English 1A
Journal #4 - Death and Aging

Purpose: to respond to ideas presented in the analysis essays, to examine personal views about death and aging, and the rituals associated with these processes in our culture.

Directions: 

Note: The journals are intended to be a way for you to explore ideas that you might later wish to refine in a paper or a discussion.  I will not censor these journals in any way, nor will I grade them on content or grammar (though, like the seminars, they must be coherent and display some measure of critical thinking about the question at hand). You do not have to answer all the questions, nor do you have to confine yourself to these questions. Write about whatever is on your mind. 

Our authors this week, Mitford and Miner, examine American attitudes about death and aging.   Write a page (3-5 paragraphs) discussing your own relationship to death and aging.  

Some questions to consider: 

• What are your thoughts on death and aging?
• What do you think about the way our culture deals with death and aging?
• What has been your experience with death, illness and/or injury, and how has that experience shaped your attitude?
• When you think about your own death or aging process, what comes up for you?
• What does your family, religion and/or culture teach you about these subjects? Have you accepted these teachings, or do you have lingering questions? How do you attempt to answer those questions?