Written Task 4

Recipe for overpopulation
















Ingredients
8 billion inhabitants
1,2 cubic kilometre clean water
1 billion kilograms of food (think of: meat, vegetables, potatoes, fruits, etc.)
Room temperature: 30°C filled with clean air
Patience(!)

Directions
It’s not easy to create overpopulation. That’s why one of the most important ingredients is patience. It can take years until there is a noticeable result .
Many people think the recipe is easy. They think overpopulation depends on how many people or how much space you have. The Black Death in 1350 and the Industrial and Green Revolution led to a rapid population growth. But in those days there was no overpopulation.

It’s a lot more difficult than that!
Overpopulation can only be formed if the ratio of resources to the population is low. But also if the resources are distributed inaccurataly throughout the population.

1. The first step is to create an increase in the population. This can be done by an increase in births and a decline of deaths. All women need to become pregnant as soon as possible and we have to take care for the older people so they live as long as possible.

2. Secondly form a huge world population, for example 8 billion inhabitants. The chance of overpopulation will arise if the number of inhabitants is very high.

3. Then cause a decline of resources. Overpopulation, as I’ve already said, can only be formed if the ratio of resources to the population is low. Resources are: clean water, food, warmth and clean air.

4. After many years of waiting the earth will be too small and will offer too minimal resources for the large number of inhabitants. Then the recipe created OVERPOPULATION successfully.

Rationale
The assignment was to write a text in which I have to address a subject discussed in the Interactive Orals about Future Issues. The subjects were: food shortage, water shortage and fuel shortage. I’ve chosen for my own Interactive Oral about overpopulation. I’ve got most knowledge about that particular Future Issue.

The assignment was quite open it was allowed to write any sort of text. I’ve chosen to make a recipe. I thought this would be more original and creative than for example a newspaper article. I tried to make it funny and also interesting to read. The fun part is that it’s a recipe and it’s of course impossible to create overpopulation with a simple recipe like this. But I’ve also tried to use my knowledge about overpopulation by giving information about this Future Issue.

I used the style and register as in an ordinary recipe. First mention the ingredients, than explain step by step how to make it.

Written Task 3

An entry in Banquo's logbook

"Today my dear friend Macbeth and I were on our way to Forres. All of a sudden we saw three creatures, they were withered-looking and crazily dressed. They looked like women, but the beards kept me from believing they really were. I think they don’t even belong to us, they probably don’t belong to this planet. But they were alive!

They started talking. I was astonished. The first ‘woman’ said: “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Glamis!”, the next said: “All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!” and the last one: “All hail, Macbeth, that shalt be king hereafter!”. Macbeth asked for more information, but then they started talking to me. They told me I will never become king, but my children shall be king.

Macbeth stood there startled and afraid. I thought this was very remarkable. Their provisions were so honourable and glorious. But he was speechless.

My mind couldn’t stop thinking about the future! How could Macbeth become Thane of Cowdor? The Thane of Cowdor is still alive and yet so powerful and rich. Macbeth being the king is completely impossible!

Macbeth is acting so bizarre ever since. The first prophecy has already been accomplished. Does he think that the second and third prophecy will become true as well? What about my descendant, Fleance? Macbeth will see him has a threat. I hope he won’t get too hopeful after those prophecies. Those three strange creatures brought me a lot of confusion and insecurity!"

Rationale
This week’s assignment was to write an entry in Banquo’s logbook in which he expresses his concerns about the prophecy of the three witches. Banquo is a brave and noble general. Banquo is, just like Macbeth, very ambitious. The three witches predict that Macbeth will be the Thane of Cawdor and will be king hereafter. So Banquo is very astonished. He is astonished and afraid of his own success! I tried to use those feelings in my written task.