Real Time Models: Writing Your Own Obituary

PURPOSE: Aside from providing your instructor with a sample of your writing early in the semester, your obituary can also serve another useful purpose. Writing your own obituary almost guarantees that if you should die suddely the newspaper will spell your name right! It might also spare your loved ones the problem of trying to think for you during a time of stress and grief. You might as well do it now. After all, as Todd Hunt (http://rfa.rutgers.edu/rfa-obit.htm) and many others point out, “It will be easier for you than for anyone else, and it will assure that what you think were your greatest accomplishments are highlighted.” 

AUDIENCE: Write for the readers of your home town newspapers and periodicals.

INSTRUCTIONS: Read the obituary on page 59 of The Norton Sampler and any other obituaries you find online or in newspapers. Then write an obituary of yourself. (Length: 500 words, 1-2 pages.) Be sure to title it and format the piece in MLA style (see 822 in TSFH). Write in third person (“he” or  “she,” not “I”).

• Before you write this obituary, please briefly study the example (“Pauline Schneider Bates”) in our reader (The Norton Sampler: 58-59) and quickly read through some obituaries in a newspaper of your choice.
• Write your obituary, word for word, as you would actually like it to appear.
• Follow the established conventions for the genre but make your story interesting.
• Write in paragraph form and chart your life chronologically
• Give the your full name and date and place of death. Use a current date. Do not specify the cause of death.
•  Recount the main events in your life, beginning with your birth and birthplace.
• Include a list of schools attended, degrees received, vocation and hobbies, memberships in organizations. . .
• If you like, as an embellishment include stories that family tell about you
• Acknowledge any survivors, including parents, spouse and children
• Announce when and where the funeral, burial, wake and/or memorial service will take place
• Conclude with a statement regarding where memorial contributions can be sent, if applicable.
• Incorporate a head-and-shoulders photograph into the text . 
• Write a complete first draft and then revise.
• Proofread carefully. Have someone else proofread.
• Read your finished draft aloud and make any last minute corrections.