2. A2 Media Studies
• A2 is a big step up from AS!
• The course is harder, there is more work, but it
is lots of fun!
3. A2 Media Studies
• One of the secrets of success lies in your ability to organise both
yourself and your work, and study effectively on your own.
• In this respect you will find that your work will fall into the following
categories;
• CREATIVE/PRACTICAL production work as part of a team
• REVIEW of notes taken in lessons
• WRITE UPS of practical work in terms of your production blog
• READING text books to support theoretical understanding
• NOTE MAKING from extra sources (books, web, periodicals)
• WRITING answers to the set essays (one side A4 max.)
• REVISING at the end of your set topic
4. Basic Expectations
1. Arrive on time for every session
2. Have a Book and/or Folder for each topic you are covering
3. Be prepared with a pens, pencils, ruler, rubber
4. Make notes in lesson from discussions & the whiteboard
5. Listen carefully & discuss sensibly
6. Have the highest respect for equipment and staff.
7. Do not bring food & drink into lessons. You are allowed bottles of water only.
8. Check our A2 blog regularly:
http://hasna2media2013.blogspot.co.uk/
NEVER FEEL THAT YOU HAVE NOTHING TO DO!
5. A2 Media Studies
OCR is the exam board.
There are 2 main examined units, these are:
• G324 – Advanced Portfolio in Media – coursework
• G325 – Critical Perspectives in Media - examination
Note: The numbers at the front are the examination codes, make sure
you know which is which when it comes to the exam entries and the
exam itself.
6. G324 – Advanced Production
Portfolio
• This unit is marked internally and externally moderated by the examination board.
• You will follow a set brief which will consist of the following:
• A media portfolio, comprising of a main task and ancillary texts
• A presentation of your research, planning and evaluation in an electronic format
• The brief you will follow is:
1. A promotion package for the release of an album, to include a music promo video,
together with:
2. A website homepage for the band;
3. A cover for its release as part of a digipak
• This will be a group project. Maximum 4 people per group.
7. G324 – Advanced Production
Portfolio
• The purpose of this unit is firstly to assess candidates’ ability to plan
and construct media products using appropriate technical and
creative skills (AO3)
• Secondly to assess candidates’ application of knowledge and
understanding in evaluating their own work, showing how meanings
and responses are created (AO2)
• Finally to assess candidates’ ability to undertake, apply and present
appropriate research (AO4).
8. G324 – Advanced Production
Portfolio
• G324 is marked and internally standardised by the centre and marks
are submitted to OCR by a specified date, a sample is then selected
for external moderation.
• The unit is marked out of a total of 100 marks:
20 marks for the research and planning and its presentation
60 marks for the construction (40 for main task, 10 for each ancillary text)
20 marks for the evaluation
9. G324 – Advanced Production
Portfolio
Evaluation
• In the evaluation the following four questions must be addressed:
– In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products?
– How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?
– What have you learned from your audience feedback?
– How did you use media technologies in the construction and research,
planning and evaluation stages?
10. Key Dates
• A Level Media Studies has two very clear elements that you will be working on throughout the year.
• Just like AS level, you will spend the first half of the year on your coursework and the second half
preparing for the exam.
• As you can see from the timeline you will be very busy!
• These are the key dates for your diary;
– 03/09/2013 - A2 Course Begins
– 24/10/2013 - Research Coursework Deadline
– 20/12/2013 - Planning Coursework Deadline
– 14/02/2013 - Production Coursework Deadline
– 14/02/2013 - Evaluation Coursework Deadline
– 07/01/2014 - Exam Preparation: Section B Youth Collective Identity Begins
– 24/02/2014 - Exam Preparation: Section A Evaluation Begins
– 01/05/2014 - Final Coursework Corrections Deadline
– 08/05/2014 - Coursework sent to Exam board
– 10/06/2014 - G325 A Level Media Studies Exam
11. Music Videos
• Music Videos are a very important medium,
perhaps more now than ever!
• Why do you think we make music videos – what is
their purpose?
12. Assignment 1: Why Music Videos?
• The Music Video genre has a long and storied history.
Music videos are used to entertain, inform and most
importantly promote an artist.
• It is important that you understand this history and the
purposes of your music video.
13. Promotion
• The most important aspect of Music Videos is that they are there to sell the Artist, Song
and Album
• They present the artist to their audience in a number of ways that make them
appealing:
• Attractive
• Empathic
• Narrative
• Abstract
• They sometimes link directly to the Song and the Lyrics, or they present something
different to the audience to entertain them
