C A R I B B E A N E X A M I N A T I O N S C O U N C I L

CARIBBEAN ADVANCED PROFICIENCY EXAMINATION®

COMMUNICATION STUDIES

PAPER 02

MAY/JUNE 2023

MODULE 1 KEY AND MARK SCHEME

 SECTION A

MODULE 1 – GATHERING AND PROCESSING INFORMATION

Question 1

MODULE 1: SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES 1,2,4,5,6

Content [10 marks]

(a) Writer’s main message - 2 marks

Award 2 marks for an answer which clearly captures TWO of the

following points.

Award 1 mark for an answer which only mentions one of the two
points.

Social media use, though linked to negative effects,

• may not be responsible for addictive/antisocial behaviour

• users may merely be fulfilling a human need to maintain contact
with others
• may not be as negative as current research suggests
• may be used to satisfy a desire to be in constant contact with
others/hyper social as opposed to antisocial
• may not be as damaging if used responsibly
• (Award 1 mark for saying one of these)

(b) Writer’s purpose - 2 marks

Award 2 marks for a statement with a purpose verb and which CLEARLY
expresses one of the following.

Award 1 mark for a statement with a purpose verb but which partially
expresses one of the following.

Inform/educate/highlight/emphasize/tell the audience of the new

claim that suggests that

• social media use may not have completely negative effects

• there may a positive effect or impact of social media use
• social media may be helping people to stay in touch
• it may be humans’ desire to interact that is addictive
• former research may be showing social media use in the wrong
light
• there are ways to adapt the use of social media that are
healthier and more responsible
(NB. if there is a clear purpose verb but the explanation is not
linked to the passage no mark is to be awarded)
Question 1. cont’d

(c) Discuss TWO organizational strategies or language techniques (or a

combination of both) which the writer uses to achieve this purpose.

Award 2 marks EACH for any TWO of the following strategies or

techniques or combination of strategies and techniques that is
correctly identified and explained in relation to the writer’s
purpose. [2 + 2 = 4 Marks]

Award 1 mark for any TWO strategies or techniques or combination of

both, which are identified but not adequately explained.

While candidates are not required to label item as strategy or

technique, incorrectly naming one as the other will lead to the mark
not being given.

Organizational Strategies

• Simple listing within the paragraph

“I limit use to an hour a day, I’ve unfollowed pages that make

me feel insecure about myself, and I stay off of my phone just
before going to bed or right upon waking up.”

- To highlight the fact that all the activities are just as

important
- To build the details of the narrative
- To add details to the point being made
- To enable easy access to details/information for the reader

• Reference to the study in question

‘This study “Hypernatural monitoring: a social rehearsal

account of smartphone addiction” ’.

- To increase the credibility of the report; readers can

possibly locate the document and check for accuracy
- Verify existence/that it is real/true

• Counter argument

-offering another argument to the claim that social media

causes antisocial behaviour

- The counterargument for social media causing persons to be

antisocial is that the need for human connection may make
users hypersocial.
- Used to increase logos appear of the writer’s argument
- Used to make the writer’s argument seem mor logical and
acceptable
Question 1. cont’d

• Reference to Authoritative Source

‘Samuel Veissiere and his colleague Moriah Stendel — both

researchers in McGill Department of Psychiatry’

- To increase credibility so that the reader may be more

accepting of the information
- To show that the information given may be accurate/true
- To highlight the credentials of the researchers, to
increase credibility

• Contrast (ideas)

‘As it turns out, we may have been looking at social media use
the wrong way: those who appear addicted (or are actually
addicted) to their iPhones and social media apps may not be
antisocial after all. Instead, their obsession is rooted in
the desire to watch others and be monitored in return,’

• Contrast in writer’s and researchers’ points of view (old vs

new research/perspectives)

‘Multiple studies have shown that excessive social media use

can cause increased . . . So, determined to take control of my
life again, I’ve stopped scrolling endlessly through
Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat feeds’.

‘it might have the very adverse effect’

- Supports/upholds/accepts former research findings; not so

for ‘new’ claim

- To clarify/correct negative perception of social media use

- To illustrate that social media use fulfils a human need
- To inform the reader that there is a different perspective
on the issue of social media use
- To provide information to be used as the basis for changing
their social media use

• Personal experience as a frame for the message

- Starts and ends with her personal experience on the matter

Beginning of the frame

‘I’ve done my best to adopt healthier social media habits: I limit

use to an hour a day, I’ve unfollowed pages that make me feel
 insecure about myself, and I stay off of my phone just before going
to bed or right upon waking up’

Closing of the frame

‘Again, I can tell you from personal experience that adopting like
habits will positively affect your wellbeing and mental health’

- To show that the issue is of personal interest and

applicable to everyone
- To highlight the significance of the message
- To show that the actions outlined can be effectively
carried out

• Title of Extract – “New Study Says Social Media Doesn’t make Us

Antisocial”

- Summarised the writer’s main point and gives the reader a gist
of the writer’s main claim

• Cause and Effect

- 1st paragraph – Cause is “excessive social media use.
“negative effects of social media” loneliness, diminish self-
esteem etc.
- 2nd & 3rd paragraph: Cause-need for human connection; Effect-
using social media to fulfil that need can make us hyper-social
- Used to show the corelations between the use of social media and
one’s mental health
- Used to show that appropriate/responsible use of social media
can have a positive/beneficial effect on one’s health

