Illness Narrative Essay - Parts 1 and 2

Here is an assignment sheet with the same information as below: Illness Narrative Assignment Sheet.pdf Download Illness Narrative Assignment Sheet.pdf 

Purpose

In this essay, you will demonstrate your ability to analyze the biological, political, economic, and cultural factors involved in an illness experience of your own or someone you interview.

Outcomes

Students who complete this essay will be able to: Describe, identify, and analyze biological, political, economic, and social factors on health. (Course Outcome 1.)

This involves analyzing a specific situation for the broader cultural elements. You will use this skill in future courses and many areas of your life outside of school.

What is an Illness Narrative?

An illness narrative is a personal story about an illness experience. Illness narratives are used by medical anthropologists and medical doctors to understand the patient’s experience with a disease.  

What will you be doing? 

You will write a 2-4 page, journal-style essay that explores an illness experience. This can be an experience you have had, or you can interview someone. The essay has two main parts: Part 1 and Part 2. It should include the following:  

• Introduction (1 paragraph)
  • This should include a thesis statement connecting the illness experience to social aspects.
• Part 1 – The Illness Experience (1-2 pages)
  • Describe the illness experience.
• Part 2 – Analysis (1-2pages)
  • Analyze the biological, political, economic, and cultural factors apparent in the illness experience.
• Conclusion (1 paragraph)
  • Restate your thesis and add any final comments about the significance of the illness experience.

STEP 1: Brainstorm Ideas

Think about an illness experience you may want to write about, or someone you may want to interview about an illness experience. You should answer the following questions before you start to write:

1. What do you think caused the illness?
2. Why do you think it started when it did?
3. What do you think your sickness does/did to you?
4. How severe is/was your sickness? Do you think it will last a long time, or will it be better soon in your opinion? (Or – did it last a long time? Or did it resolve quickly?)
5. What are the main problems the illness has caused for you?
6. What do/did you fear most about your sickness?
7. What kind of treatment do you think you need? (Or what kind of treatment did you think you needed?)
8. What are the most important results you hope/hoped to get from treatment?
9. How has the illness impacted your family and friends?

(These questions are adapted from Arthur Kleinman’s model.)

STEP 2: Write Part 1- The Illness Experience (1-2 pages)

Explain the illness experience. This is a journal-style narrative, so it does not need to sound formal. (You can use “I.”) Nonetheless, do not assume that the reader is familiar with everything about the cultural context, illness terms, treatments, etc. Explain as you write. You do not have to answer every single question in STEP 1, but use information from the questions to help you write.

You will have the opportunity to share Part 1 with peers to help you improve Part 1 and get ideas for Part 2.

STEP 3: Write Part 2 – Analysis (1-2pages)

For Part 2, you will analyze Part 1. Analysis simply means breaking something into parts and examining those parts to better understand the whole. In this case, the goal is to understand how broader social and cultural factors shaped the illness experience. Your analysis needs to focus on at least two of the following: biological, political, economic, and/or cultural factors. Use these terms in your essay (put them in bold if you want to). To help you think about them, I’ve put some guiding questions for each below. You do not have to write about these questions; just use them if they help you.

• biological factors –
  • What are symptoms? What are treatments? What, if any, is the scientific explanation?
• political factors –
  • In what ways has the political situation played a role in the experience of this illness? Are there government or public health campaigns you are aware of? Is there a lack of government response?
• economic factors –
  • What is/was your economic situation at the time of illness? How did that play a role in the occurrence of the illness, access to care, and/or ability to get treatment?
• cultural factors –
  • What are relevant beliefs? Have you (or others) experienced stigma because of this illness?

Sources are not required, but if you use them, you need to cite them. Whether you choose MLA, Chicago or APA, but whichever format you choose, I require consistency. If you don't know where to start with citations, please read this short guide about MLA style Links to an external site.. It has the basic information you need and examples! Additional citation information is posted in the Resources Module in our Canvas class.

STEP 3: Write the Introduction and the Conclusion (1 paragraph each)

Now it’s time to add your introduction and conclusion. Your introduction should include a thesis statement connecting the illness experience to social aspects. Your conclusion should restate your thesis and add any final comments about the significance of the illness experience. It may help to think about: What does your personal story reveal about illness in a specific cultural context?

STEP 4: Peer Review

A peer review involves reading your classmate’s writing and giving them feedback. Your classmates will also read your work and give you feedback. Detailed instructions are in Canvas.

STEP 5: Proofread, Proofread, Proofread!

Once you have drafted and revised your essay, be sure to run it through the spelling and grammar check in the very least, and proofread twice.

STEP 6: Submit your Essay
Submit your essay through the assignment link here in Canvas. See these instructions Links to an external site. for guidance.
Note: Your file needs to be a .rtf, .doc, or .docx; I can't read .pages files.

How Will You Be Graded?

The Part 1 Discussion is 20 points based on full participation.

The Peer Review is 30 points based on full participation.

The Final Illness Narrative Essay (Parts 1 and 2) is worth 100 points. Please see the rubric connected to this assignment in Canvas. I will use this to grade your essay, but you should use it as a checklist to make sure you included all of the requirements in your essay.