Media Studies

Media Curriculum Choices 2020

Please see below some information about the course covered during Key Stage 4. You will also find more information about the knowledge and skills covered booklet in a hyperlink below.  During each half-term your child will have regular ‘learning checks’ to assess how well they are progressing against the expected standards. If they do not reach the expected standard in any of these checks, they should be seeking help from their teacher regarding the best possible steps. Teachers will also be sharing with students examples of how to go ‘beyond the expected standards ‘and providing additional challenge.

Y9 – Minimum Expected standards

Y10 – Minimum Expected standards

Y11 – Minimum Expected standards

KS4 Subject Information for Parents / Students

Subject: Media Studies
GCSE Exam board: Y10 –11 WJEC, EDUQAS

Y9- Exploration of core skills

This is a foundation year for the GCSE course in which students will:

  • Explore the theoretical framework in relation to media language, representations, media industries and audiences
  • Be introduced to a range of rich and stimulating products (similar to the set products studied at GCSE level)
  • Attempt examination questions that require analysis, extended responses and comparison of media products
  • Create production work using imaginative techniques.

Year 9 topics include:

  • An introduction to Media Studies (including Film Posters)
  • An Introduction to Crime Drama (including the BBC’s Sherlock Holmes)
  • An Introduction to Production (including Film marketing)
  • An Introduction to Magazines (including GQ and Glamour)
  • An Introduction to Newspapers (including The Sun, The Guardian and The Daily Mail)
  • An Introduction to Music videos (including Bruno Mars and Katy Perry)

Y10- WJEC, EDUQAS

Year 10 topics include:

  • An introduction to the Theoretical Framework
  • Advertising and marketing (including Quality Street, This Girl Can, The Man with the Golden Gun, Spectre)
  • Magazines (GQ and Pride)
  • Newspapers (The Guardian and The Sun)
  • Video Games (Fortnite)
  • Component 3: Research, planning and production (Magazine creation)

Y11- WJEC, EDUQAS

Year 11 Topics include (new specification)

  • Television crime drama (Luther: Series 1, Episode 1)
  • Radio industry (The Archers: Full length episode)
  • Music industry (music videos including online media analysis: Taylor Swift- ‘Bad Blood’, Pharrell Williams ‘Freedom’ and TLC ‘Waterfalls)
  • Revision blocks (Interleaving content, including Y10 topics)

Theoretical Framework

This GCSE Media Studies specification is based on the theoretical framework for exploring and creating media. The framework is based on four interrelated areas:

  • Media language: how the media through their forms, codes and conventions communicate meanings
  • Representation: how the media portray events, issues, individuals and social groups
  • Media industries: how the media industries’ processes of production, distribution and circulation affect media forms and platforms
  • Audiences: how media forms target, reach and address audiences, how audiences interpret and respond to them, and how members of audiences become producers themselves.

The framework provides a holistic and focused approach to interpreting and analysing the media, which learners will develop progressively as they study the three components.

Component 1: Exploring the Media

What’s assessed?

Section A: Exploring Media Language and Representation

This section assesses media language and representation in relation to two of the following print forms: magazines, marketing (film posters), newspapers, or print advertisements. There are two questions in this section.

Section B: Exploring Media Industries and Audiences

This section assesses two of the following media forms: Film, newspapers, radio, video games.

Assessed

Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes

40% of qualification

Question types

Section A:

  • One question assessing media language in relation to one set product (reference to relevant contexts may be required)
  • One two-part question assessing representation in relation to one set product and one unseen resources in the same form. Part (a) is based on media contexts. Part (b) requires comparison through an extended response.
  • Section B:
  • One stepped question on media industries
  • One stepped question on Audiences.

Component 2: Understanding Media forms and Products

What’s assessed?

This component assesses all areas of the theoretical framework and contexts of the media in relation to television and music.

Section A: Television

Section B: Music (music videos and online media)

Assessed

Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes

30 % of qualification

Question types

Section A: Television

  • One question on either media language or representation, which will be based on an extract from one of the set television programme episodes to be viewed in the examination (reference to media contexts may be required)
  • One question on media industries, audiences or media contexts.
  • Section B: Music (music videos and online
  • One question on either media language or representation (reference to relevant contexts may be required)
  • One question on media industries, audiences or media contexts.

Component 3: Creating Media Products

What’s assessed?

An individual media production for an intended audience in response to a choice of briefs set by WJEC, applying knowledge and understanding of media language and representation.

