Public Thanatology Essay

Due: Monday November 17 @ 10:00 AM

Submission: Upload your essay (PDF format only) to OWL Brightspace

Value: 30%

This participatory assignment requires you to act as a public thanatologist and “find death in your immediate environment” (Joralemon, 2016, p. 109). As we have been learning in this course, we are surrounded by death in our everyday lives in the form. of images, symbols, stories, and especially, forms of public and private memorialisation.  This assignment requires you to go out in your immediate environment (i.e., your community) to locate examples of memorialisation, then apply what you have learned in the course to analyze the significance of these memorials.

The purpose of this assignment is to discuss why we create these memorials, what these memorials signify/communicate, and how we might understand memorialization considering cultural/social attitudes about death. Keep these ideas in mind as you are writing your essay and shaping your thesis statement.

The assignment is intended to be both experiential (you will go out in search of memorials in your community) and scholarly (you will connect your observations with theories/concepts/ideas that we are learning in the course and assigned readings).

You may choose one of the following themes (community memorials OR cemeteries) for the experiential portion of the assignment:

Community Memorials

1.   Spend a week keeping your eyes open for examples of public memorialization in your community. These memorials might be informal (for example, informal roadside memorials) or formal (for example, permanent memorial markers or statues in parks, on buildings etc.). Take a photo whenever you come across a memorial. You should find at least 3-5 examples for your essay. Images should be completed in APA 7th Edition format.

2.   Write some notes on the memorial (see questions below) and/or do some internet searching for more information.

3.   Please note that this assignment involves a written portion as well as photographs (see below). Be sure to integrate course concepts, theories, and ideas in your essay. References should be completed in APA 7th Edition format. You must include references to 2-3 assigned readings.

Please include the following information in your Community Memorial Essay:

1.   Describe the memorials that you found. What kind of memorials were they (i.e., formal/informal)? Where were they located? What did they look like/was there any symbolism or messages included in the memorial? If so, what are these symbols/messages meant to communicate to the audience?

2.   Briefly discuss what/who is being memorialized. If you can find the information, discuss who organized the memorial.

3.   What is the purpose of the memorial? Is the memorial meant to transmit a message? Raise awareness about an issue? Teach about history? Create social change? Remember an important figure or someone of personal significance to the creator of the memorial? Another purpose?

4.   In your responses, you will discuss how the memorials that you found relate to ideas presented in the assigned readings. You must reference at least 2-3 different assigned readings (this may mean individual chapters from the textbook or other assigned readings in the course outline). References to lectures/slides must be in addition to references to assigned readings. Here you might discuss the significance of public memorialization (why we do it, what it does) and/or how we might understand these practices of memorialization in light of cultural/social attitudes about death (for example, how do you make sense of public memorialization in light of cultural attitudes about death denial).

5.   Your essay should include a title page, introduction with thesis statement, body paragraphs, conclusion, reference list and appendix. Include your photos in the appendix at the end of the essay. You might label the photos (Photo 1, Photo 2) and refer to them in your essay.

OR

Cemetery Visit

1.   Choose a cemetery that you want to visit in your community.

2.   Do a Google search to see if the cemetery has a website. Some local cemeteries have websites that provide the history of the cemetery as well as other useful information.

3.   Bring a copy of this assignment along so you remember what to look for.

4.   Take at least 30 minutes to explore the grounds. Give yourself a chance to reflect and to respect the privacy of other individuals and groups, whether you know  them or not.

5. You should take at least 3 photographs of the cemetery or individual markers. Your photographs should be discussed in the essay as they relate to the appropriate questions above. You can reference specific photos in the text by applying labels to them (Figure 1 or Photograph 1, etc.). It may also be helpful to include a brief description.

6.   Many larger cemeteries have full-time staff that work in the office, on the grounds and in the on-site crematoria.  It may be helpful to check into the office and let them know you are a King’s Thanatology student. The staff will likely be happy to assist you or to show you some of the more interesting and famous markers and elements in their cemeteries.

