III.
A.4.
Modernisation and Transformation of Japan and Southeast Asia
‘Evaluate the role played by the government in bringing about economic recovery and growth of
Japan In the post-WWII period.’
III. Modernisation and transformation of Japan and Southeast Asia
A. Japan
A 4 Evaluate the role played by the government in bringing about economic
recovery and growth of Japan in the post-WWII period.
No. of periods required:
12 (Each period lasts for 40 minutes.)
1.
Background
a.
Students are in S6 and their learning ability is above average in general.
b.
Students have basic understanding of the political, social, economic and cultural
conditions of Japan in the early 20th century and the rise of militarism before and
during WWII.
c.
They are familiar with group discussion and presentation.
d.
They have already got some basic thinking skills like mindmaping, data collection
and analysis of data.
2.
Objectives
a.
To enhance their understanding of the problems and difficulties in the early
post-WWII period.
b.
To provide students with a general picture about the political, social and economic
developments in the early post-WWII Japan so that they have background
information on the bases on which Japan’s economic recovery and growth was
built.
c.
To heighten their awareness of different roles played by different parties in
bringing about the economic recovery and growth of Japan in the post-WWII
period.
d.
To develop students’ skills in illustrating personal standpoint with convincing
arguments and heighten their skills in data collection, synthesis and analysis.
e.
To enhance students’ understanding of the importance of respect and acceptance
of others’ opinions through cooperative learning.
3.
Pedagogies
a.
Activity 1: Mindmapping-Guess what? (1 teaching period)
i.
A brief revision of the impact of militarism on Japan in WWII period.
ii.
Group discussion WITHOUT any learning materials: students need to
GUESS the problems Japan faced in the post-WWII period.
iii.
Group presentation: students need to present the problems they have
1
III.
A.4.
Modernisation and Transformation of Japan and Southeast Asia
‘Evaluate the role played by the government in bringing about economic recovery and growth of
Japan In the post-WWII period.’
already discussed in a mind map in form of group. Besides, they need to
choose the greatest problem faced by Japan in that period.
iv.
b.
Refer to Worksheet 1.
Activity 2: Video Show (《大國崛起·‧日本篇─-百年維新》) (1 teaching period)
i.
Play the video (《大國崛起·‧日本篇─百年維新》) to students
ii. Ask students to finish Worksheet 2
iii. Ask students to discuss the answers of Worksheet 2 and conclude
answers
iv. Ask 2-3 groups to present their concluded answers
v.
c.
Teacher’s Conclusion
Activity 3: Video Show (《百年物語》) (1 teaching period)
i.
Play the video (《百年物語》) to students.
ii.
Ask students to finish Worksheet 3.
iii. Ask students to discuss the answers of Worksheet 3 and conclude
answers.
d.
the
iv.
Ask 2-3 groups to present their concluded answers.
v.
Teacher’s Conclusion.
the
Activity 4: Follow-up task
A story about economic life in the post WWII period (2 teaching periods)
i.
Students are asked to find out a story of a Japanese to illustrate the economic
life of Japan in the post-WWII period. This assignment should be completed
before the lesson. (See Worksheet 4)
ii.
Students are asked to form groups and share the stories to the group
members. They need to choose the most impressive one for group
presentation.
iii.
Each group need to present the most impressive story to the class. Each
member should take part in group presentation.
iv.
Teachers may choose the best presentation group and give the prize for
award.
v.
Conclusion by the teacher.
2
III.
A.4.
e.
Modernisation and Transformation of Japan and Southeast Asia
‘Evaluate the role played by the government in bringing about economic recovery and growth of
Japan In the post-WWII period.’
Activity 5: Anti-adversity Drama Presentation (3 teaching periods)
i.
Students are divided into groups and then write a drama script. The drama
script should include FIVE roles who help find out solutions to solve the
problems Japan faced in the post-WWII period. (See Worksheet 5)
ii.
For students of lower learning ability, teachers may provide supplementary
reference materials to help them complete Worksheet 5. For students of
higher learning ability, teachers may ask them to find out information by
themselves.
iii. After searching for information and completing Worksheet 5, students
need to explain to the class in the form of a drama how different parties
helped solve the problems of Japan. Students are advised to do the
presentation in a more dramatic way with the audio-visual aids.
f.
iv.
Debriefing: teachers are strongly advised to highlight the key points of the
curriculum, i.e. the problems related to economic recovery and growth in the
post-WWII period
v.
The teacher chooses the best presentation group and gives the prize for
award.
vi.
Conclusion by the teacher.
Activity 6: Debate (4 teaching periods)
Motion: ‘The government plays the most important role in bringing about
economic recovery and growth of Japan in the post-WWII period’
i.
Introduction (2 teaching periods)
-All students are asked to finish the Worksheet 6A before grouping.
-Explain the rules and flow of debate competition.
-Grouping:
ii.