• Problem and Solution

- Used to show/illustrate the problems of overuse/addiction of

social as well as solutions associated with responsible use to
mitigate the adverse effects (paragraph 1)
- The problem of hypersocial behaviours and the solution of
adopting healthier social media habits (final paragraph)
- Used to give a sense of completion to the argument
- Used to communicate to the reader that this challenge can
actually be overcome

• Use of colon in lines 1, 14, 17, 23, 25

- Used to expand the point being made or to offer clarity of a

concept
• Testimonial/Anecdotal Evidence
- Personal experience related in paragraph one and the final
paragraph
- Used to lend authenticity to the writer’s account
- Used to add credibility to the strategies to combat the
negative effects of social media that the writer outlines in
the first paragraph

• Hypophora/ asked and answered/ focus question/ question and

answer

‘Why? Because I want to combat the negative effects that come

with social media use’.

- Used to engage readers by arousing their curiosity

- Used to cause readers to think about the issue raised
- Used to focus reader’s attention on the writer’s claim
- Used to provide clarity on the writer’s reason for the
actions s/he undertook

Language Techniques
Use of First-Person Point-of-view
‘I’ve done my best to adopt healthier social media habits: I
limit use to an hour a day, I’ve unfollowed pages that make me
feel insecure about myself, and I stay off’

- To elicit (produce) a conversational tone

- To make it more inviting for readers to respond
- To give the impression of speaking directly to readers/
- Invite dialogue
- To show that the issue is of personal interest and
applicable to everyone
- To highlight the importance of the message
- To show that the actions outlined can be effectively
carried out

• Use of conversational tone

- The use of inclusive language e.g. ‘we’ and ‘we’re’

- First and final paragraphs:”…I’ve done my best…”, “ Again, I
can tell you…”
- Used to allows the reader to relate to the writer’s
perspective
- Used to give the impression that the writer is speaking
directly to the reader
 • Use of hedging/ modal verbs when discussing findings from new
research

‘might have the very adverse effect

‘we may have been looking at social media use the wrong way

- To highlight uncertainty as to the accuracy of the new

claim
- To show that the claim has not yet been fully accepted

• Contrasting use of modals

‘might have the very adverse effect

‘we may have been looking at social media use the wrong way

‘will positively affect your wellbeing and mental health.

- To highlight a difference in the level of

acceptance/certainty

• Hyperbole (deliberate exaggeration)

- “I’ve stopped scrolling endlessly through Instagram, Facebook, and
Snapchat feeds.” (L 6,7)
- Used to suggest the time consuming and obsessive use of social media

Metaphors

• ‘to combat the negative effects that come with social media
use’.

- To suggest the battle or struggle with

lessening/eradicating/ avoiding the negative effects of
excessive social media use
- To suggest the purposeful carrying out of the activities to
avoid social media addiction

• ‘rooted in the desire to watch others and be monitored in

return’

- To suggest the depth of the desire/longing

- To highlight the firmly implanted characteristic
- To suggest that this longing/yearning is not easily
overcome

• ‘evolutionary lens’

- To suggest a new way of viewing the particular issue

 - To highlight the change that has occurred in humans that
must be taken into account when evaluating their
behaviour/habits
- To highlight the changing perspective on the issue of what
causes social media addiction

• Use of Jargon
“evolutionary lens”, “hypersocial”
- To suggest the information comes from a source that is
knowledgeable
- To suggest that the information is the result of research
and careful study

(d) Comment on how the credibility of the information on the new claim
could be enhanced. Be sure that the candidate is referring to the
NEW CLAIM posited by the McGill researchers and NOT to the
information given by the writer of the extract(2 marks)

Award 1 mark each for any TWO of the following ideas.

• Provision of more details in relation to any of the following:

- Scope of the research to give a clear picture of how the

finding that humans have evolved into ‘hypersocial’ beings

- The ‘evolutionary lens’ through which the previous

research was viewed to give readers a better understanding
of how this worked

• Reference to other experts in the field of social media use:

- to corroborate the new claim being made

• Indication of how being hypersocial is a positive thing or

good thing

• Providing a date of the McGill University study to determine

its currency

• Employment of additional data collection methods to test the

hypothesis of the new claim

- Case studies as further evidence to support the theoretical

position of the researchers
- Statistical data that show range of antisocial/hyper-social
behaviours among users
 (NB ‘use of statistics’ on its own is not a correct answer.
The candidate must show what the statistics will be collected
on and how it will enhance the claim)

Organization

Excellent paragraph development with thematic cohesion, appropriate use of

7
transitional devices, and connectives and an effective conclusion.

Very good use of the above with one to two weaknesses. 6

Good use of the above with a few weaknesses. 5

Adequate level of organization with several weaknesses noted. 3-4

Unsatisfactory level of organization. Weaknesses in all areas identified

1-2
above.
Too little information presented to make any assessment of organizational
0
abilities.

Expression

Excellent and effective use of language with a few lapses in usage

8
and mechanics

Very good use of language though there may be a few lapses in usage
7
and mechanics
Good use of language though there may be some lapses which do not
5-6
interfere with fluency/coherence.
Some ability to use language accurately and effectively, but with
3-4
some inconsistency in accurate usage
Frequent, inaccurate use of language
OR
1-2
Insufficient information presented to fully determine language
competency.
Inability to use language accurately.
OR
0
Too little information presented to make an accurate assessment of
language use.