MEDIA PRODUCTION AND ANALYSIS

GENERAL COURSE
Year 12 syllabus

2013/41892

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Content

Rationale...................................................................................................................................................................1
Courseoutcomes.......................................................................................................................................................2
Organisation..............................................................................................................................................................3
Structureofthesyllabus..................................................................................................................................................3
Organisationofcontent...................................................................................................................................................3
Representationofthegeneralcapabilities......................................................................................................................6
Representationofthecrosscurriculumpriorities...........................................................................................................7
Unit3Entertainment..............................................................................................................................................8
Unitdescription................................................................................................................................................................8
Suggestedcontexts..........................................................................................................................................................8
Unitcontent.....................................................................................................................................................................8
Unit4Representationandreality..........................................................................................................................10
Unitdescription..............................................................................................................................................................10
Suggestedcontexts........................................................................................................................................................10
Unitcontent...................................................................................................................................................................10
Schoolbasedassessment........................................................................................................................................12
Externallysettask...........................................................................................................................................................13
Grading...........................................................................................................................................................................13
Appendix1GradedescriptionsYear12.................................................................................................................14
1
Media Production and Analysis | General| Year 12 syllabus
Rationale
TheMediaProductionandAnalysisGeneralcourseaimstoprepareallstudentsforafutureinadigitaland
interconnectedworldbyprovidingtheskills,knowledgeandunderstandingstotelltheirownstoriesand
interpretothersstories.Studentslearnthelanguagesofmediacommunicationandhowastoryis
constructedusingrepresentations.Studentsareencouragedtoexplore,experimentandinterprettheir
world,reflectingandanalysingcontemporarylifewhileunderstandingthatthisisdoneundersocial,cultural
andinstitutionalconstraints.Studentsasusersandcreatorsofmediaproducts,considertheimportantrole
ofaudiencesandtheircontext.
DigitaltechnologieshavehadanimpactonandextendedthecapacitythatthemediaplayinallAustralian
lives.Throughnewtechnologies,theroleoftheaudiencehasshiftedfromapassiveconsumertoamore
activeparticipant,shapingthemediathroughinteractionandmoreaccessiblemodesofproductionand
disseminationofmediawork.Studentsinteractionandopportunitytousetechnologiesenablesthemto
engagewithcurrentmediaandadapttoevolvingmediaplatforms.
Thecreationofconvergentandhybridmediameansthatthesystemofcommunicationchangesasnew
mediaaredeveloped.Thelocalandglobalmediacontextsarecontinuouslyinteracting,makingaudiences
globalconsumersofmediaproducts.Throughtheconsumptionofglobalmediawork,awarenessofglobal
issuescreatesacollectiveconsciousnessandsenseofresponsibility,givingrisetothenotionofaudiences
alsobeingglobalcitizens.Throughtheprocessofinvestigation,studentsareabletoengagewithtopics,
issuesandthemeswhichhaveglobalandlocalrelevanceandartisticmovementsandstyleswhichinturn,
createnewnotionsofmediaaesthetics.
Theproductionofmediaworkenablesstudentstodemonstratetheirunderstandingofthekeyconceptsof
medialanguages,representation,audience,production,skillsandprocessesaswellasexpresstheir
creativityandoriginality.Whenproducingmediawork,studentslearntomakedecisionsaboutallaspectsof
production,includingcreativechoicesacrosspreproduction,productionandpostproductionphases.This
providesanopportunityforstudentstoreflectonanddiscusstheirowncreativework,intentionsand
outcomes.Withinthisprocess,skillsaredevelopedenablingstudentstomanipulatetechnologieswhich
simulateindustryexperiences.

