Survivor Story of Hurricane Harvey

Introduction

Introduce your paper: The disaster you are writing about, the Survivor story you are going to tell, and the overarching lessons learned that you want to introduce

Background

Briefly describe the event (or kind of event) and its typical impacts on the quality of life (including emotional state) of individuals and/or communities. Do not let this section dominate your paper.

Methodology

Simply state what methods you undertook to further understand the event, and how & where you found specific Survivor stories. Where did you get your research material? What key words did you use, etc.

Discussion

This is the meat of your paper and your opportunity to shine. Provide your interpretation of the Survivor’s story. It is okay to include direct quotes from the individual as long as you introduce them. It is also appropriate to include body language or tone of voice. Be selective with your material by only including information that best illustrates this person’s experience. Indicate any themes you identified. Compare these to “Common reactions” and make some linkages to psychological first aid (PFA). Make an attempt to explain and distill the Survivor’s experience and reactions. I want to see what you have learned so far and what you can bring to the table.

Conclusions

This is obviously your grand finale. Conclude with what you have discovered about the impact of this kind of event on a single individual, but also what makes this person’s reactions unique to him or her. What key points can we learn from this person’s story?