Task 2
Working on the text
Do the following tasks, writing coherent texts. Use your own words as far as appropriate.
1.
Outline Franny Lynch's plans and how she is putting them into practice.
2.
Analyze how the narrator's attitude towards nature and wildlife is depicted. Focus on narrative perspective and use of language.
28 BE
Writing
3.
Choose one of the following tasks:
3.1
"Most of the funding bodies have given up on birds [...]. They're focusing their research elsewhere, in places they think they can actually make a difference." (l. 62-63)
Using the quotation and the narrator's experiences as a starting point, assess the relevance of preserving particular species.
or
3.2
As an intern at the "World Future Council", an organization that aims at promoting a healthy planet with just and peaceful societies, you have been asked to write an article for the organization's website, commenting on the current generation of young people being the key to more sustainable societies.
32 BE
Excerpt from the novel Migrations
In this dystopian novel, the ornithologist Franny Lynch is on a research trip in Greenland. Seeking passage on a boat, she finds Ennis Mahne, the captain of a vessel, in a bar.
1
[...] Ennis and I sit at the window and watch the stretch of fjord that swallowed us. Behind us
2
his crew members are getting steadily drunker and have taken over the set of Trivial Pursuit,
3
which has incited numerous arguments. Léa doesn't participate in the ribbing, but smugly
4
wins most of the rounds. Samuel is reading by the fire. Any other night I'd be playing with
5
them, and I'd be pushing and prodding to see the make of them. But tonight, the task. I
6
need to get myself onto their boat.
7
The midnight sun has turned the world indigo and something about the quality of the light
8
reminds me of the land where I was raised, that special Galway blue. I've seen a fair helping
9
of the world and what strikes me most is that there are no two qualities of light the same, no
10
matter where you go. Australia is bright and hard. Galway has a smudgeness to it, a tender
11
haze.
12
Here the edges of everything are crisp and cold.
13
I" "What would you say if I told you I could find you fish?"
14
Ennis's eyebrows arch. He's quiet awhile, and then, "I'd reckon you're talking about your
15
birds, and I'd say that's illegal."
16
"It only became illegal because of the trawling methods huge liners used to use, which would
17
capture and kill all the surrounding marine life and birds. You don't use those anymore, not
18
with a smaller vessel. The birds would be safe. Otherwise I wouldn't suggest it."
19
"You've done your homework."
20
I nod.
21
"So what are we really talking about, Franny Lynch?"
22
I retrieve the papers from my bag, then return to the stool beside Ennis. I place the papers
23
between us and try to smooth out some of the wrinkles. "I'm studying the migratory patterns
24
of the Arctic tern, looking specifically at what climate change has done to their flight habits.
25
You know all about this, I'd say - it's what's killing the fish."
26
"And the rest," he says.
27
"And the rest."
28
He is peering at the papers but I don't blame him for not interpreting their meaning - they're
29
dense journal articles with the university's stamp on them.
30
"Do you know of the Arctic tern, Ennis?"
31
"I've seen them up this way. Nesting season now, isn't it?"
32
"That's right. The Arctic tern has the longest migration of any animal. It flies from the Arctic
33
all the way to the Antarctic, and then back again within a year. This is an extraordinarily long
34
flight for a bird its size. And because the terns live to be thirty or so, the distance they will
35
travel over the course of their lives is the equivalent of flying to the moon and back three
36
times."
37
He looks up at me.
38
We share a silence filled with the beauty of delicate white wings that carry a creature so far. I
39
think of the courage of this and I could cry with it, and maybe there's something in his eyes
40
that suggests he understands a little of that.
41
"I want to follow them.”
42
"To the moon?"
43
"To the Antarctic. Through the North Atlantic Sea, along the coast of America, north to south,
44
and then down into the glacial waters of the Weddell Sea, where the birds will rest."
45
He studies my face. "And you need a vessel."
46
"I do."
47
"Why not a research vessel? Who's funding the study?"
48
"National University of Ireland, in Galway. But they've pulled my funding. I don't even have
49
a team anymore."
50
"Why?"
51
I choose my words carefully. "The colony you've seen here, along the coast. It's reported to
52
be the last in the world."
