Outline of essay

Research Question

How should the Japanese government improve students’ media literacy in elementary school and junior high school in Japan?

Thesis Statement

The Japanese government should create new compulsory subject to teach media literacy focusing on critical analysis skills which conducted once a week in elementary school and junior high school.

1)     Improving media literacy in elementary school and junior high school is significant for both individuals and the Japanese government because 1) it is related to foster zest for life of students, 2) it protect students’ life and enrich their life in the future, 3) it is much effective to start to learn media literacy from a childhood and 4) it may be useful for Japanese to conquer global information warfare, which strengthens national power of Japan.

2)      The three steps are needed to start the subject of media literacy, learning from advanced examples in foreign countries, founding an organization for teachers, and designing concrete classes of media literacy in elementary school and junior high school.  

I.      Introduction

A.     (Hook) The Japanese government and most media have forced us to believe that nuclear power plants were “totally safe” for more than 40 years.

B.     (Background) The Japanese Constitution recognizes the right-to-know. Definition of “media literacy”. It means the ability to interpret information critically, detect whether it is true or not and make active use of it.

C.     Thesis Statement

II.    Reasons why improving students’ media literacy in elementary school and junior high school is significant.

A.     To foster zest for life of students

B.     To protect and enrich life of students in the future

C.     To learn medial literacy more effectively from a childhood

D.     To be related to strengthen national power of Japan

III.  Ways to improve students’ media literacy    

A.     To learn the case examples about media literacy education in foreign countries

B.     To found organization to instruct teachers

C.     To design concrete contents about subject of media literacy

IV.   Conclusion

A.     Repeat thesis and main points

B.     Put forward a proposal on how to start the reform a curriculum to start the subject of media literacy

Resources (temporary)

1. Leaning, Dr. Marcus. Issues in Information and Media Literacy: Education, Practice and Pedagogy. Informing Science Press, 2009.

2. Mckinsy & Company. REIMAGINING JAPAN. VIZ Media,LLC, 2011  
3. Potter, W. James. Media Literacy. Third. Sage Publications, Inc, 2005.

4. Yoshimi, Uesugi, Canada no media literacy education. Akashi shoten, 2008
5. Len, Masterman. Teaching the Media,1985