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Media Production and Analysis | General| Year 12 syllabus
Course outcomes
TheMediaProductionandAnalysisGeneralcourseisdesignedtofacilitateachievementofthefollowing
outcomes.
Outcome1Mediaideas
Studentsusecriticalawarenessandculturalunderstandingstoexploreanddevelopmediaideas.
Inachievingthisoutcome,students:
understandhowmediacommunicateideasinparticularcontextsandfordifferentaudiencesand
purposes
exploretechnologies,codesandconventionstocreatemeaninganddevelopideas
presentideas,designsand/orproductionplans.
Outcome2Mediaproduction
Studentsuseskills,techniques,processes,conventionsandtechnologiestocreatemediaworkforaudience,
purposeandcontext.
Inachievingthisoutcome,students:
usemediaskills,processandtechnologies
usemediacodesandconventionsforaudience,purposeandcontext
fulfilarangeofproductionrolesandresponsibilities.
Outcome3Responsestomedia
Studentsusecritical,social,culturalandaestheticunderstandingstorespondto,reflectonandevaluate
mediawork.
Inachievingthisoutcome,students:
understandhowmeaningisconstructedinmediawork
understandinterrelationshipsbetweenmediawork,culturalcontextsandaudiences
usestrategiestoinvestigateandcommentonmediaworkandevaluatemediaproductions.
Outcome4Mediainsociety
Studentsunderstandtheroleofmediainsociety.
Inachievingthisoutcome,students:
understandtheimpactoftechnologicaldevelopments,andcontrolsandconstraints,onmedia
productionanduse
understandtheinfluenceofsocial,historicalandculturalcontextsonmediaproductionanduse
understandhowculturalvaluesareinfluencedbythemediaandinturninfluencemediaproduction.

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Media Production and Analysis | General| Year 12 syllabus
Organisation
ThiscourseisorganisedintoaYear11syllabusandaYear12syllabus.Thecognitivecomplexityofthe
syllabuscontentincreasesfromYear11toYear12.
Structure of the syllabus
TheYear12syllabusisdividedintotwounitswhicharedeliveredasapair.Thenotionaltimeforthepairof
unitsis110classcontacthours.
Unit3Entertainment
Withinthisbroadfocus,studentswillexpandtheirunderstandingofmedialanguages,learninghowcodes
andconventionsareusedtoconstructentertainmentmedia.
Unit4Representationandreality
Studentswillconsiderdifferenttypesofrepresentationsandhowtheyrelatetotheconstructionofreality
withinmediawork.
Eachunitincludes:
aunitdescriptionashortdescriptionofthefocusoftheunit
suggestedcontextsacontextinwhichtheunitcontentcouldbetaught
unitcontentthecontenttobetaughtandlearned.
Organisation of content
Thecoursecontentisdividedintofivecontentareas:
Medialanguages
Representation
Audience
Production
Skillsandprocesses.
Medialanguages
Anunderstandingofmedialanguagesisfundamentaltothestudyandpracticeofmedia.Inlearningthe
languagesofthemedia,studentsdevelopconceptualunderstandingsandskillsrelevantto:
Systemofcommunication
Thesystemofcommunicationistheprocessbywhichamediumcreatesmessagesandhowaudiences
interpretthemessages,producingdominant,negotiatedoroppositionalmeanings.Thesystemconsistsof
communicationmodels,techniques,technologiesandaudiencecontext.
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Media Production and Analysis | General| Year 12 syllabus
Traditionalmediaareradio,television,filmandnewspaper(print).Newemergingmedia,alsoknownas
convergentandhybridmedia,suchastheinternet,personalcommunicationdevicesandcomputergames,
acknowledgestheincreasingintegrationofmediaandtheirsystemsofcommunication.
Knowledgeofhowthesystemofcommunicationworksisintegralforstudentstounderstandandproduce
mediawork.
Narrative,codesandconventions
Narrativesareintrinsictomediaworkandthenarrativeelementsofcharacter,setting,conflictand
resolutionareessentialcomponentsofstorytelling.Codesandconventionsaretoolsusedinthe
constructionanddeconstructionofnarratives.Thewaytheyareappliedcanbeanalysedintermsofgenre
andstyle.Producersconstructpreferredmeaningsandviewpointsthroughtheselectionoftechnical,
symbolic,writtenandaudiocodesandmultiplemeaningsareinterpretedbydifferentaudiences.An
understandingofhowselectionprocessesconstructmeaning,realismandviewpointsinarangeofmediais
anessentialpartofthecourse.
Representation
Theconceptofrepresentationisfundamentaltotheconstructednatureofallmedia.Representationisthe
processwherebyconceptsorphysicalobjectsareconstructedtoappearreal/natural.Thisincludespeople,
places,eventsandideas.Thestudyofthisprocess,knownasmediation,enablesstudentstounderstand
howmultiplemeaningscanbeconstructedandhowtheycanbeacceptedorchallengedbyaspecific
audience.Animportantaspectofanalysingrepresentationistheprocessofstereotypingthroughwhich
oversimplifiedrepresentationsbecomenaturalised,andthroughsharedvalues,theybecomeassociated
withparticularissuesandculturalgroups.Thisoversimplificationoccursthroughselectionprocessesto
createadominantreading.Byapplyingtheprinciplesofencodinganddecoding,studentsareableto
communicatetheirunderstandingsoftheconstructionandinterpretationofrepresentations.
Audience
Inlearningabouthowanaudienceconstructsmeaning,studentsdevelopconceptualunderstandingsand
skillsrelevantto:
Audiences
Theapplicationofmediatheoryenablesstudentstoanalysetherelationshipbetweenaudiencesandthe
media.PopularmodelsforanalysisincludetheHypodermicNeedlemodel,UsesandGratificationsand
Receptiontheory.
Aknowledgeofmediatheoryleadstothedevelopmentofinformedaudienceprofilesbasedonage,gender,
socioeconomicandculturalbackground.Thesefactorsinformstudentsunderstandingofthemedia
expectationsandpreferencesofspecificaudiencesforparticularstylesandthemeswithinmediawork.In
production,thesefactorsbecomesignificantintheclassificationandcensorshipofmediawork.
Subcultures
Anextensionofaudienceanalysisenablesstudentstoexaminehowsubculturalgroups,basedonshared
interestsandvalues,experiencethemediadifferentlyfrommainstreamaudiences.Understandinghowthe
mediacaterforsubculturalgroupsprovidesscopeforexperimentationwithinproductionwork.

