PSYCA236F Positive Psychology and Mental Health (Autumn 2020)
CA1a. Gratitude Letter (10% of course grade)
(Due date: 2nd Dec 2020)
This is an individual work. You are required to think of a person who has done something
important and wonderful for you, yet who has not been properly thanked. Reflect on the
benefits you received from this person and write him/her a letter expressing your gratitude
for all he/she did for you (e.g., explain how the benefits you received from this person
made you feel and how grateful you are).
Your letter must be written in English, about ONE page in length (around 300 words), and
set apart from the possibility of future gain. Some people have also found it beneficial to
present the letter to the person, read it aloud to them, and provide them a copy as a gift
(optional for this assignment). For your assignment, you need to submit the letter only.
After writing the letter, you should complete a self-reflection worksheet (see page 3) about
this experience. In the worksheet, you will describe any personal insights you had while
completing this exercise, and how it affected your well-being and that of the other person if
you gave the letter to him/her.
The assignment will be graded out of 10 points on proper completion of the assignment and
graded based on the quality of reflection, but NOT only limited to the content of the letter.
Additional Guideline:
In your gratitude letter, you should describe how thankful you are, what you are thankful
for and why you are thankful. Also explain how they have positive transformed or
impacted your life.
The letter should cover the following guiding questions, but not limited to them:
• Who is the person you are thankful for?
• What has he/she done/said to you?
• How has he/she made you feel?
• How has he/she changed your life?
• Why are you thankful for this person?
Take your time and really thank about this. Indoctrinate your thoughts, reflection, energy
and emotion into the letter.
PSYCA236F (Autumn 2020)
CA1a. Gratitude Letter
CA1a. Gratitude Letter
Note: Please use separate sheet of paper if necessary.
PSYCA236F (Autumn 2020)
CA1a. Gratitude Letter
Self-reflection Worksheet (CA1a. Gratitude Letter)
Student Name (Student ID, Tutorial Gp):
(
Date of Reflection (DD/MM/YYYY):
, T01/02/03/04/05)
Recipient Name:
Recipient’s Background:
Gender (M/F); Age (
); Relations (
)
Reflective Questions:
1. Why was that incident important and meaningful to you?
2. How did you feel when writing the letter?
3. Put yourselves in their shoes and read back over the letter.
How do you think it will make them feel?
4. Why didn’t you express your gratitude before?
5. Is it easy or difficult to express your gratitude in this way?
Will you prefer other methods?
6. What have you gained (insight and/or take-away) from this experience?
7. Other comments, notes or reflections:
Note: Please use separate sheet of paper if necessary.
PSYCA236F (Autumn 2020)
CA1a. Gratitude Letter