1) Report Title

Influence of social media on literacy levels

2) Content Page

3) introduction

4) methodology

5) Critical evaluation of online poll commission by JCA

6) Critical evaluation of National Literacy Trust research (2009)

7) Other reasons for poor literacy levels in childhood

8) Conclusion

9) Bibliography

3) Introduction
Todays society, rates of poor literacy increase immediately. There are many reason of
having difficulty on literacy. Reasons included personal experiences on past in communication
and learning, life situation and interest of a people. This report is going to explain there have no
clear evidence to support Julia Lancelots claims.
Aim of this report will be to critically evaluate the online poll highlighted by Julia
Lancelot may not a reliable study. Beside, prove the research National Literacy Trust is more
reliable study and to summaries its finding.
The first audience will be Julia Lancelot because this report is to make an argument under
her conclude. Second will be teacher to prove that social networking sites is not the main fact of
poor literacy. Lastly will be student themselves to differentiate whether social will cause poor
literacy or a good ways to improve writing skills.

4) Methodology
First at all, I will deeply understand the report given in order to find out the key point on
two reports. After note all the key point, I will make an argument on Julia Lancelots claims and
giving reason it is a not reliable study compare to the research on National Literacy Trust.
Next, I will search online sources to get more reasonable prove the poor literacy on early
childhood. In addition, survey around colleagues by asking their idea will be more effective ways
to make this report done.
Finally, I will use a powerful and sensible conclusion to make the report clearly
completed.

5) Critically evaluation of online poll commissioned by JCA

Key point made
The make sense key point made is children who spent more time and too obsessed online
are find it harder to concentrate in class, excessive tiredness and lack of engagement, some more
will become quiet isolated in worst case scenario when having a class. This is physical effect
when a people glued on computer screen whole day. Beside this, abbreviation text writing on
social media example: LOL, MSG, 2Mor worried by teacher. This abuse on abbreviation text
writing will direct influence children may not write as well as they should because they are more
used to keyboard with abbreviation text. Quality of homework become low as children are rush
for online purposes. Furthermore, bringing smart phone to school for keep connected to social
media is consider as they are too obsessed and cant even more concentrated on learning.
Does the poll actually reach the same conclusion as Julia Lancelot
Yes, from the Julia Lancelot first argument, teacher believes social networking sites are
to be blame for pupils poor grades was reached the same conclusion with the poll. Second
claims by Julia was poor levels of literacy are those who are biggest on social network.
First at all, 58 per cent of teachers believe mobile phones and computers causes children
are unable to spell as previous generation are responsible for those who are abuse on
abbreviations commonly used for social networking chat example: 2mor, msg, lol in place of
English grammar will badly influence their writing skills on coursework, essay, experiment write
up because they may forgotten the actual spelling of the words. Beside this, the poll result has
shown a quarter of teachers are prepared to put their neck on the line and conclude the children
with the poorest grades at school are the ones who are biggest on social networking. Rush on
completing homework for keep connected to social media affected children grades because they
fail to complete homework on time with quality or meet the standard requirement. Otherwise is
giving excuses that their no enough time to complete homework because of computer broken and
couldnt not print to conceal they actually wasted all their time on social media.
In addition, bringing smart phone to school in order to connect with social media is the
clearly statement that prove children will no more attention at class and lose engagement on

learning. Furthermore, tiredness after all day with social media causes them to find sleep derived
at school and learn nothing until the end of class which needed to be realize is now become part
of our society reality.
Reason of this poll may not consider as a reliable study
a. Seven out of 10 British teachers believe that children are becoming more and
more obsessed with social website such as Facebook, Twitter and MySpace.
Children who are spent much time online can be due to several reasons. First at all,
some of them who came from poor family may use online to doing some business
purpose. Beside they can communicate with others for homework purpose or
conversation that will improve the skill of communication. Blogging also consider
as a healthy social media which children can wrote up what in their mind.
b. Next, poor homework quality and late submission of homework can be due to the
reason children may work as part timer or not interested on doing the particular
subject.
c. Furthermore, obsessed on social media will cause emotional issues mention by
Edutional Psychologist Kairen Cullen,CPschol.AFBPsS may not a reliable source.
For example, when a person full of stress and have words on their mind, they
need to be express out, blogging is the good place to release their mind, and this
will reduce emotional issue and make a person happier.
d. In addition, 54% teachers said that children can write as well because the used to
keyboard. These conclude not reliable because social media provide spell
checking when writing and dictionary translate for those words are new to
children. In order using keyboard to typing will create a beautiful justify font
compare to handwriting.
e. Otherwise, bringing a smart phone to school can consider as a positive ways
because children can keep connected to outside world and used to capture up
incidents that happen at school instead of affected the pupils grade but not been
using when conducting a class.
f. Social media should be integrated into learning instead of reading a thick textbook.
It is more interesting which children can absorb faster compare to thick textbook.

This will also attract student attention when conducting a class with a picture slide
presentation given by teacher.
g. Finally, poor grades gain by children may lead to several problems instead of
social media. They may not really interest on that subject, living condition with
family problem or mix with negative friends.

