SOC 135 DEATH AND
DYING
COURSE SYLLABUS
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SOC 135-2 022895 |
FALL 2009 |
11-12:15 TR
BH 201 |
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INSTRUCTOR: |
OFFICE: Black Hawk 183 |
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PHONE 296-4430 |
OFFICE HOURS: M
11-12; T 1-2; W 11-12, 1-2; R 1-2 |
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E-MAIL: pashwood@hawkeyecollege.edu |
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Department
webpage: Social
Science, Education and Wellness
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COURSE
DESCRIPTION:
This
course provides a basic background on historical and contemporary perspectives
on death and dying. Attention is given to current American practices regarding
death, as well as cross-cultural interpretation. Emphasis is also placed on the
special situation of the terminally ill and bereaved.
COURSE
OBJECTIVES:
This course will:
1. emphasize the importance of and the process
of grief work.
2. take account of how attitudes toward death
develop throughout the life cycle and how variables such as sex, occupation,
religion, social class, and culture affect these attitudes.
3. provide an overview of the stages or phases
of the dying process likely to be experienced by the terminally ill patient.
4. examine the needs of the terminally ill
patient and how hospice is organized to meet those needs.
5. provide an overview of the history, purpose,
and current practices in funeral rituals.
6. examine the sociological and psychological
models of suicide.
7. delve into traditional philosophical and
theological attitudes toward death.
8. focus on ethical issues as relates to the
area of death and dying in contemporary society.
For
more information on this course please see its course
guide.
REQUIRED
TEXT
Lynne
DeSpelder and Albert Strickland. (2009) The Last Dance
(8th Edition) Boston: McGraw Hill.
Others
readings will be assigned.
GRADES
AND ASSIGNMENTS
There
will be four major exams over lecture materials and readings. The lowest score
will be "dropped". However Exam #4 cannot be dropped. (You cannot
receive an "A" in this class without receiving at least an
"A-" average on the exams.) Unannounced quizzes and in-class
assignments will occur throughout the semester. There will be no make up of
exams or other in-class work. All exams must be taken during the announced
time. There will be several out of class projects.
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Exam #1 |
September 22nd |
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Exam #2 |
October 15th |
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Exam #3 |
November 12th |
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Exam #4 |
December
17th 10AM |
Exams = 60% of total grade |
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Projects |
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25% of total grade |
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in-class activities, quizzes |
15% |
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GRADING
SCALE 90-100% A 80-89.99% B 70-79.99% C 60-69.99% D |
PROJECTS
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Obituary |
Recollection of Death Experiences |
Cemetery |
Planning your Death Ritual |
LINKS TO DEATH AND DYING WEBSITES
STUDENT HELP FOR
THIS CLASS (and others)
1. LAST DANCE TEXTBOOK WEB SITE
3.
STUDENT DEVELOPMENT (Available in
Bremer 116, tutors and help)
4. A HELP PAGE FOR EXAM TAKING, WRITING
PAPERS, STUDYING
PARROT &
WOOD FUNERAL HOME TOUR 10/28/03
KEARNS FUNERAL HOME TOUR 10/30/01
CLASS POLICIES
Participation
is the only "extra credit" available in this course. Disruption of
lecture will result in penalties toward your course grade. Do not talk during
lecture or discussion. Do not arrive late, leave early, or come and go out of
the classroom during lecture. College policy is no food or beverage in the
classroom. This is not your home or a movie theater. Please be civil to others
in the class.
Attendance
will be taken regularly. If you are not in class, it will directly influence
your grade.
To receive
full credit for projects and tests, they must be presented when due. Late work will lose one letter grade per day late.
There are no make-ups. Do your own work.
Cheating:
Plagiarism and other forms of cheating will be dealt with severely. Do not use
others' works without crediting the source. You will receive a zero for
assignments that are plagiarized. Depending on the circumstances you may
receive an F for this course and have a letter describing your cheating in your
permanent student file. Check the student
handbook for more information on plagiarism and cheating.
I will
not provide lecture notes for missed classes. Please complete your notes with
assistance from your peers.
There is
no extra credit.
C O U R S E C A L E N D A R
DEATH & DYING
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WEEK |
TOPIC |
ASSIGNMENT |
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1 |
Introduction |
Read CH 1 & 3 |
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2-3 |
Historical and Cross-Cultural Perspectives |
Read CH 3 Obituary Project Due September 3 |
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4 |
Socialized to Death Children and Death |
Read CH 2
& 10 Due September 10th |
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5 |
More Children |
EXAM 1 September 22nd |
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6-7 |
Dying and Institutions |
Read CH 4
& 5
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8-9 |
Medical Ethics and the Law |
Read CH 6 & 7 EXAM 2 October 15th |
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10-11 |
Death Rituals |
Read CH 8 |
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12 |
Suicide |
Read CH 12 Cemetery Project Due November 3 |
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13 |
Death is Everywhere |
Read CH 13 EXAM 3 November 12th |
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14 |
Griefwork |
Read CH 9 Planning Death Project Due November 19th |
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15 |
More Grief |
CH 11 |
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16 |
After Life |
Read CH 14 & 15 |
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17 |
The End |
EXAM 4 December 17th 10-Noon |
Disclaimer: All information on calendar except exam dates is tentative
Go to Patrick Ashwood Homepage
.