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Media Production and Analysis | General| Year 12 syllabus
Mediatrends
Engagingwiththemediaofdifferenttimesdevelopsanunderstandingoftherelationshipbetweenmedia
work,audiencesandcontext.Awarenessoftechnologies,styles,narratives,representationsandvaluesfrom
thepastillustratesthechangingnatureofthemediaandoftrends,valuesandaudienceexpectations.Local,
nationalandinternationalmediaprovideservicesfor,andimpact,particularcommunities.
Production
Manyfactorsshapethestyleofproductionandthemediaworkthatareproduced.Inlearningabout
production,studentsdevelopconceptualskillsandunderstandingsrelevantto:
Majorinstitutionsandindependents
Theorganisationofmajorinstitutionsandindependentsisstructuredforbothlargeandsmallscalemedia,
withstudentsinvestigatingcommercialandnoncommercialmediaindustriesandmodesofproduction.The
productsoftheseinstitutionsarecomparedintermsofmainstreamaudienceappealandalternativestyles
whichareproducedforspecificsubcultures.Theroleofnewtechnologies,enablinggreaterautonomyfor
independentproducers,directlyrelatestothestudentproductioncontext.
Recognisingthevariouspurposesofthemediaandthewaysinwhichmediaareusedbymainstreamand
nicheaudiencesisfundamentaltounderstandingthemediaindustryanditseconomicpowerbase.How
mediauseisinfluencedbydemographicpatterns,theexpectationsofproducersandaudiences,marketing
strategiesandmeasuresofaudiencereachiscriticalwhenanalysingtheimpactofspecificmediaworkon
audiences.
Productioncontexts
Contextswithinwhichmediaproductiontakesplacearesignificantinshapingthecontentofmediawork.
Investigationrevealshowparticularcontextshaveshapedthemedia:historicalandpoliticaleventsthat
shapeattitudesandtherepresentationofpeopleandissues,socialandculturaltrendsthatimpactthestyle
andcontentofmediawork.
Theimpactofcontrolsandconstraintsthatshapethestyleandcontentofmediaworkmustberecognised
andtheimplicationsconsidered.Thereisawiderangeofcontrolsandconstraints.
Ethicalissuesandlegalimplicationscontrolandconstrainmedia.Debatingtheinfluenceandimpactof
regulatorybodiesandpressuregroups,typesofcensorshipandclassificationprovidesabasisfordeveloping
codesofconductforstudentproductions.
Technologiesandfactorsrelatedtoproduction,suchasbudget,time,resourcesandaudienceexpectations
controlandconstrainproductionprocessesandaudiencereach.
Economicstructuresandpracticesalsoarefactorsthatcontrolandconstrainmedia.Itisimportantto
considertheimpactofethosandobjectives,sourcesofrevenueandintendedaudiencesontheproduction
ofmediawork.Ownership,powerandpoliticsareallfactorsthatcontrolandconstrainmedia.
Skillsandprocesses
Anessentialpartofthecourseistheopportunityforstudentstopracticallydemonstratetheirknowledge
andunderstandingofmediaconceptsandtheoryincreatingtheirownmediawork.Skillsandprocesses
integratethepracticalskillsanduseoftechnologiesrequiredtocreateamediaproduct.Withinskills,
studentsareexpectedtouseaproductionprocesswhichincludesimplementingpreproductiontechniques,
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Media Production and Analysis | General| Year 12 syllabus
fulfillingspecificproductionroles,followinghealthandsafetyguidelinesandapplyingtechnologiesin
creativeandoriginalways.Reflectingandevaluatingontheirownandpeer/professionalworkenables
studentsanopportunitytoimprovetheirunderstandingandskillsoftheproductionprocess.
Theindividualunderstandingandapplicationofskillsthroughspecificroleswithintheproductioncontext
aimtosimulateindustryproductionpractices.
Representation of the general capabilities
Thegeneralcapabilitiesencompasstheknowledge,skills,behavioursanddispositionsthatwillassist
studentstoliveandworksuccessfullyinthetwentyfirstcentury.Teachersmayfindopportunitiesto
incorporatethecapabilitiesintotheteachingandlearningprogramfortheMediaProductionandAnalysis
Generalcourse.Thegeneralcapabilitiesarenotassessedunlesstheyareidentifiedwithinthespecifiedunit
content.
Literacy
TheMediaProductionandAnalysisGeneralcoursereliesonmultiliteracies;oral,visual,kinetic,textbased
anddigitalliteracyisfundamentaltolearning,communicating,creatingandresponding.Studentsuseand
developliteracyskillsastheydescribe,appraiseanddocumenttheirownmediaworkandthoseoftheir
peers,respondingto,interpretingandanalysingincreasinglycomplexmediaworkmadebyothers.Theyuse
theirliteracyskillstoaccessknowledge,makemeaning,expressthoughts,emotionsandideas,interactwith
andchallengeothers.
Numeracy
Anappreciationofandabilitytoapplynumericalconcepts,suchassize,space,time,proportion,angles,
depth,ratioandpatternareallusedintheMediaProductionandAnalysisGeneralcourse.Creatingmedia
workrequiresknowledgeandunderstandingofmeasurementinordertomanipulatespace,timeandform.
Informationandcommunicationtechnologycapability
Informationandcommunicationtechnology(ICT)capabilityenablesstudentsintheMediaProductionand
AnalysisGeneralcoursetousedigitaltoolsandenvironmentstorepresenttheirideasandmediawork.They
usedigitaltechnologiestolocate,access,select,documentandevaluateinformation,workcollaboratively,
shareandexchangeinformation,andcommunicatewithavarietyofaudiences.
Criticalandcreativethinking
TheMediaProductionandAnalysisGeneralcourseisdependentonthedevelopmentofcreativeandcritical
thinking.Increatingmedia,studentsdrawontheircuriosity,imaginationandthinkingskillstopose
questionsandexploreideas.Theyconsiderpossibilitiesandprocessesandmakechoicesthatassistthemto
takerisksandexpresstheirideascreatively.
Personalandsocialcapability
LearningintheMediaProductionandAnalysisGeneralcoursepromotesselfdiscipline,initiative,
confidence,goalsetting,empathyandadaptabilityasstudentsworkindividuallyandcollaboratively.When
workingwithothers,mediastudentsdevelopandpractisesocialskillsthatassistthemtocommunicate
effectively,workcollaboratively,makeconsideredgroupdecisionsandshowleadership.
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Media Production and Analysis | General| Year 12 syllabus
Ethicalunderstanding
EthicalunderstandingisdevelopedandappliedintheMediaProductionandAnalysisGeneralcoursewhen
studentsencounterorcreatemediathatrequiresethicalconsideration,suchasmediaworkthatis
controversial,involvesamoraldilemmaorpresentsabiasedpointofview.Theyactivelyengageinethical
decisionmakingwhenreflectingontheirownandothersmediawork.
Interculturalunderstanding
InterculturalunderstandingintheMediaProductionandAnalysisGeneralcourseassistsstudentstoexplore
newideas,mediaandpracticesfromdiverselocal,national,regionalandglobalculturalcontexts.Students
areencouragedtodemonstrateopenmindednesstoperspectivesthatdifferfromtheirownandto
appreciatethediversityofculturesandcontextsinwhichartistsandaudienceslive.
Representation of the cross-curriculum priorities
Thecrosscurriculumprioritiesaddressthecontemporaryissueswhichstudentsfaceinaglobalisedworld.
Teachersmayfindopportunitiestoincorporatetheprioritiesintotheteachingandlearningprogramforthe
MediaProductionandAnalysisGeneralcourse.Thecrosscurriculumprioritiesarenotassessedunlessthey
areidentifiedwithinthespecifiedunitcontent.
AboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderhistoriesandcultures
ThestudyofAboriginalandTorresStraitIslanderhistoriesandculturesenrichesunderstandingofthe
diversityofmediawithinAustralia,analysesthestereotypesandperceivedsocietalnormsthatmedia
present,anddevelopsanappreciationoftheneedtorespondtomediaworkinwaysthatareculturally
sensitiveandresponsible.
ManyAustralianIndigenousmediaproducersaffirmconnectionwithCountry/Place,PeopleandCulture
throughtheirmediastories.MediacreatedbyAboriginalandTorresStraitIslandersexposesstudentstoa
viewoftheAustralianlandscapethatisunique,expressiveandpersonal.
AsiaandAustralia'sengagementwithAsia
AsiaandAustraliasengagementwithAsiaprovidesrich,engaginganddiversecontextsinwhichto
investigatemakingandrespondingtomediawhichhavearisenfromtherichanddiversecultures,belief
systemsandtraditionsofthepeoplesoftheAsianregion.
Sustainability
Sustainabilityprovidesengagingandthoughtprovokingcontextsinwhichtoexplorethenatureofmedia
makingandrespondingandenablestheinvestigationoftheinterrelatednatureofsocial,economicand
ecologicalsystems.
Studentsusetheexploratoryandcreativeplatformofthemediatodevelopworldviewsthatrecognisethe
importanceofsocialjustice,healthyecosystemsandeffectiveactionforsustainability.Throughtheirmedia
worktheymaypersuadeotherstotakeactionforsustainablefutures.