7.   After taking some time to explore the grounds, please answer the following questions about the cemetery visit.

Please include the following information in your Cemetery Essay:

Be sure to integrate course concepts, theories, and ideas in your responses. As per the guidelines below, you should reference at least 2-3 different texts or chapters in your essay. You may also reference lectures; however, these references should be seen as supplementary to your engagement with the course texts. Integrate your answers to all the following questions in the body paragraphs of your paper. Again, be sure to write your paper as an essay.

1.   Name, location, and description of the cemetery. For example, does the cemetery have a mausoleum? If so, what was the mausoleum like? (Note: if you are not sure what a mausoleum is, please look it up.) What does the space look like? If there are other buildings located in the cemetery, what are they?

2.   Observations about the cemetery markers. Are there old markers (decades or a century or more old)? What is the oldest tombstone that you could find?

3.   What do the tombstones look like? Is there any symbolism present? What do you think these symbols, markers or designs mean? Describe a tombstone that stood out for you and why.

4.   Note any observations about the dates on tombstones. What is the lifespan reflected in some of the older monuments versus some of the newer monuments? In what ways does this relate to course material about death and dying as well as expectations about age of death?

5. Integrating course concepts, connect what you observed about the cemetery with major themes or ideas discussed thus far in the course. Here you might discuss the significance of memorialization from a personal/social/cultural perspective, death denial or anxiety, the funeral industry, or trends in death and dying. Consider this point as you are shaping your thesis statement (central argument) that you will include in your introductory paragraph.

Written Assignment Guidelines (All Essays)

1.   This assignment is to be written as a formal essay. Please refer to the APA

Manual, 7th ed to see how essays, citations, bibliography and images should be formatted. Be sure to include an introduction paragraph that summarizes the main arguments/ideas discussed in your paper. What key idea(s) are you trying to communicate with this essay? Your paper must also include a conclusion paragraph.

If you have questions about how to structure a paper or draft a thesis statement, please see the APA guidelines for more information or make an appointment with the writing tutors at the Write Place.

2.   The essay should be organized using section headings of your choosing. Some suggestions are:

Introduction

Memorial/Cemetery Details

Connections with Thanatology

Conclusion

3.   Some aspects of this assignment require you to report on factual details that you observed about the memorial/cemetery. Other aspects require reflection on memorialization practices, cemeteries, death, and grief. When writing about these themes, be sure to integrate course concepts and ideas that you have learned in lecture and readings. Reflection is not just about sharing your own personal opinions but integrating concepts and ideas from the course with your observations and insights. When referencing concepts or themes from the course, use APA 7th citation style.

Format of the Paper (All essays)

1.   The written portion of this essay is to be 6-7 written pages, typed, double-spaced. This does not include the title page, reference page or appendix pages.

2.   Your essay should include a title page, introduction with thesis statement, body paragraphs, conclusion, reference list and appendix.

3. Include your photos in the appendix at the end of the essay. Label and/or caption the photos (Photo 1, Photo 2) and refer to them in your essay (see “APA 7th Ed. Images” in the “Course Introduction” materials for format).

4.   The assignment must follow APA guidelines (according to the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, 7th  ed. or www.apastyle.org). Overall presentation, organization, and writing style. are important in communicating ideas.

5.   The essay should include references to at least 2-3 different texts or chapters from our course materials. Please reference the chapters from Northcott and Wilson in your reference page (not just the book itself). You may include references to lectures, but these references should be considered supplementary to references to the course texts.

NOTE:

1.   Review the late submission policies in the course outline.

2. Upload PDF to the Assignments tab in OWL Brightspace.

3.   Refer to the course outline for potential bonus marks.

4.   Memorial and/or cemetery visits must be in your local area and undertaken

anytime from September 8, 2025, through to the essay submission date.