2 groups are to be chosen-Affirmative team and Negative team

Each team consists of 8 students － The 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and last
speakers & 3 members of think factory.

Other students are grouped into 4 teams of judges (no. of judges in each
team: 5-6-6-6 )

All students’ performance based on the criteria for assessing the
competition—the key is to judge if the contestants understand the level
of contribution of each party in bringing about the economic recovery and
growth in Post-WWII Japan (See Worksheet 6B)
Debate competition (2 teaching periods)
3
III.
A.4.
Modernisation and Transformation of Japan and Southeast Asia
‘Evaluate the role played by the government in bringing about economic recovery and growth of
Japan In the post-WWII period.’
-Students are asked to complete the table in groups to prepare for the debate
competition before lesson. (See Worksheet 6C)
g.

Step 1: the 1st and 2nd Speakers of the Affirmative team each speaks for 3
minutes

Step 2: the 1st and 2nd Speakers of the Negative team each speaks for 3
minutes

Step 3: the 3rd and 4th Speakers of the Affirmative team each speaks for 2
minutes

Step 4: the 3rd and 4th Speakers of the Negative team each speaks for 2
minutes

Step 5: the Affirmative team and the teacher can raise 2 questions for the
Negative Team and the Negative Team can discuss to answer the question for
1 minute and then answer the questions.

Step 6: the Negative team and the teacher can raise 2 questions for the
Affirmative Team and the Affirmative Team can discuss to answer the question
for 1 minute and then answer the questions.

Step 7: the Last Speaker of the Affirmative team makes a conclusion for 3
minutes

Step 8: the Last Speaker of the Negative team makes a conclusion for 3
minutes

Step 9: BREAK (5 minutes)-Each team need to choose the best speaker of
their team and provide sound evidence to support their choice. 4 groups of
judges need to choose the winning team and provide sound evidence to
support their choice. (See Worksheet 6D & 6E)