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Media Production and Analysis | General| Year 12 syllabus
Unit 3 Entertainment
Unit description
Thefocusforthisunitisonentertainment.Withinthisbroadfocus,teachersselectlearningcontexts
interestingtostudentsandbuildupontheinformalunderstandingstheyhavealreadyacquired.
Studentsexpandtheirunderstandingofmedialanguages,learninghowcodesandconventionsareusedto
constructentertainmentmedia.Theyexaminetheprocessofrepresentationandthewayvaluesare
constructedinmediawork.Studentsconsiderhowtheexperiencesofaudiencesinfluencetheirresponsesto
mediaandhowmediaworkisshapedbytheproductioncontextandthroughtheproductionprocess.
Studentsanalyse,view,listentoandinteractwithinterestingandrelevantmediawork.Theyalsogenerate
ideasandlearnproductionskillsandprocessesastheyapplytheirknowledgeandcreativityintheir
productions.
Suggested contexts
Withinthebroadareaofentertainment,teachersmaychooseoneormoreofthesuggestedcontexts(this
listisnotexhaustive):
promotionandmarketingstrategies
localandinternationalfilm
commercial,communityanddigitalradio
participationmedia
fanzines
animatedsitcoms.
Mediatypesstudentsmustworkinatleastoneofthefollowingmediainanyyear:film,television,
photography,printmedia,radioanddigitalmedia.
Unit content
Thisunitincludestheknowledge,understandingsandskillsdescribedbelow.
Medialanguages
Systemofcommunication
terminology,technologiesandcharacteristicsofspecificmedia
characteristicsofmediaworkdesignedtoentertain
featuresofcommercialandnoncommercialmedia
Narrative,codesandconventions
narrativeandgenreconventionsinentertainmentmedia
genrerecognitionandaudienceexpectations
codesandconventionsthatpositiontheaudienceandconstructmeaning
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Media Production and Analysis | General| Year 12 syllabus
Representation
whythemediausestereotypicalrepresentations
thesocialinfluenceofstarsandcelebritiesinpopularmedia
Audience
Audiences
howthepurposeandcontextofthemediaworkinfluenceaudienceresponse
howvaluesaredepictedinentertainmentmediathroughgenreandrepresentations
Subcultures
identifyingsubculturesbasedonculturalbackground,experiences,interestsandoccupations
Mediatrends
trendsinentertainmentmediagenres
impactoftechnologiesonaudiencereachandmediause
Production
Majorinstitutionsandindependents
comparingcommercialandnoncommercialentertainmentmediaintermsof
budgets
productioncosts
targetingmainstreamaudiences
marketingstrategiestopromotemediawork
Productioncontexts
makinglinksbetweenentertainmentmediaworkandtheirproductioncontext
controlsandconstraintsincommercialandnoncommercialentertainmentmediaproduction
impactofchangesintechnologyonmediawork
Skillsandprocesses
collecting,interpretingandcommunicatinginformationwithingivencontexts
demonstratingsafeprocedureswhenusingtechnologiesandresources
applyingteamskills,includingactivelistening,makingdecisions,goalsetting,timemanagement,
productionresponsibilities
applingtheproductionprocess,includingapplicationoftechnicalskillsandprocesses,scriptsand
storyboardsorlayoutdesign
reflectingonproductionprocesses
evaluatingstrengthsandweaknesessintheproductionandprocess
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Media Production and Analysis | General| Year 12 syllabus
Unit 4 Representation and reality
Unit description
Thefocusforthisunitisonrepresentationandreality.Representationistheactofrepresentingor
constructingidentities,placesorideasbasedonsharedvaluesandunderstandings.Studentswillconsider
differenttypesofrepresentationsandhowtheyrelatetotheconstructionofrealitywithinmediawork.
Withinthisbroadfocus,studentshavetheopportunitytochoosefromarangeofmediagenresandstyles
andexaminewaysinwhichcodes,conventionsandtechniquesareusedtodramatiseandrepresentreality
whileatthesametimeengagingandinformingaudiences.
Incontextsrelatedtorepresentationandreality,studentsanalyse,view,listenandinteractwithavarietyof
mediawork.Theylearnaboutproductioncontrols,constraintsandresponsibilities.Studentscontinueto
developstrategiesandproductionskillswhencreatingtheirownmediawork.
Suggested contexts
Withinthebroadareaofrepresentationandreality,teachersmaychooseoneormoreofthesuggested
contexts(thislistisnotexhaustive):
breakfasttelevision
newsandcurrentaffairsprogramsandwebsites
communitybasedmedia
lifestyleprogramsandmagazines
participationmedia
talkbackradio
Mediatypesstudentsmustworkinatleastoneofthefollowingmediainanyyear:film,television,
photography,printmedia,radioanddigitalmedia.
Unit content
Thisunitincludestheknowledge,understandingsandskillsdescribedbelow.
Medialanguages
Systemofcommunication
characteristicsofmediaindifferenttimesandcontexts
Narrative,codesandconventions
codesandconventionsusedtoconstructrealism
narrativeandgenreconventionsusedtoconstructrepresentationsinmediawork

