Due date: Sunday, October 19th, 2025 by 11:59pm  

Submission type: Electronic – On Canvas

Writing Requirements for All Options

This assignment fulfills your general education writing requirement. As an upper division general education class, Gerontology 100 is required to have a writing assignment consisting of no less than 2,000 words.  The instructor will evaluate the efforts of each student not only for the content presented but also for spelling, grammar, punctuation, neatness, and organization of thought. 

This writing assignment is a General Education requirement.  It meets the GE Program ePortfolio Requirement for transfer students.  Through the examination of the materials within their chosen module and written composition, students will: 

Demonstrate an understanding of the social context older adults experience, and 

Discuss the social policies and social problems that affect older adults in the U.S.  

Students are encouraged to utilize the Fresno State Writing Center for guidance. One-on-one writing assistance and small group

One-on-One Tutoring – https://cah.fresnostate.edu/writingcenter/one-on-one.htmlg CenterLinks to an external site.

Tutoring Groups – https://cah.fresnostate.edu/writingcenter/groups.htmlLinks to an external site.

Geron 100 Writing Assignment Instructions

All written assignments must be:

AT LEAST 2,000 words excluding the cover page and reference page (not meeting the minimum word count will result in an automatic 100-point deduction)

Cite a minimum of 3 sources in your writing

APA format,

A cover page with student’s name, topic/title, class section number, date, word count, and instructor’s name.

Reference page

Typed, and in essa-y format (must include an introduction, body, and conclusion),

Use 12 pt. font,

Double spaced.

An abstract is not required  

**Late papers will be penalized 5 points a day, including weekends.**

Choose 1 of the 3 topic options for your assignment:

Option #1: Longevity & Quality of Life

Watch the film Living Old: The Modern Realities of Aging in America (Frontline, 2006) https://login.access.library.fresnostate.edu/login?qurl=https%3a%2f%2ffod.infobase.com%2fPortalPlaylists.aspx%3fwID%3d100751%26xtid%3d40895Links to an external site.

AND read the article An Aging America Continues to Face a Shortage of Care 17 Years After FRONTLINE’s ‘Living Old’ Documentary | FRONTLINE Links to an external site.https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/aging-living-old-geriatrician-shortage/Links to an external site. 

Then respond to the following prompts. The prompts may be addressed in any order.  You must include citations for at least 3 references, 1 of which needs to be from an academic journal.  You must use APA citations within the essa-y and reference list.

Longevity is the term for living longer than the average life expectancy. As medicine continues to advance, more people are living longer. In response to the film and article, explore the following questions.

Does living longer create more problems than benefits?

Discuss two benefits and consequences of increased longevity.

Examine 2 major social issues identified within the film related to living longer.

What would you propose to remedy the issues you identified? 

How could one’s social context, including their culture impact their experience of longevity? Discuss 2 examples   

What is your vision for elderhood and how has exploring this topic affected your attitude towards aging?

Option #2: Intergenerational Trauma and Its Impact on Elders of Color

View the videos within the provided YouTube playlist and read the associated articles, then respond to the following prompts within your essa-y.  By no means is this list exhaustive nor are you limited to the resources provided by the instructor. You must include citations for at least 3 references, 1 of which needs to be from an academic journal.  You must use APA citations within the essa-y and reference list.  

Students may choose to address elders of color in general or focus on a particular population featured within the videos and articles (Mexican-American, Hmong and South East Asian, Black & African-American, Native American/Indigenous, and Japanese-American populations, etc.).  

Discuss the following prompts within your essa-y (they may be addressed in any order):

What is Intergenerational trauma?

How could the experience of trauma affect intergenerational relationships? AND

How could it affect quality of life and the aging process?

Explain how experiencing disparities related to the social determinants of health may affect the aging experience of the elder population identified within your essa-y. Discuss at least 2 examples.

What social change do you propose to address or remedy the issues that you identified?

How has the exploration of this topic affected your view of this elder population or provided understanding for the elders in your life?

YouTube Playlist: “Intergenerational Trauma” https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0pqr7MjyezOkXrO194py1lKC3wGSM7ZrLinks to an external site.

Articles on South East Asian Populations:

Anderson, S (2018, October 4).  After the war: They fought alongside U.S. forces in Vietnam.  Generations later, trauma still haunts Sacramento’s Hmong community. Center for Health Journal.   https://centerforhealthjournalism.org/our-work/reporting/after-war-they-fought-alongside-us-forces-vietnam-generations-later-trauma-stillLinks to an external site.

Chun, J (2019, November 1). A reflection on Asian intergenerational trauma. Asian Mental Health Collective.  https://www.asianmhc.org/a-reflection-on-asian-intergenerational-trauma/Links to an external site. 

Option #3: Special Topic on Aging

Think about what you have learned in this course then respond to each of the following prompts within your essa-y.  Prompts may be addressed in any order.  You must include citations for at least 3 references, 1 of which needs to be from an academic journal.  You must use APA citations within the essa-y and reference list.

Choose & explore a topic related to aging that interests you. It could be a specific health condition or a social issue that affects persons as they age. You could also explore specific topics like productivity, recreation, specific therapy modalities, technology, etc. 

Discuss how one’s social context interplays with your topic. 

Discuss how the social determinants of health impact the aging process related to your chosen topic.

How has the exploration of this topic affected your view of this elder population or provided understanding for the elders in your life?