SCHOOL BASED ASSESSMENT

Candidate Name: Condelisa McCalla

Candidate Number:
Center Number:
Year of Examination: 2023
Subject: English A
Theme: DANCEHALL MUSIC
Topic: THE IMPACT OF DANCEHALL ON THE JAMAICAN SOCIETY
 TABLE OF CONTENT

Page

Plan of investigation .................................................................................................1

Reflection (1)............................................................................................................2

Reflection (2) ...........................................................................................................3

Reflection (3) ............................................................................................................4

Group Written Report................................................................................................5-6

Plan of Oral Presentation ..........................................................................................7

Bibliography .............................................................................................................8

Appendix

Artifact (1) ................................................................................................................9-11

Artifact (2) ................................................................................................................12

Artifact (3) …............................................................................................................13

3 Artefacts for written report ....................................................................................

 Plan of Investigation
The group theme is “Dancehall Music”, and my topic is “The Impact of Dancehall Music on

the Jamaican Society. I chose this topic because I have observed that dancehall is an integral part

of the Jamaican society.

I expect that the SBA process will improve my skills in persuasive writing and speaking,

as well as summary writing and comprehension.

I will use a newspaper article, a comic strip and a poem, which I will get from credible and

reliable online sources.

I will use my oral and written English skills and creativity in the reflections, group report

and oral presentation.

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 REFLECTION 1

Before I did my research. I already knew that dancehall was important to Jamaicans I know that

people enjoy the vibe it brings off.

The first article written by Britanya Bonner (2019), highlighted negative effects of

dancehall music on teens and implored artists to make uplifting music for teens to emulate. I

learnt that dancehall music has a negative impact on teenagers' minds by influencing them to

behave violently.

The comic strip by Clovis Brown shows Jamaicans who are deeply involved in dancehall

responding when the government halted dancehall parties during the Covid 19 pandemic. I

learned that attending and hosting weekly dancehall parties are very important for many

Jamaicans.

The poem “Dancehall Rhythm” by AltheaH highlights crime and violence and other

unacceptable behavior of individuals which the poet attributes to lyrics of dancehall music.

I will endeavor to listen to positive music and encourage others to do the same.

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 REFLECTION 2

Firstly, the newspaper article by Britanya Bonner is a persuasive piece which seeks to

persuade the readers to be more mindful of the type of dancehall music that their children listen.

Bonner effectively uses rhetorical questions throughout her article to make an emotional appeal

to the reader. For example, "Is this what we want our teens to be emulating?"

Secondly, in his comic strip Clovis Brown utilizes Jamaican Creole to appeal to the

Jamaican audience. He represents the speech of Jamaicans using Jamaican Creole, but he

represents the speech of the Prime Minister using English. Brown also uses onomatopoeia to

show the excitement of Jamaicans during dancehall parties.

Finally, the poem “Dancehall Rhythm” by Althea H is a creative piece in which the poet

uses the compare and contrast technique to portray the music then and now in Jamaica. The poet

also uses rhyming and hyperbole to entertain the reader.

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 REFLECTION 3
Conducting this School-Based Assessment (SBA) has increased my knowledge about Dancehall music in

Jamaica. I am now more knowledgeable about the impact that dancehall has on Jamaica. I now feel

compelled to share what I have learned with my peers who I think would benefit from this information.

Doing this portfolio has helped me to be better able to analyze written English and has

strengthened my summarizing skills. I have also gained new critical thinking skill which I garnered while

analyzing the comic strip. These skills will be great for me while I write my English A and English B

examinations

Working in a group has developed my communication skills as I have had to explain my thoughts

and clearly express thoughts for the written report. I have also improved my listening skills as I have had

to listen to the views of my teammates. I have also learned patience.

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 Written Report
Group Theme:Dancehall
Individual Task Completion Time Name of Student

Positive effects of Dancehall on 2 days Trezegaye McLean

youths

Negative effects of Dancehall on 3 days Lashawn Dunn

youths

Negative effects of Dancehall on the 4 days Condelisa McCalla and Joel Pinnock
Jamaican society

Written Report 1 week Trezegaye McLean

Question 1:What are the positive effects of Dancehall on youths ?

Question 2:What are the negative effects of Dancehall on youths ?

Question 3: What are the Negative effects of Dancehall on the Jamaican society?

Group members found it difficult to find the artifact related to their topics , because their
data pieces did not have enough information on individuals topics .Therefore the
research section took a long time to be completed. Our group decided to use a research
question to choose three artifacts from our pool of 15 . These questions are :

1. What are the positive effects of Dancehall on youths ?

2. What are the negative effects of Dancehall on youths ?
3. What are the negative effects of Dancehall on Jamaican society ?

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 4.

The main issue presented in the three pieces is not much spotlight shown on each of
the aspects .

From this article Dancehall music helps teach Maths and Science retrieved from the
Jamaica Gleaner we learnt that even though dancehall has negative values it still has a
positive impact, also that dancehall is being used to teach students in schools to solve
algebraic questions and to structure sentences.