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Media Production and Analysis | General| Year 12 syllabus
Representation
representationofsubcultures
connotationsassociatedwithstereotypes
Audience
Audiences
audiencespreferencesandexpectationsofspecificmedia
howdifferentviewing,listeningandinteractingcontextsinfluenceaudienceresponsestomediawork
connectingvaluesinmediaworktoaudiencevalues
Subcultures
valuesandattitudesofsubculturalgroups
Mediatrends
impactofnewmediaonuseandproduction
Production
Majorinstitutionsandindependents
comparingcommercialandnoncommercialmediaintermsof:
productiontypes
sourcesofrevenue
marketingstrategiestocreateapointofview
Productioncontexts
linkingtheproductionandsocialcontexttomediawork
controlsandconstraintsincommercialandnoncommercialmediaproduction
audiencesvaluesimpactingcontent
Skillsandprocesses
collecting,interpretingandcommunicatinginformationwithingivencontexts
demonstratingsafeprocedureswhenusingtechnologiesandresources
applyingteamskills,includingactivelistening,makingdecisions,goalsetting,timemanagement,
productionresponsibilities
applingtheproductionprocess,includingapplicationoftechnicalskillsandprocesses,simplescriptsand
storyboardsorlayoutdesign
reflectingonproductionprocesses
evaluatingstrengthsandweaknesessintheproductionandprocess

