The former may experience death of animals in a natural setting, whereas the urban child may witness drive by shootings, gang warfare, and death from drug overdoses. An individual's age and stage of development are other important factors that influence perceptions of death. One of the most compelling influences on death attitudes is the media. One cannot turn on the television or pick up a newspaper without being exposed to death is some way-from the violence of massacres in Rawanda, Bosnia, and Kosovo to the daily obituaries that appear in the local news. Moreover, death is a common theme of television programming and films.
Death is a common theme in literature and music as well.
In sum, our personal attitudes toward death have been shaped by the things we have been taught and have experienced. You should now have some good ideas about how to approach Paper 1. Make a list of the factors that have influenced your perceptions and begin thinking how you want to format your paper. It is not too early to select a topic for Paper 2. At least begin to narrow your choices.