We also learned from the article ‘ Dancehall influence ‘ written by Bonner B that
Dancehall contribute heavily to crime and violence , sexual behaviours and causes
drastic increase in the use of drug among youths . It adds emphasis on the
downgrading of young girls referring to them as ‘ gyal ‘in a demanding and derogatory
manner.

From the article PM Holness says “ violent dancehall music contributes to

Jamaicans rising crime rate written by “ William S” we learned that entertainers glorify
violent lifestyle citing a negative impact on the minds of the Jamaican population. We
also learned that men who listen to Dancehall music tend to be abusive to women .

Our group organized this report by having weekly meeting in classes over the span of 2
to 3 weeks .

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 Oral Presentation Overview
My name is Condelisa McCalla, I am student of the 11C. My presentation will be on the theme
“Dancehall Music” highlighting the impact of dancehall on the Jamaican society. Prior to doing a
thorough investigation on the topic, three (3) artifacts were examined, namely: A poem, a comic
strip and a newspaper article.

The oral presentation will be displayed in

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 Bibliography
AltheaH. June 1, 2017. Dancehall Rhythm. Retrieved from https://www.booksie.com/507714-

dancehall-rhythm

Bonner, B. November 21, 2019. Dancehall’s Influence. Retrieved from

https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/letters/dancehalls-influence

Brown, C. Friday, January 29, 2021. [Comic Strip] Retrieved from

https://jamaica-gleaner.com/cartoon/friday-january-29-2021

Dancehall music help teach Maths and Science retrieved from the Jamaica Gleaner
Dancehall’s Influence written by “ Bonner B “

PM Holness says “ violent dancehall music contributes to Jamaicans rising crime

rate written by “ William S” ..

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 APPENDIX

Artefacts/ Data Pieces

POEM

Look around and tell me wat goin on in dis society?

The Caribbean is not what we once knew it to be

Corruption, poverty and vulgarity is what we see

Echoes of HIV and teenage pregnancy

Messages of violence , drugs and sexuality

My eyes burning , meh belly groaning, meh heart aching

What happened to our Caribbean?

Years ago we embraced a culture of diversity yuh know!

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But a woman like me so old in she sixties got to wonder what we gon to?

Eh Caribbean man, West Indian woman?

Arise and see how morality tun so?

It riles me when I see how society do we

The woman them jus exposing they body

And the chil’ren jus exhibiting pure vanity

I’m telling yuh is de dancehall rhythm got dem so

Seems like only yesterday when I sing meh calypso, dance to de tassa drum straight into disco, then I sip
meh mauby and do some limbo

Mr. Watson passed and ask, “ Shirley, how do you know to limbo like that?”

I replied, “Well Mr. Watson, a West Indian could never forget that.”

You see these little things I recall

These precious memories will live on.

How we West Indians moved our bodies smoothly, appreciating the culture we held dearly

Now it’s a mere reflection

To relive that, is still an ambition

Jus because of the Gully and Gaza domination

Yuh see this Gully and Gaza thing, it really affecting the way we think

From back biting to bleaching we skin

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It’s all for the wealth and fame, when the pickney dem struggling to get something in they brain

But yet I don’t know

Is why they acting so?

The vulgarity and promiscuity is all a cycle of shame

Sexual objects they say, de man dem spoiling they name but Lady Saw say one man can’t satisfy she but
two or three gon light the flame

I jus don’t understand dis, how we Caribbean people can’t pick sense outa nonsense

The Caribbean we once knew is no more

Frustration and agony

I jus can’t bear it no more

It’s not just profanity and sexuality, but it’s corroding us psychologically

Like when the clarks song released

It had everybody rushing, the price dropping and the sales booming

It’s a pity to see this dancehall frenzy

That the youth being bombarded with

Literacy they can’t proclaim

But to pull a trigger is they aim

Like I’ve had enough

I can’t sit down and let this dancehall fraternity continue to erode we morality

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COMIC STRIP

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NEWSPAPER ARTICLE

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Dear Editor,

The influence of dancehall music on teenagers has impacted their minds negatively. This contributes
heavily to crime and violence, sexual behaviours, and causes a drastic increase in drug use among youth.

I, myself, have been scorned for listening to “sick music”, as some tend to describe it. Most ask: “How do
you understand what is being said by those crazy people?”

Dancehall music in today's society exposes young minds to violence. This influences the youngsters to
behave violently and it seems acceptable in their minds.

The glorification of sexual immorality is also a popular topic of dancehall music. The promotion of
promiscuous behaviour and sexual acts are a common fixture in the genre, and the lyrical content tends to
influence the young listeners. Songs like Mavado's Neva Believe Yuh and Vybz Kartel's Dumper Truck
accompany lewd images of how women, in particular, and men should behave. Women are also degraded
in these songs, referring to them as “gyal” in a demeaning and derogatory manner.

Is this what we want our teens to be emulating? “Backing it up” on each other to loud music in public
displaying sexual acts? Artistes fail to take responsibility for their strong influence on the nation's youth.

I implore parents to play your role and educate your children. Monitor their behavior and ensure that they
maintain a level of respect for themselves and towards others. There is a need for parents to control what
their children listen, and broadcasters should also regulate what they air to protect the society from
absorbing behaviour that is not of good morals or values.

Britanya Bonner

Tarrant High School student

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