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Media Production and Analysis | General| Year 12 syllabus
School-based assessment
TheWesternAustralianCertificateofEducation(WACE)Manualcontainsessentialinformationonprinciples,
policiesandproceduresforschoolbasedassessmentthatneedstobereadinconjunctionwiththissyllabus.
Teachersdesignschoolbasedassessmenttaskstomeettheneedsofstudents.Thetablebelowprovides
detailsoftheassessmenttypesfortheMediaProductionandAnalysisGeneralYear12syllabusandthe
weightingforeachassessmenttype.
AssessmenttableYear12
Typeofassessment Weighting
Response
Workinwhichstudentsplan,conductandcommunicatefindingsbasedontheanalysisofaudiences,media
contextsandmediaexamplesusingarangeofframeworksandprimaryandsecondarysources.
25%
Production
Extendedproductionprojectwhichcanbecompletedaseitherasingletaskorasseparatetasks.
Studentsexploreideas,controlandmanagetheprocessesrequiredtomanagetheaestheticqualityof
production.
Independently,andinteams,managearangeofproductionprocesses,evaluatingandmodifyingthemas
necessary.
Demonstrateanunderstandingofstyles,structures,codesandconventionsandtheconfidenceand
competenceintheuseoftechnologies,skillsandprocessesinarangeofcontexts.
60%
Externallysettask
AwrittentaskoritemorsetofitemsofonehourdurationdevelopedbytheSchoolCurriculumand
StandardsAuthorityandadministeredbytheschool.
15%
Teachersarerequiredtousetheassessmenttabletodevelopanassessmentoutlineforthepairofunits.
Theassessmentoutlinemust:
includeasetofassessmenttasks
includeageneraldescriptionofeachtask
indicatetheunitcontenttobeassessed
indicateaweightingforeachtaskandeachassessmenttype
includetheapproximatetimingofeachtask(forexample,theweekthetaskisconducted,ortheissue
andsubmissiondatesforanextendedtask).
Allassessmenttypesmustbeincludedintheassessmentoutlineatleasttwicewiththeexceptionofthe
externallysettaskwhichonlyoccursonce.
ThesetofassessmenttasksmustprovidearepresentativesamplingofthecontentforUnit3andUnit4,
whilethefocusoftheexternallysettaskisonUnit3contentonly.
Assessmenttasksnotadministeredundertest/controlledconditionsrequireappropriate
validation/authenticationprocesses.Forexample,studentperformanceofproductionworkcouldbe
validatedbysummativeassessmentthroughjournalorportfoliocontributions,preproductionplanning
materialsandregularmeetingswhereproductionworkcanbereviewedandauthenticatedbytheteacher.
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Media Production and Analysis | General| Year 12 syllabus
Externally set task
AllstudentsenrolledintheMediaProductionandAnalysisGeneralYear12coursewillcompletethe
externallysettaskdevelopedbytheAuthority.SchoolsarerequiredtoadministerthistaskinTerm2ata
timeprescribedbytheAuthority.
ExternallysettaskdesignbriefYear12
Time Onehour
Format
Written
Conductedunderinvigilatedconditions
Typicallybetweentwoandsixquestions
Thismayincludesetquestions,orachoiceofquestions.Studentsmayberequiredtorespond
tomediaimages
Content
TheAuthorityinformsschoolsduringTerm3ofthepreviousyearoftheUnit3syllabus
contentonwhichthetaskwillbebased
RefertotheWACEManualforfurtherinformation.
Grading
Schoolsreportstudentachievementintermsofthefollowinggrades:
Grade Interpretation
A Excellentachievement
B Highachievement
C Satisfactoryachievement
D Limitedachievement
E Verylowachievement
Theteacherpreparesarankedlistandassignsthestudentagradeforthepairofunits.Thegradeisbased
onthestudentsoverallperformanceasjudgedbyreferencetoasetofpredeterminedstandards.These
standardsaredefinedbygradedescriptionsandannotatedworksamples.Thegradedescriptionsforthe
MediaProductionandAnalysisGeneralYear12syllabusareprovidedinAppendix1.Theycanalsobe
accessed,togetherwithannotatedworksamples,throughtheGuidetoGradeslinkonthecoursepageof
theAuthoritywebsiteatwww.scsa.wa.edu.au
Tobeassignedagrade,astudentmusthavehadtheopportunitytocompletetheeducationprogram,
includingtheassessmentprogram(unlesstheschoolacceptsthatthereareexceptionalandjustifiable
circumstances).
RefertotheWACEManualforfurtherinformationabouttheuseofarankedlistintheprocessofassigning
grades.

