Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS........................................................................................................... 2
INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................... 3
PREFACE................................................................................................................................. 4
REFLECTION........................................................................................................................... 6
ANALYSIS.............................................................................................................................. 11
CONCLUSION........................................................................................................................ 13
APPENDIX............................................................................................................................. 14
BIBLIOGRAPHY...................................................................................................................... 15

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Firstly I will like to thank God for his grace and mercies and for giving me the spiritual support to
conduct my internal assessment. I will also like to thank my mother for providing me with the assistance
needed in printing my internal assessment. Last but not least, I would like to give credit and thanks to my
Communications teacher, for her tremendous effort in guiding and correcting me on the proper way to
conduct my assessment.

INTRODUCTION
Overeating may be defined as the desire to consume food in large amounts that add pressure
to the digestive system. There are three types of overeating, compulsive, chronic and binge eating.
Binge eating was the base of this study.
The topic chosen for this internal assessment was based on the effect of overeating, which
targets the psychological phase involved in binge eating. This internal assessment consists of three
sections, the Exposition, Reflection and Analysis. The exposition is an intensive coverage of the
topic, the effects of over eating. It portrays the causes and effects of binge eating and solutions to
counteract binge eating. The reflection is a piece, a short play based on overeating and the prejudice
involved in the daily life of a binge eater. The reflection takes the reader and intended audience on a
first hand related scenario where the situation presented is based on everyday life. The analysis of
the internal assessment is the evaluation in the use of language registers and communicative
behaviour.
This topic was selected base on my academic, personal and career interest. My academic
interests in terms of, I have always been curious to learn the major causes of a binge eater, therefore
by choosing this topic, it gave me an opportunity to evaluate and research this issue as well as
gather intelligence about binge eating on a psychological level rather than its basics. My career
interest however, is base on my hopes of becoming a dietician and by selecting and researching into
this topic, it has broaden my capacity in understanding the major causes and most importantly the
effects and it has provided me with some form of clarity and transparency in dealing with such
situation. This topic was also a personal one as I have had experienced with binge eating, where one
of my friend used food as a source of comfort. Therefore I embarked on this topic as my internal
assessment so that I get a better understanding of the topic and may be aware and properly

knowledgeable on the causes and effects of overeating and what is the possible solution so as to
help implement it to introduce a more holistic healthy environment both mentally and physically.

PREFACE
The effects of overeating on teenagers; Overeating has been classified into three categories,
Chronic, Compulsive and binge eating. However, in this project binge eating was the main focus of
the subject. A binge eater is someone who has an urge to use food as a means of satisfying their
emotions during depression or stress.
Since the target audience is teenagers in general, the genre selected was that of a reflective
piece in the form of a play which portrays young individuals who are faced with the challenges of
overeating. The play incorporates the challenges and issues faced by a binge eater. In this play, these
major challenges and issues are faced by a young teen girl.
The teenage girl was selected as appropriate for the play, because when researched, it was
indentified according the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, that over eating although it is a
popular abnormal behaviour in both men and women, it is generally known that females are more
likely to become binge eaters. Therefore this information resulted in the use of a female character
taking on the role of a binge eater. However this female character is of her teens. This was done in
order to portray that binge eating can start at its earliest. As the play expands into different scenes, it
evidently shows the misconceptions as well as the physical and emotional causes of influencing a
binge eater.
The setting takes place at a school and at home. The play introduces numerous characters
who play a leading role in the contribution for either the cause or development of a binge eater. As
the play progresses, the conflicts, the climax is soon transitioned into a solution with outstanding
results. The play consist of various stage directions which contributes the execution of the play and
its characters as it is related to daily life experiences, which more or less attracts the audiences
attention as it relates to real life.
This form of genre was selected because; it is all based on my target audience and the
importance of the message. By incorporating the issues of a binge eater in the form of a play, I, the
playwright are not limited in portraying these ideas, so as to inform individuals more or less
teenagers about binge eating. The play was selected, because it will interest the target audience
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because, the play is not limited in using stage props, lightings, sound, technology and various other
skills which will attract the attention of the intended audience. The play consists of a protagonist
and an antagonist. It revolves around the daily life of a young female at school who is emotionally
depressed and as a result has conformed to binge eating. As a result her weight has increased and
she becomes the centre of heavy criticism by fellow school mates. The play takes the intended
audience on an emotional and psychological ride as it portrays the difficulties faced as well as the
solution.
I intend to reach my targeted audience through the play as it revolves around teenagers their
age group. Therefore my targeted audience will be able to relate as well as comprehend the situation
easily and take the task of placing themselves in the same position so as to bring about some change
in their lives. This change can either be in the form of helping someone who over eats, stop
influencing someone who over eats, either physically or emotionally or they themselves stop
conforming in food. The play sets a paradox for the audience so that they themselves may come to
terms with their problem and find a probable solution.

