AN INTERNAL ASSESSMENT (IA)

Presented to

BLACK RIVER HIGH SCHOOL

In Partial Fulfilment of

the Requirement

For Certification in

Communication studies By

(CAPE)

Submitted by: Grant

Candidate number:

Center Number:

Name of Teacher:

Territory: Jamaica

Year: 2023/24

Title: An exploration of the negative effects of Domestic Violence on children in society.

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 Table of Content
Title Pages

General Introduction………………………………
Expostion( speech)....................................................
Reflection……………………………………………
Analyst………………………………………………

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 General Introduction

This portfolio centralizes the theme of Domestic violence. The researcher's study was
conducted on how the rapid increase in domestic violence influences the lives of
children of all ages. this portfolio was created in an attempt to enlighten children and
the population on the negative effects of Domestic violence.

The portfolio includes an exposition with primary and secondary sources that offer reliable
evidence regarding the negative effects of domestic violence on children and its impact on their
daily lives, a reflective piece containing a preface that informs the audience of the

purpose of writing the reflective piece. The reflective piece gives a relatable account
of the negative effects of Domestic violence on children, and finally an analysis of the
reflective piece which mainly focuses on language elements under the topics of
expression, content, and organization.

The researcher does the following subjects at the CAPE Level: Management of
Business, Logistics and Supply Chain, Economics, and Communication Studies.
Personally, the researcher finds interest in this topic, as an aspiring Children's
Advocate, this process has helped the researcher gain an understanding of Domestic
violence as a whole resulting in the theme being chosen, which will be helpful in
future pursuits.

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 REFLECTION

LOVE ON A BRAIN

Lucy’s heart weighed heavy as each slap landed on her mother’s face. Mona’s
muffled cries barely escaped her lips; she knew better than to provoke her husband
further. “What did I say about tomatoes in my sandwiches?!” His voice thundered,
fingers digging into her hair.

This daily ritual had become Lucy’s grim routine. Each morning, her father’s
boisterous voice jolted her awake. “Ah sarry,” Mona’s weak voice pleaded,
struggling to remain conscious. Tom’s grip tightened around her throat, suffocating
her.

Mona’s body stiffened, breaths slowing, eyes fluttering shut. With a final push,
Tom released her, and she collapsed onto the black ceramic floor, her head
slamming against unforgiving tiles. The front door slammed shut, leaving Mona
gasping for air, repeating like a broken record, “It’s my fault!”

Lucy watched her mother weep, helpless. Her father was a monster, abusing Mona.
But Lucy had learned the hard way not to intervene. The memory of calling the
cops on her father still haunted her—the day her mother defended him, claiming it
was a misunderstanding, that she had struck first, and he was merely protecting
himself. Lucy paid dearly for that act of courage.

Retreating to her bedroom, Lucy sought refuge in her bed, clutching her phone.
The ringtone persisted, and Marcy’s soft voice finally reached her. “Lu?” Lucy
couldn’t respond; the knocking on her door interrupted her thoughts. “I’ll call you
back,” she whispered, hanging up as Mona stepped inside, blood wiped away, a
fragile smile on her face.

In this broken world, love and pain entwined, Lucy wondered how much longer
they could endure.

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Light makeup concealed the bruises. As she approached the bed, Lucy noticed the
limp in her step.

“Baby?” Mona’s strained voice reached Lucy.

What does she expect me to say? She always defends his actions!

Lucy’s mind churned with unspoken words. Instead, she opened her arms,
enfolding her mother. At seven, Lucy was wise beyond her years, a silent pillar of
strength.

“It’s my fault, baby. I forgot to remove the tomatoes,” Mona whispered. Lucy’s
body stiffened at the mention of her father. She fought the urge to argue.

“He loves me,” Mona continued, fingers playing in Lucy’s curls. “What if one day
he kills you, mother?” The question hung in the air, unanswered.

By 7 p.m., the car pulled up outside—the familiar sound of Tom’s arrival. Lucy
watched as her mother rushed to greet him. Tom entered, bearing roses and Mona’s
favorite chocolates. In her eyes, he was already forgiven. Mona accepted the gifts,
hugging him, blind to the lipstick stains on his white shirt.

They sat at the dinner table, laughter masking the tension. But when Tom
discovered ginger in his food, mistaking it for beef, rage erupted. He flung his plate
at Mona, sending Lucy to her room. The kitchen shattered, glass splintering. Lucy
buried her head in her pillow, blocking out her mother’s screams.

Later that night, Lucy awoke to the sound of someone crying. Her heart raced as
she rushed from her bedroom, following the anguished sobs. There, in the dim
light, stood her father—over Mona, blood staining the floor beneath her lifeless
form. Lucy’s breath caught; tears welled in her eyes. Her mother’s chest lay still,
unmoving.

Desperation seized Lucy. She dropped to her knees, shaking Mona’s shoulders,
pleading for her to wake. But death had claimed her, and no amount of frantic
shaking could undo it.

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Lucy’s screams drowned out her father’s cries. She was left motherless, her
innocence shattered. The trauma etched deep, and soon, she would become her
father’s next victim.

In this broken cycle of pain, love remained elusive.

