Communication Studies Internal Assesment Sample

1. General Introduction
This portfolio is focused on the theme “Poor Parenting”. The purpose of this portfolio is to
inform others about the theme mentioned above. The portfolio incorporates an expository piece
based on the research question “Is Poor Parenting the Leading Cause of Jamaica’s Social
Problems?” The exposition was presented orally and discussed with both sources agreeing that
poor parenting leads greatly to social problems.
The portfolio also includes is an original reflective piece entitled “All Things Go” the narrative
shows how Rosa is affected by her father leaving without saying goodbye and also how her
mother being an alcoholic and drug abuser affects her. Along with the story is an analysis of the
two elements Language Register and Communicative Behaviour. The story and the expository
piece will help the writer to inform others about the impacts that Poor Parenting has on society.
The researcher conducted this research with the objectives of bringing across a few important
factors. These factors are the researcher’s academic, work related, and personal interest. The
researcher’s academic interests is that it is a requirement of the CAPE Communication Studies
Syllabus. In addition, the researcher is currently a sociology student at the CAPE level.
Therefore it is important to be knowledgeable about the dysfunctions of the family and how it
affects society as the family is a major topic in the subject. The researcher’s work related
interests is that it is the researcher’s hope to become a social psychologist. It is therefore
important for the researcher to understand fully families and how they function in society. Lastly
is the researcher’s personal interest. The theme poor parenting is a rising topic in the society and
the researcher is seeking to widen the knowledge of those in the community and also for the
researcher who is a victim poor parenting.

2. Nicketa Anderson
Theme: Poor Parenting
Research Question: Is Poor Parenting the Leading Cause of Jamaica’s Social Problems?
According to the Merriam Webster Thesaurus, Poor Parenting is an action where parents fail to
promote and support the physical, emotional and intellectual development of a child from
infancy to adulthood. Social Problem was also defined by the Thesaurus an issue that influences
and is opposed by a number of individuals in a society. As old as humanity itself, Poor Parenting
is a social issue that stills continues to plague our modern society. It is the view of many
Jamaicans that poor parenting is the root cause of Jamaica’s social problems. During the process
of this research many challenges were faced, one of which was that it was difficult to organize
the information because of how they were obtained from the source. Also, the information was
limited. The researcher aims to highlight from two sources if poor parenting is a leading cause of
Jamaica’s social problems, the researcher will then evaluate the sources, medium and the
context.
According to the article entitled “Poor Parenting The Root Of Ja’s Problem Say’s GG”,
published by The Gleaner on Saturday May 3, 2014 written by Karrie Williams states that the
Governor General of Jamaica Sir Patrick Allen said “Jamaicans needs to instil proper parenting
practices because improper parenting is to be blamed for many of the current ills facing the
country. He was speaking at a special meeting at the Montego Bay conference centre to address
some Justice of the Peace at the when he goes further on to say “Many of our young parents lack

3. parenting skills and that there are certain values that must be communicated to our children if
they are going to grow in the Jamaica’s society”.
An article titled “Parenting has failed Ja” published by The First Magazine on Friday December
28, 2012 written by Nardia Grant states that many problems have been seen during 2011 that can
be attributed to the breakdown of our social and cultural norms and values it states that many of
these problems are not because of politician or government but as a result of poor parenting.
Grant believes that inadequate parenting has failed the country. She said that “Many men and
women, who became parents, were not taught how to be parents resulting in not being able to
groom the next generation”. She said that a visit to the St. Anthony’s children home in Jamaica
revealed to her that majority of the children there were abandoned by either one or both parent
and were left to be street children, involved in crime and violence, attempted suicide, drug abuse
and emotional abuse.
Karrie Williams is a senior writer at the Gleaner Company. Williams Attended The University of
the West Indies where she graduated with a B.A in Media and Communications Public Relations.
Williams have been writing for the company for over 15 years. On July 6 2014 William was
awarded excellence in Journalism at the Montego Bay Jerk Festival.
Nardia Grant is a writer at the First Magazine Company also attended The University of the West
Indies where she graduated with a B.A in Media and Communications Public Relations. She has
been writing for the magazine for 7 years.
The Gleaner is committed to being the source of accurate and independent information. The
gleaner company has won over 10 certificate and awards in journalism, information, credibility
and independence. Also, over 2000 gleaners are used by individuals per day, articles from The

