Caribbean Examination Council

SCHOOL-BASED ASSESSMENT (SBA)

ENGLISH A
THEME: ABORTION
TOPIC: ABORTION AND ITS EFFECTS ON MEN.

Candidate’s Name: Lori-Ann Brown

Centre Number: 100081
Candidate’s Number:
School: Mount Alvernia High School
Territory: Jamaica
Year: 2021-2022
Teacher: Mrs. A. McGhie
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE NO.

PLAN OF INVESTIGATION 1

REFLECTION 1 2

REFLECTION 2 3

REFLECTION 3 4

WRITTEN REPORT 5-6

INTRODUCTION OF ORAL PRESENTATION 7

ORAL PRESENTATION 8

APPENDIX 9
 1.
Theme: Abortion
Topic: Effects of Abortion on Men
Grade: 11
Teacher: Mrs. A. McGhie

PLAN OF INVESTIGATION

The group’s theme is Abortion but, I will be focusing on the topic, The Effects of Abortion on
Men. Abortion is widely discussed in the world, but these discourses are centered around
women, yet as research shows, they are not the only ones being affected. Hence, my aim is to
disclose that men are equally affected, to the point of insanity. Men are human beings; they have
their share of emotions and hurt. Therefore, my research will enable me to learn the different
emotions men experience from abortion.
I was inspired to do this topic when on observation, I realized that men’s feelings were not being
recognized in the event of abortion, even though the women did not conceive on their own. Men
are always seen as a strong alpha figures in society, as such we force them to suffer in silence as
their feelings are invalidated, thus, my desire is to arouse an awareness with the hope that they
will have a voice to express their feelings of guilt, sorrow, regret, anguish and not be censured.
Men’s emotions are as equally important as women’s where abortion is concerned, they too must
obtain acknowledgment.
As a student of English Language, this School-Based Assessment (SBA), will help me to
improve my reading comprehension, writing, Data Analysis, and Data Collection skills.

In order to complete this School-Based Assessment, I will be collecting my artefacts by using the
search engine Google to obtain online articles, creative pieces such as poems and Youtube will
be used to obtain videos relating to my topic.
 2.
Brown 2

REFLECTION #1

“The Hollow Men” Male Grief and Trauma Following Abortion by Vincent M. Rue
(2008), is an article that brings out empathy for men who have experienced abortion. It brings to
light that men too are affected and not just women. The article states that “Male responses to a
partner’s abortion include grief, guilt, depression, anxiety, feelings of repressed emotions,
Helplessness/violence/powerlessness, post-traumatic stress, anger and relationship problems”
(Coyle, 2007). Prior to my research, I thought that men were not affected by abortion at all,
rather they would be the ones to suggest that option. It is heart-wrenching to know that men’s
emotions are being undermined even though they are experiencing so much pain.
Whilst analyzing the extract from the poem “Hollow Men” by T.S. Eliot (1925), a word
caught my attention “Hollow” meaning empty, a word that expresses how empty men felt inside
after going through an abortion. The poem states “Our dried voices, when we whisper together”,
meaning they can only express their emotions among themselves, no one is there to comfort and
sympathize with them. “In our own cellar”, they feel so caged in their emotions, so dead inside to
know that they have just killed their own child. Upon my research, I was overwhelmed with
emotion, I felt more compassionate to men. I realized that sometimes they are not at fault,
therefore we need to desist from accusing them, they do hurt as much as women. I must admit
that before my research I was biased thinking that because it was a woman’s body being violated,
I didn’t stop to think, what about the men?

