Interview a friend or relative about how they experienced either the death of an important relation or a potentially traumatic (violent or life- threatening) event (PTE). You will need to inquire among friends/relatives until you find threatening) event (PTE). You will need to inquire among friends/relatives until you find someone who had experienced such an event and is both willing and comfortable in speaking about the event.
Keep records of each person with whom you inquire about such events. It is not necessary to record names or other identifying information. Rather, simply note the type of relation (e.g., close friend, neighbor, sibling, etc.), whether or not they could recall a relevant loss or PTE, and whether or not they were willing and able to speak about the event. When you interview the person, you should also keep records: record or take good notes. You might find it easier to record your impressions afterwards. You will need these materials to complete PART I and PART II, described below.
The paper should be 10-20 pages and consist of two parts. Please note that although I accept papers as short as 10 pages, if you are planning to turn in a shorter paper, it should be very well written.
PART I: Summary of your interview (approx. 5-10 pages). This part of the paper should be as interesting as possible and written with clinical insight but also in a more reader-friendly journalistic style. You may also chose a clinical single case style. The major components are:
1. WHO YOU INTERVIEWED AND WHY: How did you found this person? How many people did you ask to interview? How did they react? How did you finally come to interview the person you interviewed?
2. YOUR RESPONDENTS REACTIONS TO THE INTERVIEW: How did they behave? What did you think it was like for them? Any other observations of the experience?
3. YOUR RESPONDENT’S STORY: Summarize the respondent’s experienced of a PTE. What happened to him/her? Any relevant or necessary background. What happened? How did it happen? How did they react initially and over time? How they are doing now? You may quote from the interview or include very short passages but DO NOT INCLUDE LARGE VERBATIM PASSAGES FROM THE TEXT OF THE INTERVIEW.
4. LONG-TERM CONSEQUENCES AND/OR REACTIONS: How did your respondent react over the course of time, the months and years after the event? Did he/she have any long-term reactions or consequences? Did the event change or not change his or her life?
Points 3 and 4 (above) should comprise the bulk of part I.
PART II: Analyze your respondent’s story (approx. 5-10 pages). This section should be written in APA style with APA formatting and APA style referencing.
1. THE LITERATURE ON LOSS/TRAUMA/ADVERSITY: How do you explain your respondent’s story in terms of the literature? Does it reflect or challenge what we know about loss and trauma? Does your respondent’s story point out weaknesses in the literature or areas in need of further research? This section should include citations of relevant readings. You may cite a few of the readings from class but most of your citations should be new material not assigned in class. Please do not refer to things we learned in class but rather write as a scholar would by referencing the literature.
2. WHAT YOU LEARNED: What did the exercise teach you/show you about loss and trauma?
(this section may also be brief).
Point 1 (above) should comprise the bulk of part II.