53
He breathes out heavily, and with no surprise. Nobody needs to be told of the extinction of
54
the animals; for years now we've been watching news bulletins about habitat destruction and
55
species after species being declared first endangered and then officially extinct. There are
56
no more monkeys in the wild, no chimps or apes or gorillas, nor indeed any animal that once
57
lived in rain forests. The big cats of the savannas haven't been seen in years, nor have any
58
of the exotic creatures we once went on safari to glimpse. There are no bears in the
59
once-frozen north, or reptiles in the too-hot south, and the last known wolf in the world died
60
in captivity last winter.
61
There is hardly anything wild left, and this is a fate we are, all of us, intimately aware of.
62
"Most of the funding bodies have given up on the birds," I say. "They're focusing their
63
research elsewhere, in places they think they can actually make a difference. This is
64
predicted to be the last migration the terns will attempt. It's expected they won't survive it."
65
"But you think they will," Ennis says.
66
I nod. "I've put trackers on three, but they'll only pinpoint where the birds fly. They aren't
67
cameras, and won't allow us to see the birds' behavior. Someone needs to witness how they
68
survive so we can learn from it and help them. I don't believe we have to lose these birds. I
69
know we don't."
70
He doesn't say anything, eyeing the NUI stamp on the papers.
71
"If there are any fish left in this whole ocean, the birds will damn well find them. They seek
72
out hot spots. Take me south and we can follow them." [...]
McConaghy, C. (2020). Migrations. New York: Flatiron Books, pp. 21 - 24.
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Note:
Our solutions are listed in bullet points. In the examination, full marks can only be achieved by writing a continuous text. It must be noted that our conclusions contain only some of the possible aspects. Students can also find a different approach to argumentation.
Our solutions are listed in bullet points. In the examination, full marks can only be achieved by writing a continuous text. It must be noted that our conclusions contain only some of the possible aspects. Students can also find a different approach to argumentation.
1.
Franny Lynch aims to:
- Study the impact of climate change on the flight behavior of Arctic terns.
- Follow the migration route of Arctic terns from the Arctic to the Antarctic.
- Research how the terns survive during their migration.
- Find ways to save the terns from extinction.
- Enlist the help of a fishing boat captain due to funding cuts for her project.
- Trying to convince a captain with a ship to assist her.
- Promise the captain that she will find good fishing grounds in exchange for taking her along.
- Showing the captain research papers about her project to win him over.
- Having a clear idea of the route to take because she has placed trackers on a few birds.
2.
In the excerpt from Migrations by McConaghy (2020), the narrator's deep admiration and urgency to protect nature and wildlife are vividly depicted. This analysis examines how the first-person perspective, emotive language, and detailed imagery convey the narrator's close relationship with nature and commitment to conservation.
Introduction
- The narrator is portrayed as someone who deeply admires nature and is willing to go to great lengths to protect endangered species.
- The author presents Franny Lynch's close relationship with nature and wildlife.
- Uses a first-person narrator with a subjective point of view and a scenic mode of presentation, e.g.,
"We share a silence ... I could cry with it,"
- Describes her positive emotions evoked by the beauty of the natural surroundings through choice words and imagery, e.g.,
- Her profound knowledge of the terns
-
Her attempts at finding people to help her follow the terns
Main Body
Narrative perspective and use of language
Narrative perspective and use of language
3.1
In the excerpt from Migrations, the narrator highlights the shift in funding priorities: "Most of the funding bodies have given up on birds [...]. They're focusing their research elsewhere, in places they think they can actually make a difference." This statement, combined with the narrator's experiences, serves as a starting point to assess the relevance of preserving particular species.
Introduction
- Many funding bodies have stopped supporting bird conservation, redirecting resources to areas deemed more impactful.
- This shift reflects a broader trend of prioritizing certain species or ecosystems over others based on perceived significance.
Main Body
Reduction of Financial Support
Reduction of Financial Support
- Despite the loss of funding, the protagonist remains committed to bird conservation, seeking alternative means to continue her research.
- This determination underscores the importance of individual efforts in preserving species that may be overlooked by larger institutions.
