Year 11 Paper 1 assessment: Learner response

The Paper 1 assessment was a great opportunity to revise some of the content from last year and develop our exam technique. 

Every time we do a paper like this it helps us to learn how the questions are structured, how to answer social and cultural context questions and how to manage our time.  

We now need to complete a learner response to the assessment to help reflect on what we are learning and how we can improve our exam technique. You may find reading the mark scheme useful for reflecting on these exams - you'll need your Greenford Google login to access these documents:

• Year 11 assessment - Paper 1 mark scheme

Year 11 Paper 1 assessment: Learner Response

Create a blogpost called 'Paper 1 assessment learner response'.

1) Type up your feedback in full (you do not need to write mark/grade if you do not wish to).

2) Look at the mark scheme for this assessment. For Question 2 (12 mark unseen) use the indicative content in the mark scheme to identify three points that you could have referred to in your answer.

3) For Question 3 (Galaxy - narrative features) use the mark scheme to write down the main narrative theories and how we can link them to the Galaxy advert CSP. 

4) Now look at Question 4 - Tatler and social/cultural contexts. Use the mark scheme to identify three points you could have made in your answer here.

5) On Section B, focus on Question 7 - film industry and Black Widow. Use the mark scheme to identify three ways Black Widow was marketed to its audience.

6) Finally, write down three things you are going to work on before your next mock exam in December (e.g. time management; revising CSPs etc.)

If you don't finish this LR in the lesson your papers are returned, complete for homework - due date on Google Classroom.

Coursework: Statement of Intent

The first 10 marks of our coursework are for a written Statement of Intent.

This is simply a Word or Google Document in which we write what we are planning to make for our coursework. Your completed summer project will give you most of the information you need for this - particularly the planning section - but you may have changed or developed your idea since the summer. Your preliminary exercise learner response may also help you consider what you plan to create for your real coursework.

Our coursework brief for 2024 can be found here - we are working on Brief 2 - Print Magazine.

The Statement of Intent word count is 300 words - you can go slightly above this if you want to but you need to keep it close to 300.

This Statement of Intent guidance will help you if you're not sure what to write - you'll need your Greenford Google login to access it. The most important thing is that you cover media language, representations and the target audience in your Statement of Intent.

Another tip is that you can use subheadings and bullet points in your Statement of Intent - it doesn't need to all be in paragraphs. In fact, bullet points are very useful for keeping the word count down. 

Finally, here is an example statement of intent from a previous year - note this was a different brief and media type but the layout and use of media terminology and theory may help you. 

Here's the Statement of Intent mark scheme: 

Statement of Intent: task

1) Write your Statement of Intent on a Word or Google Doc - word count 300 words. Use this Statement of Intent guidance document to help you.

Submit your Statement of Intent to your teacher by emailing them the Word or Google Document. 

Due date: on Google Classroom

Year 11 Media assessment: revision and preparation

All subjects have to run a Year 11 assessment before the next set of interims. As we're focused on coursework currently, we are going to give you a mini-Paper 1 assessment to help revise content from last year.

Your assessment will be similar to the exam you did at the end of last year but this time will focus on Paper 1. Your exact date will depend on the timetable as these assessments are in-class. Your Media teacher will be able to tell you when your assessment will run.  

Below is a full guide to what you need to revise for this assessment.   

Know your exams

One of the most important aspects of preparing for examinations is knowing exactly what topics could come up in each exam. For your Paper 1 assessment, this is what might come up:

Paper 1

Paper 1 Section A: Language and Representation

• Unseen text: advert, social media screengrab or music promotion of some kind. Multiple choice questions plus media language analysis (12 marks). 
• Advertising & Marketing: OMO advert, Galaxy Audrey Hepburn advert and the NHS Represent blood donation campaign. 
• Magazines: Tatler and Heat.

Paper 1 Section B: Audience and Industry

• Media Industries questions - media terminology / theory / regulation (2 marks).
• Film: Black Widow and I, Daniel Blake. 
• Music Video: BLACKPINK - How You Like That and Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor.

Your real Paper 1 exam will also contain a 20-mark essay on either Film, Radio, Music Video, Newspapers or Videogames/Online, Social and Participatory Media but this will not be part of this assessment. 

Paper 2

You will not be taking Paper 2 as part of this assessment but we will take on a full 90-minute Paper 2 as part of the December mock exams. More details on that nearer the time!  

How to revise

Revision is a very personal thing and everyone has different techniques. Personally, I strongly recommend using flash cards (they are often called record cards if you are trying to buy them online or in WHSmiths). The simple act of distilling topics into a few key words or phrases to put on the card will seriously help in remembering the key information in the final exams. We recommend having three sections to your revision cards:

1. Media terminology and key words
2. Media theories
3. CSPs

I have spare flash cards in DF07 if you'd like some.  

