Writing an Obituary

1. Writing an Obituary Jennifer Elizondo July 20,2010 EDTC 3332 – Instructional Technology Practicum

2. Needs Assessment • An obituary is many things in one: a notice of death, a story of life, a record of the extended family, information about funeral service, a thank you to those who have helped out. • The basic information must be covered accurately and completely. An obituary can be a compelling story of a life. Accuracy and completeness are most important. • I can teach the learner how to properly write an obituary with correct spelling and the correct information. I will show the guidelines in my training so the obituary can be accurate and complete.

3. Instructional Goal: • After completing this training, the office employees at the Trinity Funeral Chapels will be able to write obituaries that are accurate and complete.

4. Performance Objectives: • After completing this training the employees will be able to: • Use the computer to write an error free obituary. • Gather all of the pertinent information, making sure all of the names are spelled correctly. • Make sure that all family members are properly identified (spouse, children, parents, nieces and nephews, grand children, etc.) • Write a memorable introduction • Insert the names of the loved ones into the body of the text • Writing a moving conclusion Publish a obituary to the Valley Morning Star that is accurate, free of spelling errors and memorable. • Compare examples of well written and poorly written obituaries in order to differ

5. Assessment of Learning Outcomes:

6. Learner Characteristics: • This training is for a staff member at Trinity Funeral Chapels that will write the obituaries. • Computer Skills are required for this training and the learner should be at least 18 years or older. • The learner must have good writing skills and computer skills. • The learner must have typing experience on a computer using word. • The learner must have a one year experience in secretarial work or office management.

7. Learner Context: • This training can be used in an office setting that has a computer and broadband internet access. • I have designed this lesson to be taught at the funeral home or to be followed at home by the learner. • The learner will use office word, internet access, obituary form, pen and paper to complete the obituary process.

8. Instructional Strategies: Introduction: Following my template the learner will be able to write an accurate and complete obituary to publish in Valley Morning Star and to pass out to family members and friends to remember their loved one by. Following my template on writing an obituary will allow the learner to collect the correct and accurate information about the descendent. Have a family member fill out the OBIT Form or ask them questions and the learner may fill it out for the family member. Name__________ age___, entered into eternal rest_____(day), _______ (DATE)________________ at _________ ( Place Of Death by)_________. She/he is preceded in death by ______________, ___________________________,______________,________________ Survivors include: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Visitation will be held ______________ (Date) from_______ to_____ with a rosary/ prayer service at ________ time. Funeral/ Chapel services will be at _______ (time) at _______________(church) With__________________ as celebrant/officiating. Burial/ interment will follow to _______________ (Cemetery).

9. Instructional Strategies (Cont.) Honored to serve as pallbearers are _________________,___________________, _______________,______________, __________________. Arrangements have been entrusted to Trinity at Harrison Funeral Home 1002 E. Harrison Harlingen Tx. Other info _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Other Survivors________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Honorary Pallbearers______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ VMS COST _________________ Person Authorizing Printing_______________________________________________________

10. Instructional Strategies (Cont.) • Fill out the Obituary form completely. The family members will be able to provide this information. • Type all of the information on word and email to Valley Morning Star. • Before submitting form make sure all of the information is accurate and complete. The best way to check for accuracy is proofread several times.

11. Instructional Resources: • Computer with XP or Vista operating system • Broadband Internet access • Email address • Word

12. Training Module Blueprint;

13. Training Module Blueprint:

14. Formative Evaluation: • First the supervisor from Trinity Funeral Chapels will evaluate the learner’s obituary to see if all the instructions were followed correctly. The supervisor will go through the training model to see if it is accurate and complete. Finally, the supervisor will determine if anything is missing or confusing and make recommendations on how to improve the training. • Once the supervisor has confirmed that the learner has mastered the task, the user will write an obituary on their own to show that they are capable of writing an accurate and error free obituary to publish in the newspaper and pass out to family members and friends.

15. Summary • After completing this training , the user should be able to write a obituary that is accurate and complete.