Aspects of Death and Dying, Outline Example

• Title Page
• Introduction

The paper examines the nature of death and dying in relation to living a full life and in coping with the death of loved ones and family.

• Body

1. The relation of mortality to life.
2. Various views of the nature of death. (Fagan, 2004)
3. Personal stories of cancer victims. (Fagan, 2004)
4. Collective or social visions of death and dying. (Fagan 2004)
5. Formal philosophical concepts of death. (Sexton, 1997)

This section will explore a range of ideas about death. Stories from caner victims will be compared to cultural myths and attitudes. These will be examined in relation to philosophical and linguistic views of death. A case will be made that death is an extension of life-experience.

1. Methods for Dealing with Grief and Pain.
2. Loss of a close friend or relative. (Fagan 2004)
3. Methods for facing death and loss. (Fagan 2004)
4. Explaining death to children. (Turner, 2007).
5. Living with grief. (Fagan 2004).

This section will explore ways in which the living deal with grief and loss. Particular attention will be paid to the way children are taught to view grief and dying. Other aspects that will be explored are the emotional and psychological processes that are associated with grief.

1. Issues of Euthanasia and Suicide
2. Exploring the “right to die.” (Hoefler and Kamoie 1994)
3. Government intervention. (Hoefler and Kamoie 1994)
4. Moral and philosophical issues. (Sexton, 1997)

This section will explore the ideas of suicide and euthanasia. Attention will given to the difference between these two issues. Evidence will be given to support freedom of choice, as well as the need for intervention.

1. Religious and Philosophical Answers
2. Survey of comfort offered by philosophy. (Sexton, 1997)
3. Discussion of coping ideas offered by religion and faith. (Fagan 2004)
4. Importance of friends, family, and community. (Fagan 2004); (Turner, 2007)

This section will show that both religious ideas and philosophical ideas help ease the pain of death and grieving. The process of death and grieving will be shown as important parts of life-experience. Death will be viewed as an influence over all people in their daily lives.

• Conclusion

The conclusion of the paper will contend that death is a process that is not wholly understood but which is enormously powerful both in relation to individual lives and to cultures as a whole. The paper will conclude that embracing the reality of death and grieving is a healthy process which enriches life experience. A speculative conclusion will be offered that death represents an opportunity for greater enjoyment of life and love.

References

Fagan, A. (Ed.). (2004). Making Sense of Dying and Death. Amsterdam: Rodopi

Hoefler, J. M., & Kamoie, B. E. (1994). Deathright: Culture, Medicine, Politics, and the Right to Die. Boulder, CO: Westview Press.

Sexton, J. (1997). The Semantics of Death and Dying: Metaphor and Mortality. ETC.: A Review of General Semantics, 54(3), 333+.

Turner, M. (2007). Talking with Children and Young People about Death and Dying. London: Jessica Kingsley.