Good luck with your revision and give this assessment your best shot!

Coursework: Research and pre-production

Proper research and pre-production planning is vital - this is where you prepare all the key details that make your print coursework successful.

Over the next two weeks we will be finalising our pre-production and starting our photography and page design. 

Pre-production: blog tasks

Create a blogpost called 'Pre-production' and work through the following tasks.

1) Research front covers and double page spreads

Research five magazine front covers and double pages spreads (you may have some of these already from your Summer Project). Pick out one things from each cover and double page spread that you could use in YOUR production work.

2) Front cover sketch and plan

Sketch out your front cover on a plain piece of A4 paper. You may want to use your preliminary exercise front cover but it is still important to sketch it out and make sure the key conventions are on there (e.g. cover lines). Once you have finished your sketch, take a photo and upload it to your blog.

3) Double page spread sketch and plan

Sketch out your double page spread on a plain piece of landscape A4 paper. You don't need to write the article on this - it's just about planning the design of the page. What images will you use and where will they appear on the page? What will your headline and subheading be? Will you have any sidebars or additional images as part of the feature? Once you have finished your sketch, take a photo and upload it to your blog.

4) Write your feature 

On Google Docs, write your 300-400 word feature that will appear on the double page spread. It needs to link to one of the cover lines on your front cover - ideally the main cover line and central image. It is a good idea to read some magazine features before writing your own as you want it to sound as professional as possible. Here are some examples you can read:

• Tatler: February cover Gugu Mbatha-Raw - star of The Girl Before 
• Tatler: Meet the It girl of the moment: Tatler’s March cover star Ella Richards 
• Tatler: Meet Morgan Riddle: how this Bright Young Thing became ‘The Most Famous Woman in Men’s Tennis’
• GQ: Chris Evans Is Having Second Thoughts

Note: these examples are a LOT longer than 350 words but they useful to see how features are written, how interviews are conducted and the way the reader is made to feel part of the conversation. 

5) Photography plan 

Plan all the photography you'll need for your front cover and double page spread. Think about mise-en-scene - use CLAMPS to remember this:

• Costume: what will your model wear?
• Lighting: will you do the photoshoot in school with lights or at home/outside?
• Actors: who will be in your photo? How will they look? Smiling or serious? Angelic or aggressive? 
• Make-up: do you need any particular make-up? 
• Props: does the photoshoot require any props? 
• Setting: where will the photoshoot take place? 

6) Project schedule

Plan a full project schedule - when will you plan, take photos, design on Photoshop? Map out the next few weeks - deadlines will be shared by your teacher on Google Classroom.

Deadline: on Google Classroom

Media Awards 2023: The Nominations

The nominations are in for the Media Awards 2023!

We now have a date for the ceremony: Tuesday 19 September 2023. We've had an incredibly difficult job finalising the nominations - the quality level at both GCSE and A Level is excellent and there has been a lot of good work that hasn't made the cut.

If you haven't been before, the Media Awards is our Oscars-style ceremony where we award trophies for the best Media coursework at GCSE and A Level. It's a major event in the Greenford calendar and tickets have completely sold out whenever we have run the event in the past. The details for this year's awards:

Date: Tuesday 19 September
Time: 5.30pm - 7.30pm
Tickets: £5

Tickets will go on sale when we're back at school after the summer break - keep an eye for on-sale dates then. There will be an exclusive pre-sale window for Media students before general sale to any Greenford student in Year 10 or above.

Remember - you need to be quick. The event has sold out in just four days in previous years!

A Level nominations

BEST A LEVEL SOUND DESIGN

Wasif – Throne 

Scarlett – Pink Music

Thomas – TRB 

BEST A LEVEL CINEMATOGRAPHY

Rish – Sharu 

Krissie – Chimes

Saad – Young Abz

BEST A LEVEL PRODUCTION DESIGN

Kanye – Ambiguous 

Nikhil – Witold 

Ashleen – Beelzebub

BEST A LEVEL EDITING

Tarliyah – Ciel

Lemmy – Poki 

Sade – Mars

BEST A LEVEL MUSIC PROMO CONCEPT

Zayna – Reign 

Haaris - Brain

Jadesola – Yomi 

BEST A LEVEL POST-PRODUCTION

Isra – NVU 

Sade – Mars

Ismail – Rocky 

GCSE nominations

BEST GCSE MUSIC VIDEO CINEMATOGRAPHY

Krrish – Something In The Way

Kriti – Youth 

Mohammed – Stand By Me 

Sally – Ghosting 

BEST GCSE MUSIC VIDEO CONCEPT

Malak – Happier Than Ever

Waleed – Eye Of The Tiger

Amariah – She’s All I Wanna Be

Mamdouh – Till I Collapse 

BEST GCSE MUSIC VIDEO EDITING

Sally – Ghosting  

Diako – Sticky Situations 

Rishi – It Was A Good Day

Greta – Hide ‘n’ Seek

Best Actress and Actor

BEST ACTOR 2023

Khalid 

Abayomi 

Thomas 

Haaris 

BEST ACTRESS 2023

Amariah 

Scarlett 

Zayna 

Ashleen 

Congratulations to all our nominees and we look forward to seeing you at the Media Awards on Tuesday 19 September! 