Step 10: Teacher’s conclusion
Activity 7: Follow-up Task
i.
Students are asked to write an essay ‘Do you agree that the government
played the most important role in bringing about the economic recovery and
growth of Japan in Post-WWII period?’
ii.
Teachers are advised to guide students to study the assessment criteria and
complete the essay based on the criteria so that they have a clear
understanding of the level marking of essay writing. (See Worksheet 7)
4.
Expected outcome/difficulties
a.
Students will have deeper understanding of the problems and difficulties in the
early post-WWII period in order to provide them background information about
the economic recovery and growth of Japan.
b.
Students will have a general picture about the political, social and economic
developments in the early post-WWII Japan.
4
III.
A.4.
Modernisation and Transformation of Japan and Southeast Asia
‘Evaluate the role played by the government in bringing about economic recovery and growth of
Japan In the post-WWII period.’
c.
Students will be aware of the different roles played by different parties in bringing
about the economic recovery and growth of Japan in the post-WWII period.
d.
Students will master skills of data collection, analysis, synthesis and illustrating
personal standpoint with convincing arguments.
e.
Students will have deeper understanding of the importance of respect and
acceptance of others’ opinions through cooperative learning.
5
III.
A.4.
Modernisation and Transformation of Japan and Southeast Asia
‘Evaluate the role played by the government in bringing about economic recovery and growth of
Japan In the post-WWII period.’
Worksheet 1
Mindmapping － Guess what?
Draw a mindmap to show the problems Japan faced in the post-WWII period. Then
discuss with your group members to find out the greatest problem faced by Japan in
that period.
*Reminder: Teachers are advised to provide a large piece of poster/paper for students
to draw a mind map on it.
Mind map － Post-WWII problems in Japan
6
III.
A.4.
Modernisation and Transformation of Japan and Southeast Asia
‘Evaluate the role played by the government in bringing about economic recovery and growth of
Japan In the post-WWII period.’
Worksheet 2
Video show: (《大國崛起：日本篇－百年維新》)
Watch the video (《大國崛起：日本篇－百年維新》) and then find out the political,
social and economic development of Japan after WWII shown in the video.
Answers for reference
Political development of Japan in the Post-WWII period

Realization of democracy with the new constitution ‘Showa Constitution’
under which the sovereignty of the nation was given to people while the
emperor was the symbol of Japan
Social development of Japan in the Post-WWII period

By 1910, over 95% male and 90% female received education
Economic development of Japan in the Post-WWII period

GDP of Japan increased at 9% on average in the period 1955 to 1964. It
even increased over 10% in the period 1965 to 1970

In 1964 the first high speed railway of the world, called ‘Shinkansen’,
linked up Tokyo and Osaka. Its speed was 3 times faster than the general
railways.
7
III.
A.4.
Modernisation and Transformation of Japan and Southeast Asia
‘Evaluate the role played by the government in bringing about economic recovery and growth of
Japan In the post-WWII period.’
Worksheet 3
Video show: (《百年物語》)
Watch the video (《百年物語》) and then find out the economic difficulties faced by
the Japanese after WWII as shown in the video.
Economic difficulties of Japan in the Post-WWII period
Answer for reference:

The death of male members in WWII led to difficult family lives, lack of
materials and food, loss of stable income etc
8
III.
A.4.
Modernisation and Transformation of Japan and Southeast Asia
‘Evaluate the role played by the government in bringing about economic recovery and growth of
Japan In the post-WWII period.’
Worksheet 4
Story Telling
Tell a story of a Japanese to show the economic condition of Japan in the post-WWII
period.
A story of a Japanese in the post-WWII period
9
III.
A.4.
Modernisation and Transformation of Japan and Southeast Asia
‘Evaluate the role played by the government in bringing about economic recovery and growth of
Japan In the post-WWII period.’
Worksheet 5
Anti-adversity Drama Presentation
Write a drama script including FIVE of the following roles and then present them in the
form of a drama:
 the government; merchants; workers; peasants; teachers; students; parents;
sons/daughters
Drama Script
10
III.
A.4.
Modernisation and Transformation of Japan and Southeast Asia
‘Evaluate the role played by the government in bringing about economic recovery and growth of
Japan In the post-WWII period.’
Worksheet 6A
Knowledge deepening
Students are asked to study the textbook, notes and any other supplementary
information materials and then fill in the relevant information about the motion, ‘The
government plays the most important role in bringing about economic recovery and
growth of Japan in the post-WWII period’
Answers for reference
Symptoms of
economic
recovery and
growth of
Japan

From the late 1950s to 1980s, the average annual growth rate of
local GDP was 10%.