Assessed

Non- exam assessment

30 % of qualification

Year 9:

Year 9 topics include:

  • Autumn 1: An introduction to Media Studies (including Film Posters)
    Print focus – Exploring key fundamentals (including concepts, media literacy and codes and conventions of posters)
  • Autumn 2: An Introduction to Crime Drama (including the BBC’s Sherlock Holmes)
    Moving Image focus – Exploring key fundamentals (including genre, industry factors and codes and conventions of television).
  • Spring 1: An Introduction to Production (including Film marketing)
    Cross-media creative task- Exploring key fundamentals (including pre and post production)
  • Spring 2: An Introduction to Magazines (including GQ and Glamour)
    Print focus- Exploring key fundamentals (including, representation of social groups and drawing comparisons)
  • Summer 1: An Introduction to Newspapers (including The Sun, The Guardian and The Daily Mail)
    Print focus- Exploring key fundamentals (including, representation of societal issues, audience appeal and drawing comparisons)
  • Summer 2: An Introduction to Music videos (including Bruno Mars and Katy Perry)
    Moving Image focus – Exploring key fundamentals (including genre, online marketing and brand identity)

Year 10

  • Autumn 1: Component One Section A: Advertising and marketing (Quality Street, This Girl Can, The Man With The Golden Gun, Spectre)
  • Autumn 2: Component One Section A: Magazines (GQ and Pride)
  • Spring 1: Component One Section A: Newspapers (The Sun and The Guardian)
  • Spring 1: Component One Section B: Newspapers (The Sun – Audience/ Industry)
  • Spring 2: Full trial examination: Component 1
  • Spring 2: Component One Section B: Video Games (Fortnite – Audience/ Industry, Spectre- Industry)
  • Summer 1: Component 3: Submission of statement of Aims
  • Summer 2: Component 3: Full coursework submission

Year 11

  • Autumn 1: Component Two: Section A (Luther: All four key concepts including context)
  • Autumn 2: Component 2: Section A (Luther and The Sweeney: Comparisons- including Audience and Industry)
  • Spring 1: Component Two: Section B (Taylor Swift, Pharrell Williams and TLC: All four key concepts including context)
  • Spring 2: Full trial examination: Component Two
  • Summer 1: Component One Section B: Radio (The Archers- Audience / Industry)

 

**Students are assessed half termly and termly as well as internal and external mock examinations

Subject specific websites to support revision and independent learning:

https://www.musicindustryhowto.com/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/ztnygk7

http://theory.org.uk/

https://www.sportengland.org/our-work/women/this-girl-can/

http://www.christies.com/features/Classic-James-Bond-movie-posters-6684-1.aspx

http://www.magforum.com.

http://pridemagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/PrideMediaPack2015.pdf

http://digital-

assets.condenast.co.uk.s3.amazonaws.com/static/mediapack/gq_media_pack_latest.pdf

http://www.bbc.co.uk/aboutthebbc/insidethebbc/whoweare/ataglance

Websites of regulatory bodies:

Ofcom – television and radio (including video-on-demand services) https://www.ofcom.org.uk/tv-radio-and-on-demand

BBFC – film (theatrical and DVD, also digital/ streaming), music videos (pilot scheme) http://www.bbfc.co.uk/

IPSO – magazines and newspapers https://www.ipso.co.uk/ IMPRESS – press regulator http://impress.press/

ASA – advertising https://www.asa.org.uk/About-ASA/About-regulation.aspx

VSC – video games http://videostandards.org.uk/VSC /

Recommended subject guides:

A range of guides are available for on Amazon.co.uk for the WJEC (EDUQAS), Media Studies course, but perhaps the most useful is the following:

WJEC/Eduqas GCSE Media Studies by Hayley Sheard. Published by Illumiate Publishing; (14 May 2018) ISBN: 1911208489

Wider reading:

The Media Students’ Book by Gill Branston and Roy Stafford. Published by Routledge; 5thedition (27 May 2010) ISBN: 9780415558426

Media, Gender and Identity: An Introduction by David Gauntlett. Published by Routledge; 2nd edition (18 March 2008); ISBN 9780415396615

Media Studies: Text, Production, Context by Paul Long and Tim Wall. Published by Routledge; 2nd edition (27 Jul 2012); ISBN: 9781408269510

Narrative and Genre: Key Concepts in Media Studies by Nick Lacey. Published by Palgrave

Macmillan (22 Feb. 2000); ISBN: 978-0333658727

Image and Representation: Key Concepts in Media Studies by Nick Lacey. Published by Palgrave Macmillan (15 April 2009); ISBN: 978-0230203358

Media, Institutions and Audiences: Key Concepts in Media Studies by Nick Lacey. Published by Palgrave Macmillan (7 May 2002); ISBN: 978-0333658703

Luther Information:

The Sweeney Background information:

Media Magazine is published quarterly by The English and Media Centre. This is available on subscription only – for institutions or individuals. This covers a range of media issues, theories and texts with articles written by academics, media professionals, teachers and students- please ask your Media Studies teacher for the log in details.

Additional information:

  • Homework projects: Students may be asked to complete pre-study booklets and pre-study tasks in preparation for lessons
  • The Media Department runs weekly study supports (on a Monday) to support our Y11 and Y13 students (students in Y9/10 may also be asked to attend sessions intermittently)
  • Extension tasks and example questions are available using the Proactivity box service.