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Death and Dying, Life and Living  Fall 2006
Group Panel and Abstract Guidelines

Return to Syllabus http://phobos.ramapo.edu/~kfowler/d&df06syllabus.html

Note: In lieu of a full-scale research paper for this class you will be asked to do a limited research task as a part of a group working on a common theme.  The group will pursue a research project which will result in an oral presentation (due the class listed below for your group) accompanied by a powerpoint  of key findings from your research.  You will be handing out to the class a printout of the powerpoint presentation along with a collective annotated bibliography (gathering and briefly annotating the sources found by all the group members.  Individually you will be submitting 3 abstracts (see below).  Group A: End of Life Issues Due Class 5;  Group B Children and Grief Due Class 7; Group C: Children: Illness and Death. Due Class 10; Group D Caregiving  Due Class 11;  Group E Sudden Grief/Traumatic Loss Due Class 12.

d.  Individual Journal Article Abstracts (3)     Each member of the group will research one particular aspect of the group's topic and will identify 3 key juried journal articles on the topic (not the first 3 -- the best 3!)  -- ideally from the perspective of the individual's particular professional field -- i.e. a social work major should be looking at social work articles on the selected aspect of the group topic e.g. "social work interventions in caregiver burnout."  The individual member will prepare a full formal abstract of these three articles (see guidelines from LEO at http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/bizwrite/abstracts.html or the University of Toronto Abstract Guidelines).  These abstracts will be submitted along with copies of the original articles and the abstracts provided by the databases -- for  individual grades on the day that the Group presents.

e.  Group Powerpoint and Presentation; Topic Overview, and Annotated Bibliography: The group will collectively develop and then present as a group to the class a Powerpoint presentation of key findings about the topic based on the groups' analysis of the research that was done and 3-4 concise recommendations for actions or changes or new policies regarding improving the situation for this topic.  (Note: These recommendations can be framed for individuals, employers, communities, government, schools, etc.) 
Prepare copies for the entire class of  printouts of the powerpoint with an attached annotated bibliography including the sources identified by all members of the group.  Annotations will be further condensed from the formal abstracts.  Each individual will  receive a group grade based on the panel presentation and the collective handout.  (All members of the group will receive the same group grade so be sure that you are pulling your weight and expecting the same of the other members of your group.  Note: the group grade is in addition to the individual grades awarded for the 3 abstracts).

Research Materials/ Resources:

General Guidelines:  Click here for various sources on writing and research in general:   Writing/Research Links | and for the D&D bibliography which I have compiled to assist you in your research.  We will be visiting the library early in the semester for special help from a librarian in beginning and focusing the research process.  Note:  You are being asked to do a llimited focused research project rather than a full-scale research paper but the same principles, techniques, and strategies apply.

Library Research:  The very best way to do your non-experienced research is by using journal articles.  Many are available through our electronic databases (go  to library homepage http://www.ramapo.edu/content/campus.resources/potter/ and click on electronic resources.  Enter your campus email username and password. (In some cases you will also see your library barcode.)  This gives you access to any of our many databases a number of which provide full-text versions of the articles you are seeking.  You can search for various topics using keyword searches.  Particularly relevant databes include CINAHL (nursing and allied health); Encyclopedia of Life Scieces; LexisNexis Academic; ProQuest, PsycInfo(Ebsco), Social Sciences Abstract.   Some journals you might consult (some in paper, others electronically) are: Death Studies (This is an especially important journal and it is available in two  full text electronic databases available through Ramapo: EbscoHost/Academic Search and ProQuest.) Omega: An International Journal for the Study of Dying, Death, Bereavement, Suicide, and Other Lethal Behaviors (available in Ramapo's periodicals section).  Other useful journals include   Loss, Grief and Care: A Journal of Professional Practice; Bereavement Magazine; Illness, Crisis and Loss; Thanatos.  Gerontology Journals include:   The Journal of Gerontology; The Gerontologist; Research on Aging; The Journal of Gerontological Nursing; and The Journal of Gerontological Social Work.  You may need to consult these via interlibrary loan or at another library (your Ramapo card entitles you to use any state college or university library in New Jersey).

Specialized books on thanatology can be obtained (purchase only) from: Compassion Books, 477 Hannah Branch Road, Burnsville, NC 28170 ((828) 675-5909.  The ADEC Catalogue of books is on reserve and is an excellent resource for an overview of available materials.   You can write to them directly to have a free catalogue sent to you.  You can also  consult the website  www.compassionbooks.com  

Internet Research:   Click here at www.dushkin.com for selected weblinks regarding death, dying, bereavement and loss.   Choose Annual Editions and click on Dying, Death, and Bereavement 7e 04/05.  Do be wary about internet research.  Anyone can put anything out on the net.  Evaluate your site for usefulness and credibility.  In most cases you will want to corroborate internet materials with journal materials that have gone through a peer review (i.e. other professionals in the appropriate area have reviewed the article and judged it worthy of publication).  Ramapo's library has an excellent guide to evaluating websites at http://potter.ramapo.edu/homepage/evaluating.html   and to citing websites and print resources at http://potter.ramapo.edu/homepage/citing.html  

Other Resources:
Association of Death Educators and Counselors (ADEC).  This is a key organization sponsoring conferences and workshops.  It also has an accreditation process.  For information contact the ADEC Central Office at 638 Prospect Avenue, Hartford Ct. 06105.  There are student rates and Ramapo students have attended.  The 2007 ADEC conference will be "Transformation and Creativity in Dying, Death and Bereavement" April 11-15, 2007 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA   There are Student Initiative Scholarships that pay for conference attendance and ADEC membership for a year.  See http://www.adec.org/awards/studinit.htm  For more info about the organization and/or about the conference consult their home page: http://www.adec.org/

Excellent pamphlets for distribution are available from Media Publishing, PO Box 89, Redmond, VA 90073 (206) 881-2883.

United Hospice of  Rockland, 5 Parkview Plaza, Thiells Mt., Ivy Road, Pomona, NY 10970 (845) 354-5100  

Center for Help, 326 Hillsdale Ave., Hillsdale, NJ 07642 (201-666-0009)