Ocr conferences-highlights

OCR Media Studies Conference Highlights(March 2011, December 2011, November 2012)

Unit G321:

Foundation Portfolio

Unit G321Research and Planning

- Research and planning should be an on-going process throughout the unit. If you conduct more research at a later time, or revise any of the plans of your final pieces, update your work to include the new additions.

- During the research and planning phases, make sure that you discuss texts, audience, institutions and logistics.

- During audience research, try focus groups or vox pops, rather than questionnaires.

- Ensure that you have a lot of evidence for the research and planning phase if you wish to gain high marks for this section (see next slide for exemplar production log).

Title (with date)

Targets identified

Tasks identified

Evaluation (of learning and performance)

Relevant screenshots (linking to work)

Unit G321 (cont.)Construction

- Proofread your own work, or ask somebody else.

- Take a variety of different photos (locations, costumes, props, make-up, lighting, etc).

- During the construction stage, make time to take a step back from the creation of your task and ask yourself or your peers:

* “Is the task appropriate and professional-looking?”

* “Does it do what it is supposed to?”

* “Would it appeal to the target audience?”

Unit G321 (cont.)Evaluation

- In your evaluation, include critical and creative reflections. Also, evaluate and assess the various skills that you have developed.

- Use a variety of approaches during each question in the evaluation – NO essays.

Prezi

Blog

Slidesh

ow

Unit G321 (cont.)Magazine design tips…

- For copyright free images to use on a logo, you can go to... www.sxc.hu or www.istockphoto.com

- The front cover text should be all capitals.

- Use sans serif fonts for headings and serif fonts for body copy (no more than three fonts used on the inside pages).

- The maximum font size should be 10 points.

- Use witty captions for photographs. Do not just describe what is happening in the image.

- The least creative journalistic piece for the double-page spread is an interview.

- Make sure that your journalistic piece is error free.

Unit G322:Key Media Concepts

A) Textual Analysis and Representation

B) Institutions and Audiences

Unit G322 (Section A)Textual analysis and representation tips…

- Do not try to analyse the entire five-minute extract; pick the most important parts to analyse.

- Editing and sound are the most shunned micro elements for analysis. Sometimes they are omitted entirely.

- The various elements of editing should focus on pace, manipulation of time, perspective and narrative.

- Important sound elements include diegetic / non-diegetic sound, dialogue, mode of address, voiceover, synchronous / asynchronous sound, soundtrack / incidental music and pitch.

- Link all of your analyses back to the stated REPRESENTATION.

- Take a highlighter and highlight the first use of each key term in your response. That way you know that you have used them at least once, as will the examiner.

http://prezi.com/vofo4uwyrkwe/ocrmediaconf2011_cutting-edges

Editing and sound

Unit G322 (Section B)Institutions and audiences tips…

- Have at least two contemporary examples / case studies relating to your chosen media industry (i.e. from the last three years).

- Make sure you answer the question that is set on the paper. Be able to explain and evaluate the points you make, to move beyond description – but do not overload your responses with irrelevant theory!

- Leave a line between each paragraph – make it easy for the examiner to read!

- Aim to include your own experiences of media consumption, in relation to your chosen media industry.

Unit G324:

Advanced Portfolio

Unit G324Research and Planning

- Research and planning should be an on-going process throughout the unit. If you conduct more research at a later time, or revise any of the plans of your final pieces, update your work to include the new additions.

- During the research and planning phases, make sure that you discuss texts, audience, institutions and logistics.

- Ensure that you have a lot of evidence for the research and planning phase if you wish to gain high marks for this section (see next slide for exemplar production log).

Title (with date)

Targets identified

Tasks identified

Evaluation (of learning and performance)

Relevant screenshots (linking to work)

Unit G324 (cont.)Construction

- You are marked on your directing skills during video work; control your actors, camera and mise-en-scène.

- The ancillary tasks are just as important as the main task; give them just as much attention.

- The digipak must contain at least four pages (front, back, inside front, inside back, inlays, etc). The more, the merrier. If you are not sure, ask at HMV and other music stores for examples. Wikipedia has a good entry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digipak).

Unit G324 (cont.)Construction

- There should be consistency, a strong sense of house style and a clear identity across all three productions.

- During the construction stage, make time to take a step back from the creation of your task and ask yourself or your peers:

* “Is the task appropriate and professional-looking?”

* “Does it do what it is supposed to?”

* “Would it appeal to the target audience?”

Unit G324 (cont.)Evaluation

- In your evaluation, include critical and creative reflections. Also, evaluate and assess the various skills that you have developed.

- Use a variety of approaches during each question in the evaluation, not just essays.

- For example…

Prezi

Blog

Slidesh

ow

Video lo

g

Audio lo

g

Unit G325:Critical Perspectives in

Media

A) Theoretical Evaluation of Production

B) Contemporary Media Issues

Unit G325 – Section A(Q1)Portfolio evaluation tips…

- Make sure that you divide your time sensibly: Sections A(1) and A(2) half an hour each, section B one hour.

- When evaluating your production work for section A(1), always state what you did, how you did it and why you did it.

- A(1) is all about you, but also apply theory to the practical work and the creative process.

- Make sure that you are taking an evaluative and reflective approach.

- Link two theories to your work and evaluate the value of these theories.

Unit G325 – Section A(Q2)Portfolio evaluation tips…

- Section A(2) is all about the work, but look to apply theory to the work in relation to the set concept.

- You need to be prepared to write about all of the concepts, so you can respond to what comes up on the paper. Choose which production fits which concept the best.

- Examples are crucial – look to give examples from your chosen text as often as possible. Remember, the examiner will not have seen this production, so explain it as thoroughly as possible.

- Link three theories to your chosen text and evaluate the value of these theories in relation to that chosen text.

- It is only natural that you will link in some of the other concepts, which is fine. However, focus more upon the given concept – do not stray too much.

Unit G325 (Section B)Contemporary media issues tips…

- Contemporary means recent. Therefore, your answer should be about media from the last three years. However, you are expected to discuss historical and future uses of media. Approximately 75% contemporary and 25% historical / future.

- Section B is about a deep understanding of a complicated media issue, so make sure that you understand the question and answer the question that is actually set – do not stray.

- You need lots of reading, lots of your own examples and a clear, balanced argument. And you need to make connections.

A-Level Media Studies Statistics

National ResultsThe overall breakdown…

- AS Media Studies = 95% A – E grades.

- AS Media Studies = 10% A grade.

- A2 Media Studies = 99% A – E grades.

- A2 Media Studies = 10% A grade.

- A* overall = 1.7%.

National ResultsThe coursework units breakdown…

- Unit G321 = 93% A – E grades.

- Unit G321 = 18% A grade.

- Unit G324 = 97% A – E grades.

- Unit G324 = 24% A grade.

OCR A-Level Media Studies Blog

http://ocrmediastudies.weebly.com

Web Pages