The YouTube video “These Fathers Break Their Silence on Abortion” by Save the Storks
(2016), helped me to dive into the minds of men who experience abortion. Male #4 stated that he
was so depressed he turned to alcohol and drugs after the abortion, He felt so trapped he saw
alcohol and drugs as his only escape. Men are humans just like you and me, they may not have
the best track record, but that does not prevent the pain and other emotions they experience.
Hence, it is our duty to facilitate and suggest means for them to cope, whether professional or
otherwise. As I conclude my research, I must admit that my views on men as it relates to
abortion has changed drastically. Not all men endure abortion in the same manner, some will be
nonchalant, whilst others will be concerned, downhearted and regretful.
 3.
REFLECTION #2

Vincent M. Rue begins his expository piece by stating that Abortion is psychologically safe for
women, but it is ironic since abortion did cause psychological problems for women. He is
painting a picture situated around women but then he states, What about the impact of abortion
on men? He uses a formal tone to establish his respect for the audience, also to bring across the
importance of the topic. In the article, he uses the word “Fugitive”, showing how men are viewed
in society concerning this topic. They are seen as the criminals, outcasts, “The bad guy” and this
is one of the many factors contributing to their pain. We push them in the darkness to do it on
their own, inviting them to believe it is a crime to heal and move on.

An extract from the poem “The Hollow Men”, has a very unique and powerful word to describe
how men feel “Hollow”. They feel empty inside knowing their child is lost as a result of
abortion. The Hollow Men is a free verse poem, T.S Eliot constructs a desolate world that could
be used to give us insight into the world that men live in after going through this experience.
Society has forced them to suffer alone. At the beginning of the poem, allusion is used to paint
the considered version of the “Hollow Men” and to act as a guide into the world of men. “We are
the hollow men, we are the stuffed men leaning together”, They are forced together with no one
to talk and relate to but themselves, so caged in their emotions that it is likened to a cellar. The
author uses a very despairing tone, The Hollow Men seem to have no hope, no hope to come
back to reality, no hope to bring themselves out of the emotion they are buried under. No hope to
see calm in the storm.

The video, These Fathers Break their Silence on Abortion by Save the Storks, paints the picture
of the horrible reality we live in. The color purple presented in the background of the video
represents the great power these men have to build themselves up to share their stories after
going through such a traumatic experience. The background music brings out the pain, the guilt
that these men feel. The first gentleman’s pain was shown when he stated, “My story is best
started, I think by saying I'm a father of five, but only got to raise three of them. This vile, cruel
monster called Abortion took the lives of his two innocent children without a second thought.
The candle in the background symbolizes the light in the darkness, a hope that one day these men
will be able to recover, knowing that their children are in a better place. These men have been
through so much, but still, they found the courage to stand and be the representatives of exposing
this pressing issue.
 4.
REFLECTION 3

With the completion of this School-Based Assessment, I have become more conscious of the

social issue of Abortion, which led to my sub-topic, The effects of Abortion on Men. In

Jamaican society, we are taught to blame men for everything, with that being said disregarding

their rights, but with this School-Based Assessment, my perspective has changed for the better.

With the undertaking of this School-Based Assessment, I was able to increase my knowledge on

the topic.

As a person, I am constantly learning and this School-Based Assessment has helped me in

improving my vocabulary skills. Words such as ‘artifact’ were introduced to my vocabulary due

to this School-Based Assessment. The SBA was completed during a pandemic limiting the

number of resources to my disposal, this helped to develop my coping skills, along with my

creativity.

Cooperation of group members was needed for the completion of this SBA, which helped to

build my patience, as group members were late with submission hindering the completion of the

SBA. I have also become a team player due to this SBA, now I comfortably work in groups

without complications.
 5.
WRITTEN REPORT

Our group was formed based on our interest in the theme "Abortion". The theme "Abortion" was
selected because of the increase in pregnancies and drop-outs due to teenage pregnancy. The
group was formed online due to the Covid -19 pandemic, and we all worked together to create
topics that were appropriate for the theme selected. We conducted various researches to collect
our artefacts, and then we selected the most appropriate pieces that will answer our questions.
Though the selection was difficult, we selected a song, a video, and an article that focused on the
theme. We then shed light on the following 3 questions:

1. What emotions are associated with abortions?

2. How do fathers feel about abortion?
3. What are the dangers of abortion if not done correctly?

As a group, we wanted to ensure that our responses to the questions showed consideration for
our audience. As such we decided to focus on each artifact's audience, content, and tone.