PREFACE

“Domestic Violence” served as the chosen theme, delving into the “negative impact of
domestic violence on children in society.” The creative piece titled “LOVE ON THE BRAIN”
employs a narrative to offer a glimpse into Lucy’s life—a seven-year-old girl trapped in an
abusive home.

The story unfolds as Mona (Lucy’s mother) endures beatings from her husband (Lucy’s father),
often over trivial matters, leaving her nearly unconscious. Young Lucy witnesses these horrors,
cowering in fear. Despite the violence, Lucy remains strong for her mother, convinced that her
father’s actions stem from love.

However, the tale takes a dark turn when Lucy’s father returns home bearing “apology gifts.”
Mona forgives him, as always. But soon, a conflict erupts between the parents, resulting in a
bloody confrontation. Lucy, broken and vulnerable, is left at her father’s mercy.

In this heartbreaking cycle, love and pain intertwine.

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​ The researcher wrote the story intending to bring across a few points. The first purpose is
to inform the intended audience that domestic violence within the household impacts
children greatly. The second purpose is to provide an understanding from the victim's
side, showcasing why they tolerate abuse. Finally, it goes to show that children are often
left to deal with emotional trauma from domestic abuse. The targeted audience is
intended to be parents or children Advocates. Considering that these children are being
exposed to abuse without knowing how to cope, parents/ children would be liable to be
aware of the situation, as this could not only save a life but also reduce the domestic

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abuse rate. The reflective piece, "LOVE ON THE BRAIN” will be presented in a
newspaper article, or verbally to an audience in a Children Advocate exercise. There are
several reasons why the investigator chose this method; first, it provides a non-verbal, as
well as a verbal message, using visual and auditory means to create an advantage. Also, it
would be more entertaining as opposed to a speech. It also serves to encourage, inform,
and enlighten the audience.

​ Language Analysis
The reflective piece, “LOVE ON THE BRAIN” outlines a tragedy and what led to
it, due to domestic violence and also shows the impact it had on the child being exposed
to domestic violence. It also illustrates how dangerous domestic violence can be, as it can
take a deadly turn. The writer deftly employs a combination of registers, dialectal
variations, and communicative behaviors, which will be discussed.

Dialect Variation can defined as the spoken and written differences in the use of
language within a speech community, which includes Foreign English. Radio&
Television English, and Erudite English, just to name a few. Variations of dialect were
used throughout the reflective piece. Firstly there is Acrolect (which is purely Standard
English), portrayed clearly throughout the entire piece, for example; "It's my fault baby, I
forgot to remove the tomatoes,".Next in line comes Mesolect (which is Sub-Standard
English or a combination of Standard English and Creole/Patois), which comes in at line
3, where Lucy’s father speaks to Mona, "What ah say about tomatoes ina mi
sandwiches?!" Lastly, Basilect (which is complete Patois/Creole) a great example to use
would be in line 7, where Mona apologies to her husband for putting a tomato in his
sandwiches"Ah sarry,".

Language registers refer to the kind of language suitable for a particular purpose
or situation, for example, Formality/ informality. In the mixture of both Intimate and
communicative behavior, Mona uses the endearment “Baby”, which shows the
mother-daughter relationship between herself and Lucy. The following line, “Her face
had light touches of make-up to cover the bruises, as she walked towards the bed, Lucy
noticed how she limped with every step she took.” This communicated that Mona was

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 scared and broken, even though she tried to conceal it and be strong for Lucy’s eyes. The
private register was also evident when Lucy’s subconscious communicated with her.”What does she
expect me to say? She always defends his actions!”

To conclude, the usage of the various language conventions was portrayed

throughout the reflective piece. They played an important role in the creation and
execution of the reflection, bringing everything thought together and alive. The language
conventions aided in identifying the functions of the piece, securing clarity, and helping
the plot fall into place.

QUESTIONNAIRE

1. Are you aware of what the term “Domestic Violence” means?

2. Are you a “victim” of Domestic Violence?
3. Was the abusive behavior of your partner affecting your mental health? (This includes signs of
depression, suicidal tendencies, substance abuse, stress, etc)

4. How long were you in this situation?

5. Were your child/ children being affected by this living condition?
6. Has your partner ever threatened to harm or kill you?
7. Has your partner ever used physical violence against you?
8. Has your partner ever choked, strangled, or suffocated you, or attempted to do any of
these things?
9. Has your partner ever threatened or assaulted you with any weapon (including knives
and/or other objects)?
10. Has your partner ever harmed or killed a family pet or threatened to do so?
11. Has your partner ever been charged with breaching an apprehended domestic violence
order?
12. Is your partner jealous towards you or controlling of you?
13. Is the violence or controlling behavior becoming worse or more frequent?
14. Has your partner stalked, constantly harassed, or texted/emailed you?
15. Does your partner or the relationship have financial difficulties?
16. Is your partner unemployed?
17. Does your partner have mental health problems (including undiagnosed conditions)
and/or depression?
18. Does your partner have a problem with substance abuse such as alcohol or other drugs?

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19. Has your partner ever threatened or attempted suicide?
20. Is your partner currently on bail or parole, or has served a time of imprisonment or has
recently been released from custody in relation to offenses of violence?