more secular and liberal attitude
toward death and dying).
Include in your analysis an introduction on the cultural meaning and social function of cemeteries during this period. (You may have
to refer to the text or a library book for this informaiton.)
Please have no more than two pages. You may include photographs and the complete epitaph as examples of your analysis.
See your package for greater detail.
COMPUTER MEDIATED ASSIGNMENT
Psycho Social Factors of Mortality, include use of and analysis of a FEDSTAT Mortality Table taken from the reference pages of Library Home Page; and
a review of Infotrac and the Social Science Index.
See your package for greater detail. Also, copy and type in on the template.
Computer Assignment (20%)
Sociology of Death and Grief
Social Risk Factors and Mortality
NAME:________________________________________________________ GRADE:_____________
This is a two-part assignment. Part I: You are to choose a disease or cancer and analyze their
death rates, and the sociological variables that impact on the rate of mortality. This cover sheet should be
used as a "template" so that all student papers are organized the same. Analysis should be typed (two pages) and
collated on to this cover sheet.
TOPIC:_____________________________________________________________________
Note: Please attach a two-page summary of the articles and information you found.
PART I-DESCRIPTION: SOCIAL FACTORS OF RISK IN MORTALITY
Include some of these issues in your analysis: - Distribution-Types and rates of cancer by race, gender, educaiton, income, occupation,
residence, location, etc.
- Prognosis and Development of Cancer and Staages of Cancer/Mortality. Treatment available, access, participation in
clinical trials, etc.
- Perception of Illness, Duration, Social Network, Social Support, Emotions and Disease/Cancer
- Note: These topics are all part of a patient's social risk factors in dying of a disease.
Brief Summary (specifiy social variables you used in this assignment):_____________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
SOURCES:
INFOTRAC REFERENCES
1)________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
2)________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
SOCIAL SCIENCE INDEX REFERENCES
1)________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
2)________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
WEBSITE ADDRESSES/REFERENCES AND SUMMARY
1) URL-www.__________________________________________
content:____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
2) URL-www.__________________________________________
content:____________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
PART II-SOCIAL MORTALITY OF DISEASE
Source of Table of Statistics:____________________________________________________________
(Use Fedstat on Reference Page in Library Home Page)**Please print and attach table to this report.
Title and Variables Selected:_____________________________________________________________
Select a table on mortality, show how variables (as related to psycho-social factors of death) reveal differential rates of mortality. (This
is most important!)
SUMMARY AND ANALYSIS:__________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
|