Caribbean examinations council
English language school based
Assessment
Name: Lamar Kirkland
Center number:
Candidate number:
School: Fair Prospect High
Teacher: Mr. Holden Hudson
Topic: Pollution
Sub-topic: What are the effects of pollution on the Environment?
Territory: Jamaica
Year of Submission: 2021
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Table of Content
Content Pages
Cover page 1
Table of content 2
Plan of investigation 3
Reflections:
Entry 1 4-5
Entry 2 6-7
Entry 3 8
Group Report 9
Oral presentation plan 10
Oral presentation 11-13
Bibliography 14
Appendix 1 15-17
Appendix 2 18
Appendix 3 19
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Plan of Investigation
Our group members will be exploring the broad topic “Pollution”. The researcher has chosen to
explore how pollution affects the environment. The researcher chose this topic because of
interest in maintaining a clean environment and being aware of how environmental conditions
impact our lives.
As an English student, the researcher will benefit from this research by gaining knowledge of
correct research methodology and how to choose the most useful information that relates to the
topic. The researcher will also develop useful oral, communication and writing skills.
The researcher will be mainly using scholarly articles, a poem and a picture to illustrate the
effect of pollution on the environment.
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Reflections
Entry 1
The first piece of source that was read by the researcher was an article from the Jamaica
Observer newspaper written by Trevis Morgan. The article was entitled “The drivers of
Flooding- Pollution and Land Selection”. The article mainly focused on the frequency and
effects of flooding in Jamaica and giving credit to pollution as a major contributor. This article
has inspired me to not only read and include it in my English Language school based assessment,
but it has also inspired me to educate and inform others of the information regarding the effect
on our lives that was learnt by reading this article.
The second piece of source gathered by the researcher was a poem entitled “It starts with a
wrapper”. In the lyrics of the poem, the artiste was basically informing the listeners of the how
one simple negative action multiples and eventually contributes in a big way to environmental
pollution. The researcher was impacted to stop and do a self check. It dawned on him that as
simple as the action may seem, he could also be a part of chain reaction that is impacting the
environment in a negative way.
The third piece of artifact was a cartoon image which portrays players in the manufacturing
industry trying to find a positive outcome for destroying the environment while inhabitants are
suffering. The researcher was very angry and furious just to see how thoughtless these industry
tycoons are and is seeing cash rather than the impact of the trash they generate. It was clearly
shown that the victim in the picture that both the manufactures and the residents are victims
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suffering because of poor environmental practices. The researcher was inspired to share this
picture on social media to bring awareness to others.
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Entry 2
Various literary devices and techniques were employed in each artifact by the authors to
express their opinions on environmental pollution.
In the first artifact the speaker used formal language unless quoting the title of a campaign,
which was easy to understand by all. The article was loaded with facts explaining the seriousness
of flooding caused by improper practices by mankind. The seriousness of the problem was
likened to a war with choice of words like “mobilize” and “combat” to “tackle” the situation.
The author even used figurative speech when stating that: “the population is still nursing
wounds left by the damage of flood waters”.
The second artifact is a poem that employs rhyming in the end of every other line. Though it may
seem simple, it is constructed to bother your conscience if you are guilty of littering as it gives an
imagery of one littering and checking to see if he is been seen and thinks he is getting away with
his actions. The poems asks questions about his actions such as “Why worry about being neat?”
and “Isn’t that bizarre?”, both referring to sneaky acts of littering.
The third artifact is an image which has limited words but the picture demonstrates how large
industry generating tons of plastic is resulting in flooding which both affects the manufacturer
and ordinary citizens causing loss of property. There is irony depicted as even though the
manufacturer is affected by the environmental damage he caused, he finds benefits of the
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situation rather than take the blame. This is shown when he relates to the floating plastics which
he is hanging on to as good news by saying they are forming “floating islands”.
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Entry 3
The researcher has realized that air pollution can be very dangerous to the environment. Before
the research there was no thought before a simple action such as throwing a bottle cork in the
bushes. However after the research the researcher has become very conscious of his actions that
can be considered part of a chain to damage the environment and have impact on life.
This SBA has inspired the researcher to someday try to start and organization which will help to
reduce environmental pollution and to also influence people about the consequences of their
negative actions.
The process has also helped me to be more organized and developed my confidence in public speaking. It
has developed my research and writing skills and has helped me to work better with people and to accept
and work with different personalities. I am sure this is something I will have to do in the world of work,
so I am thankful for the practice.
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Group Report
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Oral presentation plan
My oral presentation will be a speech on the effects of littering on the environment. I intend to
present as a guest speaker to a primary school where I was invited by the community youth club
to speak o the topic in my capacity as president of the parish environmental association.
In the speech I will focus on the contribution of littering to flooding. I will outline activities that
are considered littering and offer tips to avoid such actions. My target audience is local residents
in an urban community so I will keep my presentation in Standard English at a level that all can
understand.
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Oral Presentation
Madam President, other executive members and club members, a pleasant good afternoon to you
all. It is indeed a pleasure to be invited here to speak to you on an issue that concerns all of us. I
wish we had all week to discuss this issue but I was warned not to be too lengthy with my speech
as there are several speakers slated for today.
Your community has been severely impacted by flooding in recent years. Many of your families
have suffered loss in more ways than one and I am positive that you all are concerned and
worried when it begins to rain. Have you ever asked yourself why all this has started to happen
in recent years? Perhaps the answer lies with you. Maybe one small action you all do daily has
collectively changed something in your environment.
Years ago when your community as well as others were developed, they were designed with
drains and gullies to lead water away from your streets and homes when it rains. My research has
informed me that in recent years the cause of flooding in most communities is as a result of
blocked drains. You may be asking yourself the question “What does this have to do with me?”