REFLECTION
Character list:
Isabella- the main character of the Reflective; She is a young teen, conflicted by her emotions and emotionally
scared by the influences of her environment. As a result, she confides in food to cover the hurt.
Amanda- the best friend of Isabella, who plays a key role in contributing to the emotional and moral enhancement
and support for Isabella.
Krystal- takes on the role of a bully, who contributes to the emotional and physical confliction of Isabella.
Alessandra- a concerned student of the school, intervenes in-between the conflict between Isabella and Amanda
and takes on the responsibility of providing the emotional and physical support to Isabella which is life changing
for Isabella.

Isabella a 16yr old student, 5ft tall, fair skin Spanish mixed with East Indian, long curly hair, dimples on both
cheeks and weighing 200lbs. At her school, a well renound prestigious all girls school, she is conflicted by living a
life of ridicule from fellow schoolmates because of her weight. Isabella gained weight due to unhealthy eating
practices which were influenced by depression. Her depression came from the passing of her father in form 3, as
well as her lack of self esteem. As a result she became emotionally conflicted and her innocent attitude towards
this was taken advantaged of by students of her school. Over the 2 year period food has become her only source of
comfort. In doing so she has gain 65lbs.

[Scene 1] Dim light fades in from stage left front, slow classical piano plays in the background, spot light on
Isabella is sitting on her swing at home, sobbing eating a bar of Cadbury chocolate. She is contemplating about
her previous encounter in school during the day. The following scene is a flash back of her school day.
Isabella enters from centre stage left. The scene takes place in a classroom with very few students present at the
time since its early in the morning.
Isabella: Amanda hi, oh my gwad, love your hair. [both girls embrace]
Amanda: took me over an hour last night to make it look so.., couldnt sleep good nah. Didnt want to mess up the
hair...the struggle it too real. [both girls laugh]
Isabella: so like yuh do de witch homework?
Amanda: [looks at her with a smirk] be for real nah..who have time with that?
Isabella: good cause I eh do it either!
[meanwhile as the girls converse, Krystal approaches. Krystal is 5 11 and is very healthy as can see by her
appearance due to her lifestyle of gyming, training, tennis and eating properly. Her attitude and personality is
driven for attention.]
Isabella: aye Amanda! Try this cake, I baked and bring piece for you.
Amanda: girl that looking too sweet, like yuh wah give me diabetes or sometin
Isabella: no girlll, just eat de damn cake and tell me what you think. I wanna make for the cake sale.
[Krystal approaches, walking like a model, flaunting her hair, greeting everyone with a giggle or kissy face]

Krystal: hi hi hi hi, good morning all you princess and princesses in your immaculate and splendorous beauty...
[looks at Isabella, with a disdainful look] oh my, sorry I didnt see you standing there, seeing that youre so big.
What a shame though, I would have loved to invite you for my party but my door doesnt come in extra large size
so I doubt you might fit through.
[the students gathered begins to laugh and embarrassment surfaces on Isabellas face]
Amanda: oh why dont you just stop your crap Krystal. Why you gotta pick on her, all you fools is like lap dogs to
her command..and Krystal is nothing more than a lil bimbo in training.
Krystal: [walks towards Amanda] what you defending her now, little porky pig doesnt know how to fend for
herself, [ she looks at Isabella] reality check its a rough world darling..and you Amanda I suggest you pick your
fights carefully and know who you are fighting for..itll be a shame if youre out on the tennis field and something
were to happen
Amanda: [rushes towards Krystal, fast music to intensify the moment] doh be threatening me girl [she pushes
Krystal onto the desk and grabs hold of her hair] you are gonna leave Isabella alone and all your lap dogs are
gonna stop laughing at her or the next time we meet on the tennis field, [lower calm voice] itll be a shame if
something were to happen to your pretty face.
Krystal: [she gets up fixes her hair smiles and signals her group to follow her. At the exit door she turns and looks
at Isabella and Amanda] that is one terrible mistake you have made. That cake looks good I hope whatever pig
recipe Isabella has put in it, fattens you too..taa taa
Isabella: oh my gwadd Amanda are you crazy???
Amanda: crazy maybe but Im not stupid to stand and watch my best friend being bullied. Plus I always wanted to
yank out that b*tch hair and punch her in the face. She feel shes too innocent. [ she hugs Isabella] you dont worry
once Im around you know I will back you up. Now I gotta go to class so talk to you later.