4. Gleaner are used in schools and universities for scholarly uses by students and professionals, and
the gleaner is also use by the population at large. The information from First Magazine also won
as many awards as The Gleaner, First Magazine also called Jamaica Magazine was labelled as
Jamaica’s bestselling magazine in 2012.
The information can be considered valid because it is no longer that 10 years, it is reliable
because both sources are saying similar things.
Based on the information retrieved from the research Poor Parenting is a leading cause of
Jamaica’s social problems.

5. Preface
The researcher anticipates that the narrative will not be only entertaining but also informative
and encouraging to its audience. The narrative All Things Go is about a young girl who is
affected by the actions of a breakup between her parents. It outlines the challenges faced by Rosa
a teenager going through a breakup with her parents. It also shows how Rosa is affected by the
breakup and the consequences faced by both of her parents along with her.
The target audience is intended to be mainly children and teenagers who are in the same position
currently. Considering that any child can be in this situation whether it is from one or both
parent. All children should be aware of the situation as it might as just well happen to them.
The reflective piece will be presented at a school’s devotion. A variety of technology will be
used to complete the presentation and the message being conveyed. These technological devices
are laptop, speaker and a microphone. The microphone and speaker will be used to enhance and
project the voice of the speaker in order to provide clarity and volume.

6. All Things Go
The emotional pain had escalated from mild to crippling. Rosa felt as if it was the end of the
world. She tied her short brown hair into a knot as she tried to dry her full teary eyes. She knew
that she may never see him again after she overheard his conversation with her mother the night
before.
“Paula, I have to leave, our relationship ended four months ago and we can’t continue to hide
this Rosa anymore” whispered James
“But James, isn’t it obvious to Rosa? We have been sleeping in separate rooms for the past four
months”. Paula replied.
Rosa wondered why were they hiding this from her and cried herself to sleep that night. The
following morning, Rosa woke up with hopes that things would be normal but nothing changed.
She made her way to the bathroom where she ran into her mother. Her round chubby face looked
pale and bony with very hallow cheeks. Rosa knew what her mother was going through and she
could feel her pain.
“Why are you up this early?” Rosa asked
“Nothing sweetheart” Paula answered as she tried to hide the hurt and abuse
“But you don’t look well” said Rosa
Paula stood there in silence then she sighed
“Everything will be fine Rosa” she said

7. Rosa knew this was not true as she could smell the gross scent of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee
Whiskey as she speaks which made her frowned in disgust.
“Where is dad?” Rosa asked out of curiosity
With a raucous and penetrating voice, her mother screamed “He left! Now leave me alone”.
She already knew what was going on and needed no further explanation. That same morning her
mother dropped her off at school and left for work. It was no use for Rosa attending school, her
favourite classes appeared long and boring which is unusual and she could barely learn anything.
Months passed and things surpassed n changes, the house felt empty without her dad and her
mother was always high on alcohol and drugs. It was no use trying to converse with her mother,
Rosa started to have conversations with herself. She spent most of her time breaking down as she
had no one to talk with.
“Everything is so awful she cries”, her words watery and bubbling, full of tears. “I can’t handle it
anymore. The pain never lets up, it’s always this bad, and I just want back my parents”. Her
voice collapses into heavy sobs, terrible heart-rending sobs which eventually resolves
themselves.
Rosa remembered how her spare time with her father was so rare and precious, they would
sometimes go for long drives. Her father turned her into a sunshine and encouraged her to dream
so she still couldn’t understand why he just left.
Things got worse as she now notice that for three whole nights her mother haven’t slept at home,
she is now unemployed and an alcohol and drug addict. It was no use trying to talk her mother
out of it. That same evening, she received a letter in the mail, she was super elated because it was

