WRITING EXERCISE: THE EFFECTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON CHILDREN

The following exercise has been designed to help you grasp the basics of essay organization. In each case, the introduction and the conclusion will be provided along with notes for the development. Read the introduction carefully and make sure you understand the reason for the organization of the essay. Then write the development in accordance with the suggestions provided. You may need to do research to expand on the points. A word of warning: this not the only way of organizing this essay but it is one that works.

Family life is always pictured as a bed of roses with marital bliss and happy well adjusted children leading satisfying and useful lives. The fact that this isn’t always true is no secret; there are rifts, bust ups and sadly violence in many families all over the world for reasons ranging from psychological problems to economic concerns, drink and tradition. The women on the receiving end of the violence are not by any means the only victims though: the children suffer too; both in the short term and the long term as they carry the legacy of their fathers on to future generations.

First developmental paragraph: there are numerous short term impacts of domestic violence on children

·         Physical: broken bones, bruises and similar injuries

·         They witness violence so: fear, lack of confidence, feelings of unworthiness, anger and resentment towards the father, the desire to protect the mother, the desire for revenge, the desire to run away, bedwetting, nightmares, bullying at school, discipline problems.

Second developmental paragraph: there are some unexpected and serious long term effects of domestic violence on children as well

·         The abusive father the role model: the cycle of violence continues; Abuse victims = prospective abusers

·         Problems in relationships: marriage, friendships, the work place, society

·         Crime and violence in life

In conclusion, the damaging physical and psychological impact of being witness to domestic violence affects not only the child but also the adult he grows into and the people he comes into contact with as an adult. The family he forms is likely to suffer in the same way and the psychological scars formed in the victim’s childhood continue to do harm down the generations. The poison is spread in the social circle of the victim and also in society, which means that the state needs to have measures and institutions  such as social services in place to tackle such problems before they get out of hand.