Coursework: Preliminary exercise 2023 - Print brief

The first aspect of your GCSE Media Studies coursework is a preliminary exercise that introduces the basics of photo editing and page design.

This is a brilliant opportunity to get to know the basics of planning, photography and page design. You may even produce something that you can end up using in your actual coursework production!

Preliminary exercise: Magazine cover task

Your preliminary exercise involves coming up with a new, original magazine aimed at a wealthy, educated audience and creating a front cover for the magazine. 

Deadline: three weeks

Help and advice

Watch this YouTube video on how to make a magazine cover using Photoshop. You'll find it gives you ideas to use in your own production as well as technical tips for Adobe Photoshop:

You can also find an extended one-hour Adobe Bootcamp Photoshop tutorial Adobe here:

Preliminary exercise: Magazine cover task

Task: Create a new, original magazine aimed at a wealthy, educated audience and design a front cover for the magazine. 

Equipment: School camera for photoshoot in class. Note: you can take your cover photo at home if you wish using your phone or your own camera. You may need to bring in the cable to capture the image from your phone or use data to upload to Google Drive or iCloud.

Groups: None. You MUST work individually. However, you don't have to appear on your own magazine cover and can use someone else (they can be from outside school if you take the photo at home). 

What your magazine cover needs to include

Content: Your cover must include your title and slogan, a central image and main story to go with the cover image. In addition, you need at least four cover lines that will appeal to your audience, a bar code, date and price. 

Main image: You need to plan out your central image - think about who your cover star will be, what they will wear and what type of camera shot and angle you will use. 

Editing: You will need to create your magazine cover using Adobe Photoshop.

Deadlines

Planning: this week's lesson.

Photoshoot: next week.

Editing and final deadline: see Google Classroom


Preliminary exercise tasks: planning

Before creating anything in Media you need to plan out exactly what you are going to do. You need to complete the following planning tasks on your blog before you can edit anything.

Create a blogpost called 'Preliminary exercise planning' and work through the following tasks:

Statement of intent: 100 words explaining what you plan to make.

Example statement of intent [114 words]: 

I plan to create a magazine called 'Frontier' with the slogan 'Get ahead in YOUR life'. The magazine is aimed at wealthy young people working in business in major cities like London, New York or Dubai.   

My cover image will be of a young male in a sharp suit and sunglasses looking at the camera. The main feature to go with the cover image will be an interview with the cover star - the youngest tech millionaire in London. The magazine colour scheme will be light grey, quite futuristic and sleek. The rest of the cover lines will focus on topics my audience will be interested in such as life hacks, cars, technology and travel.  [114 words]

Title: Come up with the title for your magazine. You can use your summer project planning if you have it. 

Slogan: What will your magazine's slogan be?

Cover star: Who will be your cover star and what will they look like? 

Main story: What is the main story to go with your cover image?

Cover lines: What other cover lines will go on your magazine cover? you will film (ideally film off-site as this will create a stronger production). 

Sketch: Create an A4 sketch of your front cover making it clear where each aspect will appear.

Extension task: Will you include any additional images on the cover? What celebrities or key topics could you include that will appeal to your audience? 

Planning deadline: on Google Classroom. Good luck!

Reminder: Foundation Media Summer Project 2023

The summer project is a fantastic opportunity to start planning your Media coursework.

Your summer project contains compulsory and optional elements; everybody will be researching magazines, coming up with a new magazine aimed at rich people and then writing a Statement of Intent first draft. However, if you wish to write and take photos for your production over the summer while you have time available we would fully support you in this approach.

Summer project tasks

Complete the following tasks on a blogpost on your Media blog called 'Summer Project: coursework planning':

1) Research: Magazine covers and features

You need to research magazine front covers and double-page spread features.

Tatler magazine covers

Find three different Tatler magazine covers:

Front cover conventions: What conventions or typical features can you find on the covers you have researched?  

Image analysis: What do you notice about the central images on the magazine covers? What do you notice about the mise-en-scene (CLAMPS) - particularly costume, make-up and setting? 