Many emotions were portrayed towards abortion as seen in the song “Untold” by Matthew West
(2015). The writer gave a voice to unborn children, giving them a fair chance to express their
feelings. The title of the song reveals the disappointment of the unborn child towards the parent
who has aborted them. “The doctor says I’m just an option”, depicts the doctor as cold and
unfeeling, making it seem as if the life of the fetus is insignificant.

Normally, we pay more attention to mothers when talking about abortion, and almost never do
we ask the fathers how they feel. The video, “These Fathers Break Their Silence on Abortion”
posted by Save the Storks (2018), shows how the father regrets the decision of aborting a child.
“The moment that I found out that she had an abortion, I was devastated” and “The weight of
guilt was just so overwhelming for me” depict how abortion negatively affects a father mentally.
The guilt and loss men experience after losing their child saddens them deeply.

Abortion can have life-threatening effects on the body. The article, “Abortion, women and their
bodies” from the Jamaica Gleaner (2015) reveals what can happen to a woman’s body after
getting an abortion. “I saw two women who were given tablets to insert into their vaginas to
terminate their pregnancies. No follow-up visits were organized. They bled and assumed that the
pregnancies were gone, only to realize that they were still pregnant” Many abortions are not
always done properly and the woman may experience severe pain and even death.

Whether or not we think the process is simple, abortion carries consequences that will linger long
after it is done. Not only does it negatively affect parents but it may also destroy the mother’s
body. It is important for us to become knowledgeable about the many consequences experienced
by both men and women.
 7.
INTRODUCTION TO ORAL PRESENTATION

Good Afternoon, Mrs Mcgie and classmates. My name is Lori-Ann Brown and I will be
presenting on the topic “The effects of abortion on Men”, under the theme “Abortion”. I will be
using a free-verse poem to present the information gathered from my artefacts as it relates to the
topic. My piece is entitled “Gone” and it will be about, a man who has gone through an abortion
and is expressing the many effects it has imprinted on his life.

I chose to use this particular genre because it expresses my creativity and it’s the best way I see
fit to bring across my topic. My piece will use the following literary devices, personification,
simile, and rhetorical question to convey my message about abortion. It will be done using the
1st person point of view, which I believe is effective because the persona is the one who can
ultimately express his pain. I will use formal language because I want to bring across the raw
emotions portrayed in this poem. My artifacts were vital as they provided me with the necessary
information to create this piece.
 8.

THE ORAL PRESENTATION

GONE

Why did you do this to me?

My heart is broken like glass shattered on the ground reflecting what could have been.
Pain stands like an army shielding happiness from my life
A part of me was taken away into the dark abyss never to return.
My seed, My child, My offspring is gone swallowed by the monster of abortion.

The reincarnation of evil murdered two lives, in the span of 5 minutes,

Capturing the love you had to give,
A father’s soul can only weep.

Why have you gone away from me?

What have I done to deserve your abandonment?
Every day I sleep in a bed made by depression, drowning in a tsunami of alcohol, hoping it
would wash away my pain.
The first word I will not hear, The first steps I will not see
All GONE, GONE, GONE

Lori-Ann Brown
 9.
APPENDIX

ARTEFACT 1
Rue, Vincent “ The Hollow Men”, Men Grief and Trauma following Abortion. (2008)

https://www.usccb.org/committees/pro-life-activities/hollow-men-male-grief-trauma-following-a
bortion
 ARTEFACT 2

Eliot, T.S Extract of the poem “The Hollow Men” (1925)

https://www.usccb.org/committees/pro-life-activities/hollow-men-male-grief-trauma-following-a
bortion
 ARTEFACT 3

Save the Storks “These Fathers Break Their Silence on Abortion”. (2016)

These Fathers Break Their Silence on Abortion

 1