Overview
This is an exciting and innovative course that covers all areas of the media that affect our everyday lives, such as television, newspapers, radio, film, magazines, the internet, etc. The examination, which is at the end of Year 11, is focused on News, in 2017 it is Newspapers and Radio News, followed by TV News and News Websites in 2018.
Controlled assessments will provide students with the opportunity to show their analytical skills in depth, investigating and then writing their findings about particular media texts, with a focus on genre, representations and narrative.
The course also involves an exciting production piece in which students will be able to build on their knowledge and understanding of media texts and produce one of their own. The production tasks are designed to suit a variety of students with a range of skills. The assignments, and examination topics are built around the concepts of thinking about the media (involving investigating media texts and their various contexts) and creating for the media (involving planning, producing and presenting media texts).
Year 10
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Term 1 |
Term 2 |
Term 3 |
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Genre Conventions Technical Codes Mise en Scene |
Audience Theories Narrative Theories Representation |
Marketing and Promotion Regulation and Control Production Controlled Assessment |
Year 11
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Term 1 |
Term 2 |
Term 3 |
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Production controlled assessment Newspaper (Conventions, Technical Codes, Layout and Design)
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Newspapers (Language, Representation) Radio News (Local, National) |
Radio News (Different Types, Language, Representation) Exam Preparation |
Homework
Homework is set in a range of forms, so as to encourage a range of learning styles and assess different skills. Homework can be essay/exam based, practical and creative, as well as requiring students to consume a particular media text.
Other Useful Information
Exam board website: www.wjec.co.uk
Qualifications: There are clear links between the GCSE and AS and A Level study of the Media and Film, as well as English Literature, English Language, Art and Design, Photography, Sociology, and Psychology.
Possible careers: Journalism, TV production, radio, web design, photography, marketing, publishing, politics, teaching, advertising, computer game designing, new media production and many more.
Lunch time support sessions are currently taking place on Mondays and Fridays.
After school sessions to challenge the most able take place on Wednesdays.
For subject updates and resources, visit the LHS Media website: http://lhsmedia.wix.com/mediastudies
NB – These session are subject to change.
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Assessment: Internal assessments take place at least once per half term. They consist of essay based exam questions and practical production assessment. GCSE Assessment Unit 1:
Unit 2:
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5 ways I can help my son/daughter |
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1 |
Encourage you son/daughter to consume a range of media texts. In particular, ones which they may not necessarily enjoy or be the target audience for. |
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2 |
Share your responses to media texts, and discuss how the responses of those in your household are similar and/or different. |
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3 |
Encourage creativity. We use Adobe Photoshop a lot, so access to this programme will help greatly. |
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4 |
For A Level students, we recommend you purchase the ‘WJEC AS Media studies Study and Revision Guide’ or the ‘WJEC A2 Media Studies Study Guide’. Both published by Illuminate Publishing. |
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5 |
For GCSE students we recommend you purchase ‘WJEC GCSE Media Studies: Study & Revision Guide’ by Illuminate Publishing. |