Representations: What representations of people and groups can you find on these covers?

Double-page spread features

Find three different double page spread magazine features like these:

Double page spread feature conventions: What conventions or typical features can you find on the double page spread features you have researched?  

Image analysis: What do you notice about the use of images? How are they laid out on the page? How does the mise-en-scene (CLAMPS) create meanings for the audience? 

Representations: What representations can you find in these features?  

Additional research: optional extension
Depending on your coursework plan and the type of magazine you wish to create, you may want to research additional magazine covers and features. Focus on the lifestyle genre of magazines and try to find titles that are aimed at rich or successful audiences. 

Whatever you research, make sure you write some additional notes or bullet points about these magazines on your blog so you are documenting your research.


2) Magazine planning 

Plan out the title and cover star for your new, original lifestyle magazine. 

Complete this Magazine planning document with your NEW original idea for a lifestyle magazine aimed at rich and successful people. Copy and paste the questions from the Google doc into your blog. 

3) Statement of Intent

On the same Summer Project blogpost, write the rough first draft of your genuine 300-word Statement of Intent for the magazine and double-page spread feature you plan to create. The final draft of this document will be submitted to the exam board alongside your production work and is worth 10 marks of the overall 60 marks available.

Guidance is provided by AQA in their NEA Student Booklet but we strongly recommend you also look at our Statement of Intent suggested content document too.


Summer project deadline: all tasks above due in the second lesson back in September.

Welcome to GCSE Media - final year!

This is your new blog home for the final year of your GCSE in Media Studies - welcome!

This is where you'll find everything you need for coursework and exam preparation for this crucial final year of your GCSE Media course.

Good luck and let's earn those top grades! 

Easter revision and exam preparation

Here's everything you need to know for your revision and preparation for the final exams.

This week is all about getting our coursework submitted at the highest quality possible and then all our attention will turn to the two exams.

Media Paper 1

Media Paper 1 is on Tuesday 16 May in the afternoon.

Section A: Media Language, Representations and Contexts

Unseen text analysis

• Unseen text analysis - look at previous assessment LRs and revise mise-en-scene (CLAMPS) and other key media language from your GLoW Media glossary.

Magazines: 

• Tatler - original blog notes here 
• Heat - original blog 
• You can find the original lesson slides here in our GCSE lesson slides folder on Google Drive.

Advertising & Marketing: 

• OMO - original blog notes here
• Galaxy Audrey Hepburn Chauffeur advert - original blog notes here 
• NHS Represent campaign - original blog notes here
• You can find the original lesson slides here. 

Section B: Media Industries and Audiences

Newspapers: 

• The Newspapers index is here
• You can find the lesson slides here.

OSP/Videogames: 

• Lara Croft Go - original blog notes here 
• Kim Kardashian Hollywood - original blog notes here 
• Marcus Rashford - notes to blog will appear here
• You can find all the lesson slides here.

Music Video: 

• BLACKPINK: How You Like That - original blog notes here 
• Arctic Monkeys: I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor - original blog notes here
• You can find the Music Video lesson slides here.

Radio:

• Launch of Radio 1 in 1967 / Tony Blackburn breakfast show - original blog notes here
• Kiss FM Breakfast show with Jordan and Perri - original blog notes here
• You can find the Radio lesson slides here.

Film Industry: 

• Black Widow - original blog notes here
• I, Daniel Blake - original blog notes here
• You can find the Film Industry lesson slides here.

Media Paper 2

Media Paper 2 is on Wednesday 24 May in the afternoon.

Section A: Television

Television: 

• Clip from Doctor Who OR His Dark Materials - Google Drive folder with CSP videos here
• TV index to original blog tasks here 
• You can find the original lesson slides here.

Section B: Newspapers OR Online, Social and Participatory Media/Videogames

Newspapers: 

• The Newspapers index is here
• You can find the lesson slides here.

OSP/Videogames: 

• Lara Croft Go - original blog notes here 
• Kim Kardashian Hollywood - original blog notes here 
• Marcus Rashford - notes to blog will appear here
• You can find all the lesson slides here.

Exemplar questions and answers

You can find a document of exemplar questions and answers from previous lessons here. This google doc will be updated as we look at more questions and sample answers in revision lessons before the exams.

 

Revision is the key

It's important that you really put the time into your revision to make sure you know these CSPs inside out. If you would like revision cards to revise with feel free to pop in to DF07 and I'll happily provide you with them for free - you need create revision cards for all the exam CSPs and also for media terminology and theory (e.g. Mise-en-scene, Reception theory, Uses & Gratifications theory etc.)

The better you know the terminology, theory and CSPs, the better you'll do in the final exams. Good luck!