6) Critical evaluation of National Literacy Trust research (2009)

Key point made
Echoing US research that 80% young people concluded that writing is an essential skill
that allows them to participate fully in today society and bring contribution to economy. Writing
can be different method which handwriting, text messaging, blogging or emailing. Todays
student write regularly because they are preferring technology based format writing.
The key point have been discuss is how much children enjoy writing. They more prefer
choosing their own topic instead of given by teacher because they have more interest and idea
through their imagination.
Beside this, type of writing children like to engage consider as blogging and (selfreported) writing ability. Next, survey on children how good at writing they think they are and
what they think about writing has come out a conclusion. They think they are good in writing
when using technology based format because computer makes it easier for them to correct
mistakes and allow them to present clearly. When comes to what they think about writing,
survey show computer also allows them to be more creative, concentrate more and encourage
them to write often.
My reason to consider this is more reliable sources/study
a. First of the reason made this research become reliable study is children are prefer
spent time online for writing blogging, instant message via MSN or emailing.
They think this will improve efficiency of writing.
b. A poor homework quality will be solving if teacher let them writing for
family/friends more than school. They will be more enjoy on the writing and
having idea that experiences by themselves and wrote out by words instead of
writing something they never experiences.
c. Young people with blog and social networking sites displayed greater confidence
and believing themselves is a good writers. Blog owners and young people with a
social networking profile were also more prolific writers than their counterparts.
They held more positive attitude towards writing and computer use, and viewed

writers more favorably. They can release their emotion through words instead of
doing something stupid.
d. In addition, technology based format writing help children correct their spelling
and the translate dictionary which provide their meaning of the word to enhance
their writing skills. Children can have a better performance instead of writing
correct and understand the meaning too.
e. Otherwise, owning a smart phone just keep they connected to the real world and it
does not appear to alter young people enjoyment of writing, they writing behavior
or attitudes towards writing.
f. Children also believed that computers are beneficial to writing because it can
correct mistake, allow them present clearly and more creative. Integrated media
into learning is such a good ways to improve children learning in many ways.
g. Finally, technology based format should implement in learning system to replace
the old method which using a boring thick textbook. By the way, literacy rates
will increase.

7) Other reasons for poor literacy level in childhood

What Causes Low Children's Reading Levels?
This

article

is

conducted

by

Emilia

Lamberto,

eHow

Contributor

under

http://www.ehow.com/info_10035558_causes-low-childrens-reading-levels.html

Learning Disabilities
From the website, Emilia Lamberto claims that learning a language need start at write
then to the reading. It is a hard step to go through if no start from beginning. I strongly
agree with this statement because everything to be learn need come from the root or basic,
if basic also not good enough, how can a person handle more difficulties.

Poor Comprehension
Emilia wrote that even when a child can read words or even sentences, he may still lack
basic comprehension skills, which makes understanding what he reads quite difficult.
This a true and reliable because when a children can pronouns a word correctly, but still
do not understand what the word stand for, and the result is exactly nothing.

Lack of Motivation
Emilia wrote that parent should motivate their children to learning reading instead of
simply placing a book in front of a child and telling her to read is unlikely to be
successful. This is also reliable because when children are small, parent need to train their
children to make sure children have interest on reading. Beside, children is more needed a
motivation when they doing something.

Environment
A study conducted by the McKnight Brain Institute of the University of Florida found
that children raised in low-income homes performed poorly on reading tests compared
with students from middle-class or wealthier families. My reason for this is reliable study
because a comfortable environment is much more suitable for children to absorb

knowledge and efficiency learning. They will more enjoy the comfort environment and
feel happy when learning.

Language Difficulties
Emilia also claims that if a child is unable to grasp language verbally, reading in that
language will be difficult. This is really sensible if they born other country and learn
English as secondary language. As time passed by, they more prefer their own language
because it is easier to communicate instead of learning other language will be difficult to
them.

Other reason that from my own

I think the learning style is the main issue. For example, if one take English as secondary
language and keep communicates with main language, how will improve the literacy. Beside
they are shame to using English to communicate because they scare they speak wrongly.
Furthermore, poor living condition will also lower the rates of literacy because they may
leave school early for work because they can pay for the study fee. Otherwise, I think is laziness.
Actually when a person wants to learn, they will find much more ways to achieve it. If really
cannot handle, at least learn up the basic communication skill and understand the meaning as Bill
Gates said, if you cant make it good, at least make it look good.

Conclusion
For my own opinion, I think that social media is not a big issue on downgrade the level of
literacy. Come to the Julia Lancelot claims, the critical evaluation had made and prove that
National Literacy Trust research(2009) is a more reliable sources/study that the online poll
commissioned by JCA. These differentiations have done a proper comparison to make a point
argument at above critical evaluation. Finally, we need to find out what actually downgrade the
rates of literacy and not just blame on social media.

Bibliography
1. What Causes Low Children's Reading Levels? | eHow In-text: (Lamberto, 2013)
Bibliography: Lamberto, E. 2013. What Causes Low Children's Reading Levels? | eHow.
[online]

Available

at:

http://www.ehow.com/info_10035558_causes-low-childrens-

reading-levels.html [Accessed: 1 Nov 2013].

2. Social Media, Socially Crippling - Are you Obsessed with Social Media?
TechAddiction In-text: (Conrad, 2013) Bibliography: Conrad, D. 2013. Social Media,
Socially Crippling - Are you Obsessed with Social Media? - TechAddiction. [online]
Available at: http://www.techaddiction.ca/obsessed-with-social-media.html [Accessed: 2
Nov 2013].
3. Literacy Foundation

In-text:

(Fondationalphabetisation.org, 2013)

Bibliography:

Fondationalphabetisation.org. 2013. Literacy Foundation. [online] Available at:

http://www.fondationalphabetisation.org/en/adults/illiteracy_literacy/surveys/ [Accessed:
15 Nov 2013].