It lasts for 2 hours. You will need to answer all three questions. Question 1: (about 30 mins for notes + 50 mins writing) What will it be? The first question will be a general analysis. We know that the Text will be Print based this session. This means it could be: a Magazine front cover, a Newspaper, a Print adverts a website a CD cover, a computer game cover or film poster (any genre).
There may be just one extract or there may be several that are linked (one year there were three adverts all featuring interesting representations of men). The Process and Timings: Look at the question before making notes on the text, so you know what THREE categories you are asked to analyse (you will get about 3 minutes to read the paper before). The most common options are three of the following: visual codes, language, modes of address, layout and design. You should also look at Qn 2 (a) and (b) during this initial 3 minutes, as these questions will link to these texts too. This viewing and note-taking exercise will probably take about 25-30 minutes and the exam board advise you to spend about 50 minutes writing it up, as this question is worth the most marks 40 out of 100. This first question should, therefore, take you about 75-80 minutes to complete.
Writing It Up: When writing, start by introducing the text briefly state what type of text it is and who you think the target audience is and what you think its purpose is (to persuade/ inform/ entertain/ make us feel or see things/ people in a certain way) Then start to write up your features this time you need to describe a feature (being specific and precise and using correct terminology) AND offer some interpretation of what it means/ suggests to us. You can also consider how it works/ what effect it aims to have/ why the producers have opted for this choice. Remember that all media features are there because someone has chosen them and thinks that they get the message across and they mean something. A good piece of analysis should look something like this: The main image, placed in the centre third of the front cover uses a low-angle shot of the man this creates an image of his weakness and powerlessness, so we feel sympathy for him at this point. (accurate and precise description + interpretation of what it means/ suggests to us/ impact on us) You can use each feature you talk about as the basis for a new a paragraph. Check that you are covering all three of the specified areas if a feature does not add anything to any of these three categories, then leave them out! Finish by summing up the main thing you think the media language in this text is trying to achieve.A conclusion ties things up nicely and examiners like to see them!
Question 2 (about 35mins) This will either be on audience or representation. It will be worth 30 marks in total and will probably be split into three parts worth 4 marks, 10 marks and 16 marks respectively. Use the mark guide to determine the length of your answer. About 5 minutes should be spent on (a), about 15 on (b) and 20 or so on (c). Parts (a) and (b) will probably relate to the text you have just analysed and will require you to refer to detail from these texts to illustrate what you are claiming. Part (c) will be more like a short essay and will require you to use your own case study material you must refer to at least 2 texts in detail and they must be from different types of media e.g. a film clip and an advert would be fine but not two film clips. Start with a brief introduction, develop your ideas in paragraphs with reference to textual detail and theory and end with a conclusion. Focus on the question and keep relating everything to it. Question 3 (about 35 minutes) This will be on representation or audience - whichever was not used for Qn 2. It will take the form of a longer essay and is worth 30 marks. As it is worth almost twice as much as 2 (c), this essay should about twice as long as that one to give you a rough guide! You must not refer to the text analysed in Qn 1 but must refer to your own case studies try to cover at least 3 and ensure they come from at least two different media three film clips would be bad but two film clips and a TV clip or two adverts and a web-page would be fine. You can refer to both print and audio-visual material. Again, offer an introduction, develop ideas that focus on the question clearly and end with a summative conclusion, reflecting on what you have learnt or the key points in your answer.
Representation Essays 2(c) or Qn 3 start by explaining what representation is and how the media often uses familiar stereotypes in texts. Then use each text to form a sizeable block in your answer identify for each text how the focus group/ issue is represented and offer some detail from the text to prove this / illustrate this (one chunky paragraph); then add some comment on the representation is it what we expect or is it different/ why? (a second paragraph to add depth). End with a conclusion, summing up what this shows about representation in the media bring it back to some general ideas about representation. Audience Essays 2(c) or Qn 3 start by explaining what the question is asking you to explore explain any technical terms. This answer will probably be structured more around theory and points than case studies. Plan your key points and then use case studies to illustrate what you claim e.g. discuss Reception Theory and use something like FHM front cover to illustrate how different groups could see the same text differently. End with a conclusion that sums up the main things you want to say in answer to the question. For both essays, keep linking ideas back to the question at the end of each section by stating clearly what you have just written reveals in relation to the question.