8. from her dad but there was something about the address, it seemed familiar. It was that same
address that was on the envelope he received and torn into pieces.
“But why would he be at that place now?” Rosa asked herself
She tore the envelope open and pull out a letter and started to smile heavily as she read
My daughter, I may not be there in person but I will always be in spirit, the reason I left was not
that I loved you little because I love you just as purely and fervently as I love your mother. I
messed up and things will never be same. I am not coming back my dear but don’t let it defeat
you.
She was happy to hear from her father but if he loved her and her mother so much she still
doesn’t see any clear reason for him to leave. Rosa continued reading,
I have a second family and they needs me.
As she read it, her face gradually changes from happy to serious. A few tears strolled down her
cheeks but she could control it. This could explain why her father was always working late and
missed birthdays. Her mother burst unexpectedly into the living room where Rose was standing ,
Paula saw that she was crying and looked at the letter in her hand, she took it and she read , they
both break down in tears. They stood there for about ten minutes before the conversed.
“Rosa” she cried, “people are deceiving, and some things just couldn’t be protected from storms.
Things simply needed to be broken off so that amazingly beautiful things could grow into their
places”.
Rosa was surprised to hear those words from her mother as she was the one who took it real
hard, she realized that things could never be the same and if her mother realize that, then she can

9. too. She learned a lot from her father’s action but what she remembered the most was that All
Things Go.

10. Analysis
The reflective piece All Things Go highlights a young girl who is affected by the actions
of a breakup between her parents. It outlines the challenges faced by Rosa a teenager going
through a breakup with her parents. It also shows how Rosa is affected by the breakup and the
consequences faced by both of her parents along with her. The narrative employs a number of
language registers and communicative behaviours which will be briefly explained.
There are different Registers portrayed within the reflective piece. Firstly there is an
intimate register in the first dialogue of the narration when Paula says “But Honey”. Paula uses
the word “honey” to refer to her husband, effectively portraying the intimate register. Intimate
register is seen in the second dialogue of the story when Rosa says “Why are you up this early
Ma?” and Paula replies by saying “Nothing sweetheart”. This shows a level of intimacy as Rosa
uses “Ma” as a basic slang for the word Mother and Paula uses “Sweetheart” to refer to her
daughter. Another register that is use in the reflective piece is the Private Register. The Private
Register is evident the eight paragraph of the piece where Rosa is having a self-conversation of
innermost thoughts and feelings as she cries to herself “Everything is so awful she cries”, her
words watery and bubbling, full of tears”
Several types of Communicative Behaviours are the use of gestures, posture and
movement which is the Body Language, the use of objects or artefacts, use of proxemics/space,
use of time/chronemics and paralanguage. However, only three will be explained. Firstly, Paula
uses Paralanguage in the second dialogue when she shouts at her daughter. The raise of pitch
conveys that Paula was indeed angry when she shouts “He left! Now leave me alone”. Also the
sentence “Paula, I have to leave, our relationship ended four months ago and we can’t continue

11. to hide this Rosa anymore” whispered James. Shows that James is calm and composed as he
whispers to Paula. Another Communicative Behaviour evident in the reflection is the use of
proxemics which is the space used with others. This is clearly shown in the first paragraph where
Paula says “But Honey, isn’t it obvious to Rosa? We have been sleeping in separate rooms for
the past four months”. This goes to show that they are no longer having an intimate relationship.
Also, chronemics which the use of time is used as evident in paragraph seven where it states that
“…her mother dropped her off at school exactly two hour after school starts….” This portrayed
that neither Rosa nor her mother had little or no interest in attending school or work. Another use
of chronemics is where it states that … her father was always working late….” Showing that
James always reaches home late after work as a result of not wanting to go home or he was doing
something more important.
In conclusion, it can be said that the writer effectively solidified the purpose of
identifying the relationship between poor parenting and how it affects the child. Also in the
narrative the writer effectively uses the various language registers and numerous communicative
behaviours.