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Media Production and Analysis | General| Year 12 syllabus
Appendix 1 Grade descriptions Year 12
A
Discussesindetailhowinformationandarangeofcodesandconventionsareselectedandusedto
constructnarratives,preferredmeanings,stereotypesand/orviewpoints,anddescribeshowaspectsof
mediaworkcanappealtospecificaudiences.
Performsproductionrolesresponsibly,selectingandusingnarrativeelements,codesandconventions,
technologiesandskillstoconstructnarratives,preferredmeanings,representationsand/orviewpoints.
Effectivelyadaptsplansandprocesseswhenparticularproblemsareencounteredduringproduction.
Discussestherelationshipbetweenmediaworkandspecificcontexts,givingexamplesofevents,social
andtechnologicaltrends,productioncontextsandaudiencevaluesthathaveinfluencedthegenre,style
and/orcontentofmediawork.
Discussesculturalexperiencesandvaluesthatinfluencetheuseofmediaworkbyaudiencesand
providesdetailedreasonsforsharedandalternativeinterpretations.
Discussesindetailtheeffectofspecificcontrolsandconstraintsoperatinginthemediaproduction
context.Providesexamples,suchastechnologiesandresources,productionfinance,audiencevaluesand
attitudes.Includesadetailedreflectionoftheproductionprocessandevaluatestheeffectivenessof
strategiesusedwithinownproduction.

