Imagining our lives through obituaries and epitaphs

What Does the Future Hold?

o·bit·u·ar·y (ōˈbiCH oˌerē)o͞

noun: obituary; plural noun: obituaries a notice of a death, esp. in a newspaper, typically

including a brief biography of the deceased person.

ep·i·taph (ˈepiˌtaf)noun: epitaph; plural noun: epitaphs a phrase or statement written in memory of a

person who has died, esp. as an inscription on a tombstone.

Definitions

For students to consider where they are now

To look at the community you’re growing up in

To consider what your family has instilled in you

To clarify what you believe about yourself

To contemplate goals for your possible future

Objectives

Why would some people object to a lesson like this?

What might be difficult for you in a lesson like this?

Objections

“Every man dies. Not every man really lives.”William Wallace, Scottish Revolutionary

Born 1270 Died 1305

Aside from the sexism inherent in the wording what idea is Wallace trying to get people to understand?

Huh?

Brainstorming (five minutes)

What hopes do you have for your future? What do you want to accomplish? What kind of life do you want to have? What do you want to learn, study, create, and bring into the world?

When you consider possible jobs ask yourself what is interesting and worthwhile enough to keep you away from family and loved ones for more than half of your time every week.

Contemplating the Future

Share some specifics (and prompt for more specificity).

Take 2 minutes to add more specifics!

Sharing!

From your initial brainstorming determine what are the most important things you would like people to remember about you.

Circle / Underline / Highlight / Diagram / Annotate . . . Whatever works for you.

Narrow Your Focus

Sample Micro-Obituaries

and Epitaphs

Curiosity certainly didn't kill Studs Terkel. In fact, it defined the career of this Pulitzer-prize winning author and radio host. Terkel, who was born Louis (he took his nickname from the fictional character Studs Lonigan), spent much of his life interviewing average Americans. Using a technique he called "guerilla journalism," he gathered hours and hours of conversations, weaving together a vibrant oral history of America. Terkel announced his own epitaph years before his 2008 death at age 96. In the postscript to his memoir, "Touch and Go," he called curiosity the attribute that "has kept me going."

Studs Terkel: Born 1912 Died 2008 "Curiosity did not kill this cat.”

Country music legend Hank Williams recorded 66 songs during his brief career -- and a whopping 37 of them topped the music charts. Tunes like "Your Cheatin' Heart," "I'm so Lonesome I Could Cry," and "Honky Tonk Blues" have remained alive long after their singer, recorded and re-recorded by new generations of country musicians. Williams died in the back seat of his blue Cadillac convertible on New Year's Eve, 1953 while on the way to a performance. The cause of death remains unclear to this day. He was just 29 years old. Williams' gravestone in Montgomery, Ala.'s Oakwood Cemetery Annex is inscribed with several of his song titles, including this one, which shot straight to number one after his death.

Hank Williams: Born 1923 Died 1953"I'll never get out of this world alive."

Idea Development

Word Choice

Sentence Fluency

Which Traits will I be graded on?

The main message or story is clear and compelling. It grabs the audience’s attention.

The writing shows in-depth understanding.

The piece overflows with interesting details an audience will notice and remember.

The topic is focused with the main points clearly defined.

Idea Development

Words are striking, original, and precise – often memorable.

Powerful verbs create energy, movement, and vivid imagery.

Sensory details enhance meaning and enrich the reading experience.

The writing is concise – every word counts.

Word Choice

The writing is smooth, natural, and easy to read on the first try.

Almost every sentence begins differently – unless repetition is used for effect.

The piece invites expressive read-alouds that brings out voice.

The writing has an effective, appealing cadence or rhythm.

Sentence Fluency

Your micro-obituary will be 100 – 150 words

What were the facts of your imagined life? Create something full of life, and interest.

What was unique about your life? Your passions? Your accomplishments? What was important to you? How did you make the world around you better?

Beginning Your First Draft

Remember, this is about your life, not your death.

In this assignment you will all live until at least 85 years old

Beginning Your First Draft

Day Three: Workshopword choice and sentence fluency

Words are striking, original, and precise – often memorable.

Powerful verbs create energy, movement, and vivid imagery.

Sensory details enhance meaning and enrich the reading experience.

The writing is concise – every word counts.

Word Choice

The writing is smooth, natural, and easy to read on the first try.

Almost every sentence begins differently – unless repetition is used for effect.

The piece invites expressive read-alouds that brings out voice.

The writing has an effective, appealing cadence or rhythm.

Sentence Fluency

Day Four: Epitaphs

ep·i·taph (ˈepiˌtaf)noun: epitaph; plural noun: epitaphs a phrase or statement written in memory of a

person who has died, esp. as an inscription on a tombstone.

Definition

• “I was somebody. Who, is no business of yours.”

Someone determined to be anonymous in Stowe, Vermont

• "A tomb now suffices him for whom the world was not enough”

Alexander the Great

• "Against you I will fling myself unvanquished and unyielding, O Death!”

Virginia Woolf

"Free at last. Free at last. Thank God Almighty I'm Free At Last.”

Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Nothing's So Sacred As Honor And Nothing's So Loyal As Love”

Wyatt Earp

• "Workers of all lands unite. The philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways; the point is to change it.”

Karl Marx

Bill Burch 1944 – 2007

Here lies Bill Burchwho never missed a day of church.

He loved his family - friends and funand on his ankle was always a gun.

Douglas Butlar Bullard, Jr. 1937 – 2005

Home is the sailorFar and wide were his travels,

Full and rich his lifeRestless as the sea,Alive as the Earth.

Your Epitaph will be 5 – 20 words

In it you will attempt to encapsulate what was most important not only in your micro-obituary, but your life.

You will be graded for Idea Development, Word Choice, and Sentence Fluency

Epitaph Requirements

The main message or story is clear and compelling. It grabs the audience’s attention.

The writing shows in-depth understanding.

The piece overflows with interesting details an audience will notice and remember.

The topic is focused with the main points clearly defined.

Idea Development

Words are striking, original, and precise – often memorable.

Powerful verbs create energy, movement, and vivid imagery.

Sensory details enhance meaning and enrich the reading experience.

The writing is concise – every word counts.

Word Choice

The writing is smooth, natural, and easy to read on the first try.

Almost every sentence begins differently – unless repetition is used for effect.

The piece invites expressive read-alouds that brings out voice.

The writing has an effective, appealing cadence or rhythm.

Sentence Fluency

You will need two typed copies of your work: Name and mod #, micro-obituary, and finally your epitaph.

Each student will present their work to the class, and receive feedback.

Presentation Prep

Day Five: Presentations

Give the instructor one copy of your work, and keep a copy for yourself.

Present your epitaph.Present your micro-obituary.Time for notes from peer groups.Proving the grade.Atomic Clap!

Presentations

Group One: Specifics on how ideas are developed – how do their specific ideas fit together? What specifics could they add or change? Score and explanation.

Group Two: Good specific words, strong verbs, or are there words that could be eliminated? Score and explanation.

 Group Three: What is good about their sentence fluency?

What specific things could be changed to improve sentence fluency? Score and explanation.

Group Four: In what ways does the epitaph tie to the obituaries.

How will you help?

Post Presentation

Following presentations revise your work, and post it to the classroom blog at

www.AndreeInstitute.com

Post Presentation