Communication Studies

Information Associate
How Does Poverty Affects The Lives Of
Children

Candidate Name: Danielle Braham

School: Pre-University School, Taylor Hall University of the West Indies Mona

Teacher: Mr.Grant

Territory: Jamaica

Candidate Number:
 Acknowledgement
The successful completion of this Informational Associate(I.A) would not have been possible

without the Lord for giving me the knowledge and ability to carry out this project. I would also

like to thank my mother, friends and teacher Mr. Grant for assisting me through my

Informational Associate(I.A).
 Table Of Content
Page

General Introduction …………………………………………………………………… 1

Preface ………………………………………………………………………………….. 2

Reflective Piece ……………………………………………………………………….... 3-5

Language Analysis ………………………………………………………………………. 6-7

Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………….... 8
 General Introduction
This portfolio focuses on the theme “How Does Poverty Affects The Lives Of Children”. This

theme was chosen because of the negative or positive impact that poverty has on children in our

society in this time and age.

Poverty is defined as the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money

or material disease. It is also like a disease that slowly finds its way into people's lives and leaves

a mark.

Many children who are living in a rough area live in a household with a single parent, some of

them do not have a financially stable support system and others might not have stable basic

needs (food, shelter and clothing).

This portfolio also incorporates an original piece entitled “ Poverty Life A Stepping Stone”, a

short story that I wrote and analyzed . This piece was written to inform the public that not

because you are living in poverty does not mean that you cannot come out to do great.
 Preface
The story entitled “Poverty Life A Stepping Stone” is written in narrative form. This story is

centered on the main character Star Evans who lives in Poverty and has to do whatever it takes to

get a school scholarship. “Poverty Life A Stepping Stone” outlines the struggles that Star has to

go through living in poverty and what sacrifices she has to make in order to get the school

scholarship. The story reaches its climax when there was a shootout in Stars community and the

lights went for days. However, Star was determined to get that scholarship, so she made the

sacrifice by putting her life on the line knowing the community that she lives in and stayed back

at school to study because of the outage that happened in her community.

The purpose of this story is to inform the targeted audience that poverty has a mental impact on

children. The second goal is to show people that there can be a negative or positive impact of

poverty on students' education. Finally, it encourages youths who might be in a similar situation

to keep going.

This reflective piece will be presented verbally. There are many explanations for this.

This approach was chosen by the researcher because it offers both a nonverbal and a verbal

message, gaining an edge by the use of visual and auditory means. In addition, compared to a

written paper or a simple expression, it will be more amusing. It also helps to motivate, educate,

and inspire the audience. The story would, according to the researcher, be not only exciting but

also insightful and appealing to the audience.

her family.

“Mommy, how did you manage for us to be living in poverty?” Star asked.

“ I despise it!” she muttered strongly.

“Mi child, mi did mek sum wrong decisions inna life, even duh mi did smart. Just nuh come

grow up and bi like mi.” Her mother replied.

Star has always been her mother's outgoing child, receiving numerous awards at school and

consistently ranking at the top of her class. The problem was that they were not financially

stable, so she did not have the funds to send her to school every day.

When Star attended school a few days later, they announced in general devotion that a prominent

past student who is the proud CEO of a thriving company has made a prestigious scholarship

fund available to five top students. In order to obtain a scholarship you would have to maintain a

90% average.

When Star heard this, she thought to herself, that this would be a great opportunity because it

would allow her to help take pressure off her mother’s shoulders when it comes on to funds for

school. Star realized that there was an issue because her average was 75%, but she was

determined to get that 90% average to win a scholarship.

Star was so diligent and dedicated to her studies that she studied at various hours each day with

very little time to socialize. and stop for lunch break at school. She assisted at home by doing her
chores, but she also managed to research and complete her schoolwork. One afternoon the lights

went out leaving the entire community in darkness.

Her mother ran into the room shouting, “JPS a come, lock up di window and di door dem!”

Daniela dashed through the house, shut all the doors and windows, grabbed her sibling, and

dashed under the bunk. Daniela's mother didn't pay her light bill, or any bills for that matter. In

their community they lived in a do or die situation. Everyone stole electricity, water and even the

internet.

Star was faced with a huge obstacle because she did not have any source of light to do her

studies, not even candles because her mother couldn't afford them at the moment. She was fine in

terms of lunch because she was enrolled in the path program and walked to and from classes.

Since JPS had taken down all of the wires and her mother didn't have any money to legally

connect the electricity, she began to stay late at school in the afternoon to study. Her late hours

became a routine, and one night the principal noticed her leaving the building,

She stopped her and asked. “ Why are you leaving the compound so late?”

“Miss you know seh nuh light nuh deh a mi yad so this is the only way for mi to study to get a

scholarship”, replied Star.

The principal smiled and gave her a drive home.

A few months after it was time to name the scholarship winners, Star was nervously trembling

and looking out of this world. The students started clapping as the principal approached the

stage.
The principal took the mic and had announced four students who got a scholarship, but when it

came down to the last person she said,

“I am happy to say that I have observed everyone's dedication and sacrifice towards getting a

scholarship, but this one student stood out for me. She is a dedicated and hardworking student

who takes chances and has a lot of confidence in her abilities. She is a bright student who not

only impresses her mother and siblings but also her teachers. Star could you please come to the

stage?”

Star was shocked and could not believe that her name was called.

“Star, we are not only providing you with this scholarship, but we are also establishing

relationships with JPS, the Water Commission, and even the Digicel WiFi business. We're

covering all of your expenses, and we've got another surprise for you: you've been chosen to

represent your school in the school challenge quiz in August.” the principal announced. Star was

still in awe, all she could say was

“No matter what state you are in or where you live it does not determine where you go in life.

Never limit yourself, the sky's the limit.”

The reflective piece “Poverty Life A Stepping Stone” narrates the trials and tribulations of a teen

who overcame hardship simply by refusing to give up. The author uses a variety of techniques

such as register dialectal variation and communication. The three techniques that played an

important part in this reflection piece. These three will be discussed and analyzed.

Dialectal variance refers to the different influences on expression. Creole is normally used to

refer to a dialect or language which results from contact between the language of a colonizing

people and the language of a colonized people. While patois is referred to as the geographical

dialect which differs from the standard language spoken in a given country. In Jamaica, for

example, the word patois is used to refer to the English based creole spoken.

An example of dialectal variation in the reflection piece was when Star answered the principal

by saying “Miss you know seh nuh light nuh deh a mi yad so this is the only way for mi to study

to get a scholarship”. That was also an example of mesolect which is a sub-English or

combination of standard English and patois/creole.

Communicative behavior is basically what is communicated to the listener by the speaker. It's the

impression that they get. The speaker may be unaware of these impressions but they say a lot

about a person.
Register refers to the perceived attitude and level of formality associated with a variety of

languages. The relationship between the writer's attitude and the variety chosen is very important

in the study of written language. Language Registers range on a scale from most formal to most

informal. Register was played out between the principal and the student Star in the reflection

piece.
 Conclusion
In conclusion, I strongly believe that children who are living in poverty can come out to do

better, than others who aren't living in poverty. They can even have a greater education once they

put their minds to it. I sincerely hope that the information contained in this portfolio will be

helpful to adolescents to impact them in such a way that it shows them that it does not matter the

state of living or where you are in life, you can always reach excellence once you put your mind

to it.