Description
THE LIFE REVIEW:
In late adulthood people often struggle to find meaning and purpose in their lives and in their deaths. This process is often assisted by engaging in a technique called a “Life Review”.
A Life Review maybe a formal interview, with a series of questions and responses, or a free-flowing conversation between interviewer and subject. A Life Review may be in audio, video or written form, however for purposes of this class it will be written.
For some things to keep in mind if you choose to interview someone other than yourself visit http://www.legacyproject.org/guides/lifeinttips.htm (Links to an external site.)
For additional questions you might explore visit http://storycorps.org/great-questions/ (Links to an external site.)
(Links to an external site.) (Links to an external site.)
YOUR LIFE REVIEW ASSIGNMENT
Choose to either:
1) Pretend that you are 85 years old and conduct a life review with yourself. If you are “interviewing” yourself, try to cover your lifespan up until 85 – do not just talk about your younger years (that you have already lived).
OR
2) Interview a relatively old friend or family member instead of interviewing yourself. You are free to add and/or substitute questions to accommodate questions that do not result in much information. Please be sure to describe who this person is if you are interviewing someone than your “old” self.
IMPORTANT:
The goal of this assignment is to provide you the opportunity to demonstrate your working knowledge of course concepts by applying them to a person’s life.
In your essay, you MUST link the responses to the interview questions to course material. Ideally, EACH QUESTION that is answered should include a CONCEPT from the textbook, as well as a CITATION (page number) from the text. Each of the examples provided below illustrate how a response to a question should look – including the required reference.
You MUST explain how the answers from your interviewee link to information learned from our textbook about the various life stages. Be sure to make it clear exactly HOW the concepts you cite relate to the response of the person being interviewed.
IMPORTANT: IF YOU ONLY TURN IN AN INTERVIEW AND DO NOT PROVIDE ANY CONCEPT CITATIONS YOU WILL RECEIVE A “0” FOR THIS ASSIGNMENT. THE INTERVIEW IS ONLY THE FRAMEWORK THAT ALLOWS YOU TO DEMONSTRATE YOUR ABILITY TO APPLY COURSE MATERIAL.
LIFE REVIEW INSTRUCTIONS
Your submission for each of the 10 interview questions must include:
(a) the interviewee’s response
(b) a specifically stated and described course concept, including textbook page citation
(c) a clear description of how the interviewee’s response illustrates that specific course concept
Minimum word count for (b) and (c) combined is 50 words.
(Reaching the minimum word count does not guarantee that you will receive full credit – you will be graded on the quality of your work.)
SUGGESTED LIFE REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Introduce your interviewee. Who were you named after and why?”
2. What did I learn? (important skills, knowledge, awareness, etc.)
3. What did I do that I am proud of? (accomplishments)
4. What would I have done differently? Why?
5. What did I accomplish or relinquish? What still feels incomplete to me?
6. What did I do right? What do I feel especially good about? What was my greatest contribution?
7. What were the fun things I did?
8. What were my biggest challenges/roadblocks/difficulties?
9. How am I different now than as a young adult?
10. For what am I particularly grateful?
(You may use alternate questions, but be sure to have at least 10 substantive questions.)
Each question must be answered with a well-constructed paragraph using proper punctuation, mechanics and grammar.
It is probably easiest to list each question and then answer it – but be sure that you are writing in complete sentences.
EXAMPLES of good responses:
Who were you named after and why?
My dad named me after Mother Theresa because is known for helping others. My mom chose my middle name Ann after St. Anne who she prayed to for a healthy child during her pregnancy. According to the text, religion seems to play a supportive role in social support, encouragement of health lifestyles, positive emotional states, and faith in God as a way of interpreting misfortunes (p. 591). Naming me after two religious figures shows my parents connection between religiosity and health, well-being and marital satisfaction (p. 591).
How am I different now than as a young adult?
When I was a young adult I didn’t know what occupation I wanted or where I wanted to live. As I grew up, I was able to identify that helping people as a nurse would put my skills to great use. I knew that whatever city I resided in would dictate what kind of live style I would live as in a small, quiet country town or a fast pace city. Ultimately, I figured out that I enjoyed the city life a lot more than a quiet town. Not only were there more choices for stores but there were also more venues for rock concerts. Before I used to worry about the small things, but now I realized that I have to live everyday to the fullest instead of getting caught up in stress. According to the text, I was experiencing what all adolescences have to overcome, a sense of identity. Identity is formed when a person resolves their choice of occupation and adoption of values (p. 390). Once I was able to resolve these pressing issues, I was able to feel a sense of belonging, identification of values and sustained loyalty (p. 391). These feeling are still with me today.
