Explanation of A2 Media Studies Course

Explanation of A2 Media Studies Course

• 1.
  Explanation of A2Media Studies Course for OCR By Heather Larkin
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  As with theAS course, there are a further two units that comprise A2. • G324 Advanced Portfolio in Media (C/W) • G325 Critical Perspectives in Media (EXAM) Each is worth 50% of the A2 grade (25% of A-level)
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  Coursework Elements • Researchand Planning (20 marks) • Promotion Package (60 marks) which is made up of the following tasks: 1. Main task: Music Video (40 marks) 2. Ancillary tasks: Poster and Digipak (20 marks) • Evaluation (20 marks)
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  Promotion Package Details •The Promotion Package consists of three products. 1. Music Video (no longer than 3 minutes). 2. A digipak for the album’s release. 3. A magazine advertisement for the digipak. Examiners are looking for clear similarities within all three products as they want you to create a BRAND IDENTITY
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  Evaluation Questions • Inwhat ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? • How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts? • What have you learnt from your audience feedback? • How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?
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  Exam Elements • TheG325 Critical Perspectives Exam is 2 hours long, comprising of two sections. 1. Section A: Theoretical Evaluation of Production (50 marks) 2. Section B: Contemporary Media Issues (50 marks)
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  Exam Section A •Section A has two compulsory questions: • Q1(a) asks you to describe and evaluate your skills development over the course of all your production work, from AS to A2. • Questions will be based on one or two of the categories: digital technology, research/planning, creativity, post-production or using conventions from real media products. • Q1(b) asks you to select one of your productions and evaluate it in relation to one of the following media concepts: genre, narrative, representation, audience or media language.
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  Exam Section B •Answer one question under ‘Contemporary Media Regulation’. Examples: • What is the nature of contemporary media regulation compared with previous practices? • What are the arguments for and against specific forms of contemporary media regulation? • How effective are regulatory practices? • What are the wider social issues relating to media regulation?
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  Research and PlanningGrading For a Level 4 band (16-20 marks): • Planning and research evidence will be complete and detailed. • There is excellent research into similar products and a potential target audience. • There is excellent work on shot-lists, layouts, drafting, scripting or storyboarding. • There is excellent organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props. • Time management is excellent. • There is excellent skill in the use of digital technology or ICT in the presentation. • There are excellent communication skills. • There is an excellent level of care in the presentation of the research and planning.
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  Grading of MusicVideo For a Level 4 band: There will be excellent demonstration in the creative use of most of the following technical skills: • Shooting material appropriate to the task set: including controlled use of the camera, attention to framing, variety of shot sizes and close attention to mise-en- scene. • Editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer and making selective and appropriate use of shot. • Transitions, captions and other effects. • Recording and editing sound with images appropriately. • Excellent contribution to group construction is evident.
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  Grading of AncillaryTasks For a Level 4 Band: The candidate is expected to demonstrate excellence in the creative use of most of the following technical skills: • Awareness of conventions of layout and page design. • Awareness of the need for variety in fonts and text size. • Accurate use of language. • The appropriate use of ICT for the task set. • Appropriate integration of illustration and text. • Framing a shot, using a variety of shot distances as appropriate. • Shooting material appropriate to the task set: selecting mise-en- scene including colour, figure, lighting, objects and setting. • Manipulating photographs as appropriate, including cropping and re-sizing. • Excellent group contribution is evident.