Scene 2
It is the sixth period and the teacher has stepped out of the classroom as the students are presenting a research,
they have conducted. Unfortunately Isabella fell asleep due to a hectic session. While asleep, unaware that Krystal
decided to seize the opportunity to get back at Amanda by picking on her. A group of girls prompted by Krystal
wrote means things on her face and stuck tags on her back. Isabella was then jerked by one of the girls and she
awakens.
Isabella: [confused and shocked] what are you all doing?
[the group begins to laugh and point fingers and take pics. Krystal approaches with a cake]
Krystal: hahaha, looks legit but misses something..lets see how the piggy eats. [Krystal smashes the cake over the
face of Isabella. Immediately Isabella rushes out the door and into the washroom crying]
Krystal: why you running? Were just having fun.
Scene 3
Slow sad music in background, light fades in on Isabella sitting on the bathroom floor at school crying. She looks
at herself drenched in cake and markers. She sits in a corner and cries. The door is then pushed open when
Alessandra, one of the schools most respectable upper six student enters and discovers Isabella in her sad state.
Alessandra goes to gym as well, train in self defence sports so she therefore looks pretty amazing. Concerned
about Isabellas current condition, she indulges in a conversation with her.
Alessandra: hey whats wrong? What happened to you?
Isabella: [crying] those girls in class they are too mean, they did this to me.
Alessandra: [shocked] what!! This is madness! Why did they do such a thing to you?

Isabella: because Im fat and Im insecure and they do whatever they want to me. I guess I deserve it too, Ive
never told them to stop and I am the reason Im fat. I just cant stop eating to hide my hurt and pain.
Alessandra: [feeling more concerned] dont say its your fault, dont justify their actions. Come let me help you
clean up and then we shall go to the principals office. And one thing though, why dont you stop eating unhealthy
and take care of yourself?
Isabella: I dont know, its all so complicated, I wish to become healthy but with all this drama how can I be if food
is my comfort.
Alessandra: dont worry in the up coming vacation we shall work on your health together. [she offers her hand]
come on get up now lets get you cleaned up.
[lights fades out, slow classical music plays in the background, Isabella is sitting on her swing at home still
sobbing as she ends her flash back. She looks at her chocolate and pelts it away. She then gets up and wipes her
tears. She looks up to the night sky and gaze at the stars and says, I wish you were here daddy lights fades out,
loud dramatic music]
[2months later, a short non-dialogue scene. Lively music fade in the background]
The long and whining road comes to an end as Isabella and Alessandra comes to a quick stop, panting for air after
completing an 8 mile jog. Isabella looks at her lap time and is pleased of burning 350 calories. Both girls say their
goodbyes and exit opposite directions. Isabella slowly walks with a nice pace to her home which is not very far
away. Upon reaching home, she enters her room and looks into her bedroom mirror. She looks deep at herself, as
though she is examining herself and at the same time, searching for something, something buried deep within her.
Every evening during the July-August holidays, this was her routine. After completing her jog, she will look into
her mirror and impress herself with her appearance but at the same time examine her scars. Scars of ridicule, and
embarrassment, yet amazed by her astonishing improvement, she says those scars are mindless. Isabella looks at
her before and after picture stuck on her mirror with the quote that says, Im all about that lifestyle. She in now
brave, higher self esteem, more conscious of her surroundings and herself. She has now become the yellow
buttercup that opens every morning with the rising sun.

