1. What factors have contributed to the American avoidance of death and dying?
2. What is the present American way of dying? How has it changed in the last century?
3. Compare and contrast the relative advantages and disadvantages of dying from acute and chronic diseases. What effects do each of these causes have on the abilities of families to cope with the death of a family member?
4. In what ways can children be prepared for death? Should children be told of their own terminality? What guidelines should be followed when talking to children about death?
5. What is meant by death fear or death anxiety? Why is this concept multidimensional rather than unidimensional?
6. What types of death fears are the most salient for Americans? How might you explain why these fears are more intense than other fears?
7. What does it mean to you to say that the meaning of dying will depend upon the social context in which the dying takes place?
8. What would be your choice of final disposition of your body? Why would you choose this method, and what effects might this choice have upon your survivors (if any)?
9. Describe how the funeralization process can assist in coping with grief and facilitate the bereavement process.

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