Gerontology Biological Aspects of Aging

Gerontology Biological Aspects of Aging
One of the main goals in this course is for you to formulate an opinion on the dynamics relating to the dying, death, and grieving processes.

The only way to assess this ability in measurable terms is to have you produce something that gives you an opportunity to express your opinions and showcase your knowledge.

For that reason you are required to write a position paper detailing your opinions regarding dying, death, and grief while supporting them with material from the course or that you find through your own research.

Your final project is also designed to give you scope for reflection on your personal development by additionally asking you to demonstrate what affect taking this course has had on your current opinions on these topics.

Your objective in writing this assignment is to:

Compare and contrast your knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about dying, death, and grief before taking this course with your perspective now.
Formulate and clearly state your position on two controversial issues; euthanasia and assisted suicide.
Part 1:
For the first part of your final project you will take stock of what you have learned in this course by analyzing your knowledge, beliefs and attitudes towards dying, death, and grief in an extended essay of approximately 1000 words. One of your principle goals in part 1 is to discuss in detail the degree to which taking this course has affected your perspective on these topics.

Consider the following questions when you are formulating your response:

How aware or unaware were you of the topics and issues regarding dying, death and grief covered in this module before taking this course?
If you had thought about dying, death, and grief before taking GER-312 have any of your attitudes or beliefs changed as a result of what you have learned?
What new insights have you gained about the process of death and loss as a result of taking this class?
What issues, statements, opinions, conclusions, etc. in your study materials for this module made a particular impression on you and why?
Was there anything in your study materials regarding the discussion about dying, death, and grief that you disagree with or question? If, yes, explain what the issue(s) is (are) and why you disagree or have questions.

Part 2:
For the second part of your final project you need to clearly articulate your opinion about euthanasia and assisted suicide, discussing these issues in depth in an extended essay of approximately 1000 words. Just as in Part 1 of your final project, your response to Part 2 should include discussion on how taking this course has affected your current position.

When formulating your position consider the following questions:

What position did you have on these two issues before taking this course?
How has what you have learned in this course regarding end of life decisions affected your current opinion on the subject?
In your opinion, are the two issues fundamentally different or is there some relation, however blurred, between them?
Are you opposed to one but not the other? If so, on what grounds?
If you are opposed in principle to one or both, can you see any circumstances that would warrant making an exception in your opinion?
Your final project should address both parts 1 and 2. Your response to each part should be approximately 1000 words long. (size 12 font, double spaced, Times New Roman or Arial font).

It should also include APA style references to the textbook (Health in the Later Years by Armeda Ferrini and Rebecca Ferrini 4th edition) and other course materials, and any other sources you use to support your positions.