B
Describesarangeofcodesandconventionsandexplainshowtheyareusedtoconstructnarratives,
preferredmeanings,stereotypesand/orviewpointsandhowtheyappealtoaudiences.
Fulfilsaproductionroleusingnarrativeelements,codesandconventions,technologiesandskillsto
constructmeaningsandparticularviewpointsinownmediaproductions.Adaptsplansandprocesses
whenparticularproblemsareencounteredduringproduction.
Describeslinksbetweenmediaworkanditscontext,forexample,theinfluenceofevents,socialand
technologicaltrends,audiencevaluesandattitudesthathaveinfluencedthegenre,styleand/orcontent
ofmediawork.
Describesfactorsthatinfluencetheuseofmediawork,explaininghowvaluesinmediaworkrelateto
audiencevalues.Providesexamplesofsharedandalternativeinterpretationsthatmightbemadeby
audiences.
Describestheimpactofcontrolsandconstraintsoperatinginmediaproduction.Includesexamples, such
astechnologies,budgetsandaudienceexpectations.Providesageneralreflectionoftheproduction
processusedandevaluatesstrengthsandweaknessesofownproduction.

C
Identifiescommoncodesandconventionsandcommentsontheconnectiontonarratives,meanings,
stereotypesand/orviewpointsconstructed,referringtoaudienceappeal.
Appliesarangeofproductionskills,techniquesandprocessesanddealswithbasicproblemsduring
production.
Identifiesmajorfactorsthathaveinfluencedthefeaturesand/orcontentofmediawork.
Identifiesmajorfactorsthatinfluencehowaudiencesusemediaworkandprovidessomeexamplesof
alternativeinterpretations.
Givesexamplesofcontrolsandconstraintsandtheireffectonmediaproduction.Includesanoutlineof
theproductionprocessusedandbasicevaluationofownproduction.

15
Media Production and Analysis | General| Year 12 syllabus
D
Listssomecodesandconventionsandbrieflycommentsonhowtheyareusedtoconstructnarratives,
meanings,stereotypesorviewpoints.
Appliesalimitedrangeofskills,techniquesandprocessesandrequiresteacherguidancewhensolving
productionproblems.
Givesalimitedexplanationofsomefactorsortrendsthathaveinfluencedthefeaturesorcontentof
mediawork.
Givessimpleexamplesofhowmediaworkisusedandinterpretedbyaudiences.
Givessimpleexamplesofcontrolsorconstraintswithlittleexplanationofhowtheyinfluencemedia
production.Referstoaspectsoftheproductionprocessusedwithlittleornoevaluationofown
production.

E
DoesnotmeettherequirementsofaDGrade.