Fast development of chemicals, iron and steel, shipbuilding and
transistor radios during the 1960s; automobiles and electronics
in
the
1970s,
computers,
computer
chips
and
other
high-technology industries during the 1980s
Roles played
by the
government

Roles played
by merchants

Instituting regulations and protectionism to manage economic
crisis effectively and to centralize trade expansion in order to
stimulate growth of the private sector
Supporter: to collaborate with the Ministry of International and
Trade Industry (MITI) in implementing the industrial and
commercial policies

Beneficiary: get increasing investment chances from the
economic recovery policies
Roles played
by workers

Supporter: to support the post-war recovery policies; it is due to a
legacy of a feudal system and Confucianism which made the
public preconditioned to accept the hierarchical structure of the
society

Beneficiary: to get higher salaries and better working conditions
because of the booming economy
11
III.
A.4.
Modernisation and Transformation of Japan and Southeast Asia
‘Evaluate the role played by the government in bringing about economic recovery and growth of
Japan In the post-WWII period.’
Roles played
by peasants

Supporter: to accept the post-war recovery policies; it is due to the
legacy of a feudal system and Confucianism which made the
public preconditioned to accept the hierarchical structure of the
society.
Roles played
by teachers

Beneficiary: to get higher profits because of the booming economy

Beneficiary: to benefit from education conditions because of the
booming economy
Roles played
by students

Roles played
by parents

Roles played
by sons and
daughters

Beneficiary: to benefit from education because of the booming
economy
Beneficiary: to benefit from better living conditions and social
welfare policies because of the booming economy
Beneficiary: to benefit from better living conditions, social welfare
policies and education because of the booming economy
12
III.
A.4.
Modernisation and Transformation of Japan and Southeast Asia
‘Evaluate the role played by the government in bringing about economic recovery and growth of
Japan In the post-WWII period.’
Worksheet 6B
Assessment Criteria (for judges)
‘The government plays the most important role in bringing about economic recovery
and growth of Japan in the post-WWII period.’
Upper:
 Clear standpoint with strong evidence/arguments
 Showing a firm grasp of the gist of the question—the greatest importance
of a party
 Effective use of counter arguments to rebut
 Clearly expressed, well organised, persuasive and coherent
Average:
 Clear standpoint with evidence/arguments
 Showing a clear grasp of the gist of the question—the greatest
importance of a party
 Not effective enough to make counter arguments to rebut
 Reasonably expressed, organised,
Lower:
 Shows a standpoint with evidence/arguments
 Shows unclear understanding of the question
 Weak in making counter arguments to rebut
 Weakly expressed and organised
13
III.
A.4.
Modernisation and Transformation of Japan and Southeast Asia
‘Evaluate the role played by the government in bringing about economic recovery and growth of
Japan In the post-WWII period.’
Worksheet 6C
Debate scripts
The 1st/2nd /3rd/ 4th/ Last Speaker
Debate
Topic
Your team:
Standpoint
&
arguments
‘The government plays the most important role in bringing about
economic recovery and growth of Japan in the post-WWII period.’
Opponents’
Team:
Standpoint &
arguments
Counter
arguments
(predicted)
Counter
arguments
(unpredicted)
Guidelines for reference:

Standpoint: clear

Arguments: strong in supporting the standpoint; & effective use of counter-arguments to rebut

