A Level Media Studies

FYI, this information is taken straight from the AS Media Specification:

The Examination for Unit 1: Investigating
Media

The examination for Unit 1 will take the form of a two
hour two-part examination paper. It will be marked
out of 80. Section A tests AO1 and Section B tests
AO2. Quality of Written Communication will be
assessed in Section B.

Section A (1 hour 15 minutes including 15 minutes
reading/viewing time) will consist of four short
answer questions, all compulsory, relating to a
piece of unseen stimulus material. The unseen
material will take the form of one of the following:
moving image, audio, e-media or print. Questions
will require candidates to focus on: media forms,
codes and conventions; media representations;
media institutions, media audiences and values
and ideologies, and candidates will be required to
demonstrate knowledge and understanding of these
media concepts and the contexts in which they
appear. 48 marks

Section B (45 minutes) will require a sustained
response to one of a choice of two questions which
will give the candidates the opportunity to write
about their cross-media study. Questions will not be
topic-specific but designed to allow candidates to
show what they know and understand about media
products and processes by applying their knowledge
and understanding of media concepts and contexts.
32 marks

AO1 is: Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of media concepts, contexts and critical debates
AO2 is: Apply knowledge and understanding when analysing media products and processes and evaluating their own practical work, to show how meanings and responses are created
———————————————————————————————-

So on a similarly related note, your presentation deals directly with Exam Question 2 and AO2. Therefore to score highest marks on your exam (and presentation) keep in mind you need to do the following:

**communicate understanding of media forms, codes and conventions (you will discuss how each media form reaches its target audience, what the benefits are, what codes and conventions your media pieces use to convey meaning/ideas)
**explore through analysis of media products and processes how these aspects create meaning (link your case study to the media forms used and discuss the audience reached, the institutions and their intentions and the representations created/why institutions created them like this)

Last class we scheduled times for your casework presentations. Be prepared to share your answers and field questions from your peers and myself for roughly ten minutes!

If you are struggling with what to write, see the next blog posting for assessment objectives and ideas on what to write/present!

Friday 7 May, 2010
Stephanie
Aisha
Mariam
OShaya
Saffron

Thursday 13 May, 2010
Ania
Aida
Eliana
Ayan
Andrea
Billie

Friday 14 May 2010
Shanel
Robin
Saffa
Rojda
Stacey
Tamsin

For those of you who were not in attendance last class, you will need to come and see me to schedule a time to show your presentation–there are two slots available for Friday the 7th of May. Otherwise you will need to schedule a time before or after school or during lunch. These individuals are:
Nora
Tyra
Dilber
Imen
Jennifer

Okay folks, we’ve discussed the case study and worked on bits in class. It is now time to prepare answers based on your chosen case studies. You will be delivering these presentations as if you were in a board room pitching your ideas to a prospective company.

Be prepared to answer ONE of the following two questions on your presentation day. You may bring in notes, but you should by no means read off of your paper for the entire session. The aim of this presentation is to prepare you for the seen, Cross Media Study section of your exam.

So…be prepared to answer:
EITHER
1. To what extent do the media products in your case study do more than just entertain their audience(s)? In your answer you should:
**Provide a brief outline of your case study
**Consider how far the media products in your case study also inform, educate and provide opportunities for interaction and participation
**Support your answer with reference to examples from three media platforms.
(32 marks)

OR
6. Consider the reasons media products from your case study are present across a range of media platforms. In your answer you should:
**Provide a brief outline of your case study
**Discuss the advantages for producers of each media platform
**Support your answer with reference to examples from three media platforms.
(32 marks)

Bon chance!

Today we’ll be focusing on how your film/artist is represented across the e-media platform. For this, I have provided some links to well-known social networking sites along with the film’s official website. Have a look and consider the following points:

**What audience does each website appeal to? Why and how? (try to include a discussion of media language choices)
**How is audience interactivity promoted through each particular website?
**Why might an institution have chosen to promote their film/artist in this manner?
**What values and ideologies does the site promote?
**Discuss how the film/artist is represented.

The Slumdog Millionaire official website UK edition

Follow Slumdog on Facebook:

On Twitter:

top of myspace page

Compare the front covers of each of these magazines. Consider the representations of the characters–in particular Frieda Pinto. How is she presented in each cover and why? (Bring in a discussion of institution and media language in doing this).

Cover One--Entertainment Weekly

Cover Two--Vogue

Cover Three--Maxim

When you have completed this, continue with your individual research. Find at least two print media articles that compare your film/artist. Discuss the differences and similarities in representation, institution and media language–why choose the layout as such? camera shots? etc.

Thanks everyone for your insightful posts thus far. I’m taking some time to read through them and give you feedback. If you haven’t posted ideas yet (either individually or in a small group) get on it!

Today you’re going to be adding to the research you’re supposed to have been doing for your own individual case studies. This means…you will need to discuss which films/television shows/music videos/artists you are going to research for your individual case studies. This can either be done on a comment here or on your own individual blogs.

So here’s what you need to do:
–discuss which artists/media you are going to look at and compare (remember you want to compare two vastly different pieces of media)
–find links to websites, music videos, reviews, etc that you will be looking at…post these too!
–consider, compare and answer: What is the audience response like for each piece of media you are looking at?
–What are the differences in how your film/artist/video is represented across the media platforms. For example: How might ‘This is England’ be represented differently in ‘Total Film’ versus ‘The Sun’?
–What/how is your audience appealed to in the different media platforms? For example: how does the myspace website appeal to a specific audience compared to watching the film?

You will need to be ready to discuss your findings with Mr. Mitchell in your lesson period 6 today.

Ready, set, go!