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ANALYSIS
In the reflective piece, the play consisted of various communicative techniques. Two of these
techniques which strong attention was paid to are, language registers[1] and communicative
behaviour[2]. In the beginning of the play, the setting takes place at a school. The register deemed
appropriate based on the environment was casual. This is evident in the play as seen by the use of nonStandard English [3], such as, so like yuh do de witch homework? The use of non- Standard English is
appropriate as the school children are conversing among themselves. The casualness suggests the
relationship of the school children. However in the play one character takes on a basolect

[4]

form of

communication, where she speaks in both standard and non- Standard English. This is evident in the play,
why you running? This is a non Standard English form and oh my, sorry I didnt see you standing
there, in Standard English form.
Another technique used was the use of communicative behaviour. The use of communicative
behaviour incorporated into the play and the characters was excellently used as it distinctively identified
the characters emotions, and non-verbal actions which helped to add strong emphasis on the message to
be delivered. Because communicative behaviour is not limited in its usage, there were many forms of
communicative behaviour techniques used in the play portrayed by the characters. Such techniques were
vocalics [5]. This is evident by the use of tone by the character Amanda, [shouts] oh why dont you just
stop your crap Krystal! Another use of technique was proxemics [6]. The use of space in the play was
very important, as it helps in the transmission of the message, as well as, the use of space shows the
intimacy level of a dialogue or scene, which captures the audiences attention. Such examples of
proxemics as used in the play are, as seen in the stage direction, walks towards Amanda, rushes

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towards Krystal proxemics can also be indentified in the interpersonal [7] conversations between
characters.
Another use of the technique was the use of artifacts [8]. This technique allowed the characters to
use objects allowed on the stage to refer to another character so as to relay a message. One such instance
in the play, That cake looks good I hope whatever pig recipe Isabella has put in it, fattens you too, this
was stated by Krystal. She made reference to the cake in opposition of Isabella and her weight. Another
technique used was the use of kinesics

[9]

. This technique was very important to the play as it relates to

body language. Throughout the play, there are numerous body languages which aid in the delivery of the
message to the intended audience. Such usages of body language in the play are, as seen in the use of
stage direction, rushes towards Krystal, she gets up fixes her hair, smiles these are examples of
physical body languages. There was also the use of non physical body language, where the character
expressed her emotions through facial expression, as seen in the stage direction, Isabella is sitting on
her swing at home still sobbing as she ends her flashback.
At the end of the analysis, it can be concluded that, language techniques are very important in the
interpretation and delivery of communication. As related to the play, the language techniques used, was
specifically selected and demonstrated so as to lure the audience into not just interpreting a message
visually or physically, but appealing to their communicative senses.

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CONCLUSION
In conclusion of the assessment, it can be honestly stated that a lot has been learnt on the theme
binge eating. By undertaking the task of conducting this assessment, it has taught me a lot especially by
properly educating myself of the dangers as well as the causes of binge eating. I may not be able to relate
to binge eating but by researching on it, it has shown me, it has devastating impacts, emotionally,
physically and psychologically. By learning about this abnormal problem, I have been motivated to be an
advocate for those who needs support in coping with binge or over eating.
My assessment has also further expanded my intellectual capacity of understanding
communication, its processes, elements, concepts and the way it is rapidly used. My assessment has
taught me the importance of language techniques as it is a key substance, a recipe for the effective
delivery of a message.

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APPENDIX

Language registers [1] the level of formality of a conversation based on the context or audience
Communicative behaviour [2]- the way in which a message is physically transmitted
Standard English [3Basolect [4] the use of both the Creole language and Standard English language
Vocalics [5- the use of tone such as expressing ones self in a louder a lower pitch depending on the
context.
Proxemics [6] - the way in which space in used to deliver a message.
Interpersonal [7] a term used to refer to communication that takes place between individuals.
Kinesics [9] this is the use of the body or body language to transmit a message
Artifacts [8]- this is the use of physical items to represent a message being delivered.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY
www.heartandStrokeFoundation.com
www.worldhealthorganization.com
Communications Studies for CAPE- Veronica Simon, Sandra Osborne, Macmillan publishers
limited 2009

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