Organization: clearly expressed, organized, persuasive and coherent
14
III.
A.4.
Modernisation and Transformation of Japan and Southeast Asia
‘Evaluate the role played by the government in bringing about economic recovery and growth of
Japan In the post-WWII period.’
Worksheet 6D
Assessment Criteria (Judges)
Topic of the Debate: ‘The government plays the most important role in bringing
about economic recovery and growth of Japan in the post-WWII period.’
Jot down the key points provided by 2 sides and write down some feedback below.
Arguments
Arguments
(Affirmative Side)
(Negative Side)
Feeback:
Feedback:
15
III.
A.4.
Modernisation and Transformation of Japan and Southeast Asia
‘Evaluate the role played by the government in bringing about economic recovery and growth of
Japan In the post-WWII period.’
Worksheet 6E
Assessment Mark Sheet(for judges)
Put a in the appropriate boxes below to show the level reached by 2 teams.
Arguments
Arguments
(Affirmative Side)
(Negative Side)
Upper:
Upper:
 Clear standpoint with strong
evidence/arguments
 Clear standpoint with strong
evidence/arguments
 Showing a firm grasp of the gist of
the question—the greatest
importance of a party
 Showing a firm grasp of the gist
of the question—the greatest
importance of a party
 Effective use of counter arguments
to rebut
 Effective use of counter
arguments to rebut
 Clearly expressed, well organised,
persuasive and coherent
 Clearly expressed, well
organised, persuasive and
coherent
Average:
Average:
 Clear standpoint with
evidence/arguments
 Clear standpoint with
evidence/arguments
 Showing a clear grasp of the gist of
the question—the greatest
importance of a party
 Showing a clear grasp of the
gist of the question—the
greatest importance of a party
 Not effective enough to make
counter arguments to rebut
 Not effective enough to make
counter arguments to rebut
 Reasonably expressed, organised
 Reasonably expressed,
organised
Lower:
Lower:
 Shows a standpoint with
evidence/arguments
 Shows a standpoint with
evidence/arguments
 Shows unclear understanding of the
question
 Shows unclear understanding of
the question
 Weak to make counter arguments to
rebut
 Weak to make counter
arguments to rebut
 Weakly expressed and organised
 Weakly expressed and
organised
16
III.
A.4.
Modernisation and Transformation of Japan and Southeast Asia
‘Evaluate the role played by the government in bringing about economic recovery and growth of
Japan In the post-WWII period.’
Worksheet 7
Marking Criteria for the Essay
Do you agree that the government played the most important role in bringing about
the economic recovery and growth of Japan in Post-WWII period?
Criteria
Grade
(Max.
15)
-Coherent presentation with balanced evaluation on the rolw of
government (relative to the others) in bringing about the economic
recovery and growth of Japan in Post-WWII period, supported by
solid historical examples that cover considerably the period.
- Clearly expressed, persuasive, and coherent, showing critical and
analytical judgment.
A
14-15
-Shows good understanding of the question, able to provide a
generally balanced evaluation on the role of government (relative
to the others) in bringing about the economic recovery and grwoth
of Japan in Post-WWII period. Historical examples cover a
considerable Post-WWII period.
- Clearly expressed and logically presented, showing some success
in analyzing relevant issues and/or in presenting a substantiated
argument.
B
12-13
-Shows good understanding of the question, able to provide a
generally balanced evaluation on the role of government (relative
to the others) in bringing about the economic recovery and growth
of Japan in Post-WWII period; but the discussion is obviously
lopsided to the role of government, and/or contains
underdeveloped arguments. Examples cover a good part of the
period in the question.
C
10-11
-Shows general understanding of the question, and the discussion
focuses merely on the role of government; or attempts to tackle
both but marred by rough arguments.
-Basically relevant and accurate contents, but lacking in balance.
D
8-9
- Shows some understanding of the question, and the discussion
focuses merely on the role of government; with rough arguments
and overgeneralisation.
- shows attempts to provide arguments and/or analyse, but
E
6-7
17
III.
A.4.
Modernisation and Transformation of Japan and Southeast Asia
‘Evaluate the role played by the government in bringing about economic recovery and growth of
Japan In the post-WWII period.’
arguments are incoherent and too much narration or description.
- Primarily a narration of the economic development of Japan in
Post-WWII period, without obvious atempt to evaluate the role of
government (relative to the others) in bringing about the economic
recovery and growth of Japan in Post-WWII period.
E/F
5
- A general discussion of the economic development of Japan in
Post-WWII period, and/or shows no efforts of evaluating the role of
government (relative to the others) in bringing about the economic
recovery and growth of Japan in Post-WWII period.
- Containing few relevant and importanct facts; poorly organised
and barely understandable, with conspicuous mistakes in writing or
spelling personal and place names.
F
3-4
Adapted from “Sample Paper and marking scheme reference for HKDSE History 2009”
with permission of the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority.
18