Protagonist's Determination
- Certain species are crucial for the survival of entire ecosystems due to their roles in maintaining ecological balance and interdependencies.
- Ecosystems with high biodiversity are generally more stable, productive, and resilient to disturbances and invasions.
Ecological Importance
- The loss of biodiversity poses a significant threat to humanity, potentially leading to large-scale environmental and socio-economic impacts.
- The extinction of species can disrupt ecosystems, reducing their ability to provide essential services such as clean air, water, and food.
Impact of Biodiversity Loss
- There is an ethical imperative to combat habitat destruction and preserve the diversity of life on Earth.
- Protecting endangered species is part of a broader responsibility to maintain the planet's health and heritage for future generations.
Ethical Responsibility
- Some view species extinction as a natural phenomenon governed by evolutionary principles like survival of the fittest.
- Limited funds necessitate prioritizing species and problems perceived as more urgent or solvable.
- Countries facing poverty and instability require financial support and conservation technologies to address immediate human needs alongside environmental concerns.
- Certain species may pose threats to humans and livestock, complicating conservation efforts.
Reasons for Giving Up on Certain Species
- The belief in natural self-regulating systems suggests that human interference might be counterproductive, even when well-intentioned.
- This perspective raises a moral dilemma regarding which species to prioritize for conservation efforts.
Self-Regulating Systems
- The narrator's experiences and the provided quotation illuminate the complex and multifaceted nature of species preservation.
- While funding bodies may shift focus based on impact assessments, the ecological, ethical, and practical reasons for preserving particular species remain compelling.
- Balancing these factors requires careful consideration of the broader implications for ecosystems, biodiversity, and humanity.
Conclusion
3.2
Young People: The Key to Building Sustainable Societies
Title
- The current generation of young people holds the key to unlocking a future defined by sustainability, justice, and peace.
- As the torchbearers of tomorrow, they have the potential to drive significant positive changes and address the pressing environmental and social challenges we face today.
- At the World Future Council, we recognize the pivotal role that youth play in shaping a healthy planet and equitable societies.
- Here’s why this generation is crucial to our collective goal of achieving sustainability.
Introduction
- Today's youth are more informed and engaged with global issues than any previous generation.
- Thanks to digital connectivity, young people have unprecedented access to information and are keenly aware of the climate crisis, social injustices, and the need for systemic change.
- This awareness translates into action, with many young individuals actively participating in environmental movements, advocating for policy changes, and embracing sustainable lifestyles.
Main Body
A Generation Aware and Engaged
A Generation Aware and Engaged
- Young people bring fresh perspectives and innovative solutions to the table.
- They are adept at leveraging technology and creativity to develop new ways of addressing old problems.
- From sustainable fashion initiatives to cutting-edge renewable energy projects, youth-led innovations are paving the way for a greener, more sustainable world.
- By fostering an environment that encourages innovation, we can harness the full potential of young minds to create impactful solutions.
Innovation and Creativity
- Young people are emerging as powerful advocates and leaders in the fight for a sustainable future.
- Figures like Greta Thunberg have shown the world that age is no barrier to making a significant impact.
- Youth-led organizations and movements are at the forefront of demanding action from governments and corporations, holding them accountable for their environmental and social responsibilities.
- By supporting young leaders and amplifying their voices, we can accelerate the transition to more sustainable societies.
Advocacy and Leadership
- While the youth are driving change, it is essential to foster collaboration between generations.
- Intergenerational partnerships can combine the wisdom and experience of older generations with the energy and innovation of the youth.
- Such collaborations can create holistic and sustainable solutions that benefit all members of society.
- Mentorship programs, joint initiatives, and inclusive decision-making processes are key to achieving this synergy.
Intergenerational Collaboration
- The current generation of young people is not just the future; they are the present force driving the shift towards sustainable societies.
- Their awareness, creativity, and leadership are crucial in addressing the environmental and social challenges we face.
- At the World Future Council, we are committed to supporting and empowering young people in their quest for a healthy, just, and peaceful planet.
- By investing in the youth and fostering intergenerational collaboration, we can pave the way for a brighter and more sustainable future for all.
Conclusion