Let me hasten to inform you that when these drains are cleared, the debris found includes, drink
bottles, plastic bags, pampers, old shoes, sweet wrappers, condoms…. Yes I knew you would
laugh there, but let me ask now: Who is guilty of allowing this debris to get in the drains? Is it
me? Is it the men who clean the drains? Or is it you? We all may be guilty. It starts with a single
wrapper casually dropped in the street. Next it's single cup left on the ground at the park. Later
on, it's a cigarette butt tossed from a moving car. From there the problem escalates, dumping
trash in a secluded place. The decision to drop just one wrapper could be the first in a chain of
mistakes. Remember that it’s not you alone doing that and it’s not just one day. Hundreds of you
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making that one simple mistake daily collectively add up to piles of garbage. And where does it
all end up? In the drains and rivers and sea causing blockage and eventual flooding, then we lose
property, life, income and the list goes on.
Littering has become a global epidemic, as we live in a society where people do not care and are
lazy to dispose unwanted items in the proper way. Do you want to be that guy?
Today I want to offer you a chance to make a difference. The problem started with you and so
the solution can also start with you. Here are a few tips that you all can follow to help your
community get an ease from flooding.
1. Set an example by not littering.
2. Keep a litterbag in your car.
3. Keep your yard clean and free of things that can blow into the street and become litter.
4. When you visit a park or beach, remember to take out what you bring in. Keep trash and
recyclables in a bag or backpack until you can put them in a litter basket.
5. Talk to your family and friends about recycling to reduce the amount of litter you throw
away.
6. At home, make sure garbage and recycling bags are tied securely so that loose papers and
other items can't fall out and become litter in your alley.
7. Make sure you close the lid on your refuse containers after depositing your trash or
recycling inside. This will prevent refuse from spilling into the alley or street.
8. Do not overfill refuse containers. Exposed garbage will likely result in litter in the alley
or street.
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And last but not least, as small as a wrapper is, collectively it can cause a lot of damage, so think
twice before you drop it. I want to thank you for having me and I wish you all the best in your
endeavours.
9. Remove flyers or take-out menus promptly from your front door before they are blown
into the neighborhood as litter.
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Bibliography
The drivers of flooding: Pollution and land selection (jamaicaobserver.com). Thursday ,
November 12,2020
https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/littering
https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/streets/supp_info/preventlittertips
https://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/Poems_About_Pollution
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Appendix 1
Newspaper article on Flooding
The drivers of flooding: Pollution and land
selection
Thursday, November 12, 2020
Trevis Morgan 2 Comments
Flooding continues to be a major challenge for Jamaica once the country receives heavy
rainfall from any weather system. Over the years, it has been noted that heavy rainfall is
more devastating than associated winds of weather systems. Post-heavy rainfall the country
is left with exorbitant restoration bills, which are costly personally and nationally.
Floodwaters from hurricanes Michelle, Charlie, Ivan, Dean, and Sandy; as well as tropical
storms Nicole and Gustav, left the population of Jamaica nursing wounds caused by loss of and
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damage to property. This is compounded by interruption to communication networks, utilities,
among others services. Understanding the associated struggles caused by flooding from these
recent systems has heightened the call for Jamaicans to understand their fundamental role in the
protection of life and property, and so attention must be given to pollution and land selection as it
relates to flooding.
Pollution
Pollution is caused by human activities. Notably, garbage is easily responsible for much of the
flooding experienced by Jamaicans. We continue to dispose of our solid waste in ways that are
harmful to the environment. This improper disposal of garbage severely impacts communities
when it rains heavily because the refuse frequently clogs already inadequate drainage systems,
gullies, and streams.
Campaigns such as 'Nuh Dutty Up Jamaica' are imperative in tackling this unfortunate practice,
but the population, too, urban and rural, must accept their role and commence the practice of
disposing of their garbage in ways that do not lead to the blockage of existing drains. Flooding
will continue to be a prevalent problem in Jamaica once the respective waterways are clogged,
thus continued loss and damage of property. It is useless to demand the Government's assistance
when personal responsibility is not yet accepted. Both units must work as one to combat this
issue, starting with responsible disposal of garbage.
Research has confirmed the role of pollution in flooding. Drains can't channel floodwaters while
they are clogged by debris/garbage from human activities. Hence, more focus is required on the
practice of proper garbage disposal.
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Though the challenge is not unique to Jamaica it doesn't mean we should find comfort in the
same. Instead, we need to mobilise our efforts to ensure our drains are kept clean. The economic
cost of flooding is far more expensive than the cost of keeping them clean.
Land selection
Educating the population on proper land selection in establishing settlements is of utmost
importance for flood prevention within a country. It is best practice to examine the site and
situation when establishing any form of structure. Too often the media reports houses being
washed from a slope, rocks crushing properties, and premises becoming inundated because
………………………………………….
It is unflattering that our narrative when it rains is predictive. We are never surprised by the
floodwaters covering the roadways; regrettably, it has become a part of our lives.
[email protected]
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Appendix 2
Poem on littering
It Starts With a Wrapper
It starts with a wrapper
Casually dropped in the street.
Someone else will pick it up,
Why worry about being neat?
Next it's a to-go cup
Left on the ground at the park.
Littering a place you enjoy
Really isn't smart.
Later on, it's a cigarette butt
Tossed from a moving car
Without a care where it may land.
Now isn't that bizarre?
From there the problem escalates,
Dumping trash in a secluded place,
And sneaking quickly from the scene
Without leaving a trace.
Littering is a way of polluting,
So think about the choices you make.
The decision to drop just one wrapper,
Could be the first in a chain of mistakes.
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Appendix 3
Cartoon about plastic impact on environment
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