AS Level Specification: Module 3

Practical Production

Students will produce a piece of practical coursework with accompanying written materials. They will demonstrate both practical skills and an ability to apply relevant key concepts to media production. You may find the Practical production guide (834Kb) useful; a summary of the main points follows below.

Assessed through coursework
40% of AS Level, 20% of A Level

The following materials are adapted from the AQA Exam board A Level Specification.

Students will have the opportunity to use one (or more) media technology to produce a finished piece of practical
coursework and accompanying written materials.

This will show that you have acquired the appropriate skills to enable you to use the chosen technologies competently. It will also demonstrate your knowledge and application
of relevant Key Concepts both in your analysis of your their chosen topic (the Brief), the Practical Production and your evaluation of your project. The context for the work must be provided by one of the topics studied in Module 2.

The coursework comprises three elements:
 

The Brief

750 words, 10% of the module grade

An initial brief of approximately 750 words is written by each
individual candidate. In the case of group productions being
undertaken, the brief will identify clearly those aspects of the work for which each student takes specific responsibility. It will identify the technologies to be used and indicate the aspect of Module 2 which the production will explore and how the content and form of the piece will be matched to its intended audience.
 

Finished Product

65% of the module grade

This will be a media production piece which demonstrates your skill in using one or more appropriate media technologies. It will arise directly from your study of one of the four
topics in AS Module 2. For a Film and Broadcast Fiction production you will obviously produce a moving image text. For an Advertising and Marketing production you may use moving-image, audio or print-based technologies

Although you may work in groups, you must provide sufficient evidence that you, as an individual student, understand how to use any given technology to create a piece which not only demonstrates an understanding of the way the media language of the chosen form works but also relates this use to the relevant Module 2 topic.
 

Evaluation

1000 words, 25% of the module grade

An evaluation of approximately 1000 words is written by each
individual student. In the case of group productions, the evaluation will identify the specific parts of the product for which you were eventually responsible. In addition to a critique of the strengths and weaknesses of the finished work, the evaluation will show how the product is linked to the particular aspects of Module 2 which it has explored and also show an understanding of the Key Concepts and the way in which these have informed the work.

Where candidates work as a group, it must be possible to identify the individual contribution of each candidate so that the requirements in the specification are met.

Assessment Objectives

AO1: Knowledge and application of Key Concepts
Knowledge and application of the Key Concepts is integral to all three components of the Practical Production:

• The brief must apply the Key Concepts in analysing the topic to be explored, and pay particular attention to matching content and form (Media Language) with intended audience.
• The finished product must demonstrate application of Media Language, and be relevant to the analysis (using the Key Concepts) of the chosen topic.
• The evaluation must evaluate the finished product, paying particular attention to the Key Concepts which have informed the work.

  10% AS, 5% AL

A04: Demonstrate knowledge, application and evaluation of at least one media technology

30% AS, 15% AL

MediaEdu The new Media Know-All - a terrific site for revision, full of resources produced by teachers from across the country. MediaKnow-All An excellent web-guide to Media Studies produced by another Media Studies teacher. Media History timeline Every major event in the development of the media, 3500BC to present day!

IN THIS AUTUMN'S MEDIA MAGAZINE...

Broadcast Fiction Fantasy and the Police: Ashes to Ashes

Media in context When subversion becomes the mainstream

Audience Torchwood: The Doctor Who spin-off and its fans Theories of fandom, and the power of audience Cults and the film industry

Media skills Analysing media texts

And much more!

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