Critical Investigation

You should now be working hard on your coursework topic.

The schedule is as follows: research should now be complete

Dec 2nd & 9th - write up

Dec 16th - First draft in for feedback. Plan linked production (research, storyboard, draft ideas)

xmas hols: Production work

Jan 6: first draft will be given back to you with comments. Continue production

Jan 13: Post-production. Final draft of written critical investigation

Jan 19: Parents evening and progress check

Jan 20: Final phase of production (rendering, mastering copying, packaging, distribution)

Complete written critical investigation

Jan 27: All work to be in by Jan 29th. If not, Parents will be contacted re coursework concern & completion consultation on Fri Feb 5th from 6.00pm

Thank you for your work on narrative. There is a definite improvement in the amount you are writing, the detail and the quality of analysis. Work on using relevant examples from the film/TV episode.

Next week we will look at a particular episode of a TV programme such as Torchwood or Dr Who as they provide ideal material for debate about the theories and concepts we have been looking at.

You will also do the assessment on genre and narrative which we went through today. I will expect good answers on sections A & B plus: one more answer from section C to reflect your research and reading work on audience.

I hope you enjoyed the episode of Extras. An ideal media text for exploring issues of Postmodernism, narrative, representation and genre. There's also quite a lot about industry and audiences too.

You have an essay on narrative: Explore the issue of narrative through a study of a film or TV programme of your choice.

Make sure you write plenty - generally twice as much as you have dine so far

include plenty of examples from your chosen text

bring in other Key Concepts (RAILI nG) and make connections.

No lesson today - Wednesday 23rd, as it's a Verulam Inset Day. You have the genre task to do for Wed 30th. Include plenty of detail and media terminology. You should be 'digging deep' into the issues of genre.

welcome back

Welcome back and well done on your AS results. Let's aim to get more A's and B's this year.

The previous blogs on this site are aimed at last year's class who were doing the OCR course. This is the first year of the AQA A2 course.

You should be living and breathing media, taking an active interest everything to do with media. I would like you to keep a glossary of media terms and also a media diary in which you analyse media texts you encounter using the RAILING key concepts.

We will start of with an examination of ideas on GENRE. You will investigate recent examples in film & TV. This could be used as a background initial research for MEST 4, if you choose to explore this area.

revision lessons

Yes we will have an optional revision lesson for an hour today - Friday 15th. 1 hour. Go to reception around 9.05 and we'll find a room. Topic: UK cinema

There will be another one on Friday 5th June. 

Please note: I also need to sign off your notes for paper 2734 before the day of the exam.  This is essential.

Issues and debates 2735

The other film topic you could choose in paper 2735 is Contemporary UK Cinema. Look at your notes on Slumdog Millionaire and refer to the revision guide.
Here are some practice past essays: Spend about 10 mins planning & 45 mins writing.
BE SPECIFIC and think MEDIA TERMINOLOGY!
Each of the following titles also contains the instruction 'refer to at least 2 films you have studied'
1) How does British Cinema reflect the conditions and attitudes of society? Discuss with reference to at least two films you have studied.
2) Discuss representations of any one or two of the following with reference to at least two films you have studied: a) men b) women c) minority ethnic groups d) London e) a UK region f) British people & Britishness
3) What are the defining themes and features of British Cinema since 2005? How are they reflected in the films you have studied? What aspects, if any, make these films uniquely British?
4) How 'realistic' is the image of Britain in the films you have studied?
5) What are the dominant themes in British Cinema since 2005?
6) In what ways does modern British Cinema reflect or reject the values of a Hollywood dominated film industry?
7) What aspects of a film make it uniquely British?
8) 'UK films are all sad, depressing and grim'. How true is this statement, in your opinion?

Critical Research Study - 2734

You have all chosen really good topics. Guidelines on marking and what to include can be found in this mark scheme document, around pages 16-19.

You should be spending every media lesson on this unit plus about three hours extra a week so that everything is in place for handing in on April 24th.

Year 13 Media- Critical research project

You should all be working hard on your critical research project. We will expect to see written evidence of progress in every lesson up to Easter. Your four pages of handwritten notes are to be submitted in your first media lesson after Easter. 

Slumdog Millionaire

You have now all seen the film.  Now you need to discuss it and write about it.  It fits perfectly with so many aspects of the course. It's ideal for the unit on Contemporary British Cinema.

 Use this study guide and get busy.  Hand in on Friday 6th March.

Verulam Media Studies A2 Revision

Welcome to the Year 13 Media revision blog.

Forget the VLE. It's too complicated to get everyone logged on with passwords and enrolment keys. This seems to be the best way to move forward.
You are all doing fine but we'd like you to work hard, attend regularly and get some serious work done on media theory and concepts. This is where your work will benefit and your grades will improve.