Media Studies
INTRODUCTION
We live in a media-saturated world. From video clips on your phone, to TV ads to blockbuster movies, to posters at the bus stop, to the music in your earphones, you are surrounded by media messages for most of your waking hours.
How do you make sense of them all?
How do you know what they are trying to communicate — both on an obvious and a less obvious level?
How do you know how much you have been influenced — consciously or subconsciously — by these media messages? Does the media reflect your reality, or control the way you view it?
If you are interested in answering these questions GCSE Media Studies is the subject for you.
AIMS OF THE COURSE
It has been said that media literacy is as important to living in the 21st century as regular literacy was to the 20th century. Media Studies helps you develop an important set of skills that will help you navigate the rest of your education and then, your working life. Students of GCSE Media Studies will learn how to:
- Appreciate the ways in which the producers of Media texts use specific “languages” to communicate meaning to an audience;
- Respond to Media texts showing an informed understanding of the messages and values conveyed;
- Demonstrate an understanding that Media texts are products produced within an industrial context.
Use industry standard Software and Hardware to create and produce Media texts.
COURSEWORK
Coursework 60% - to include a portfolio of production (choice of Print, Video, Radio) and accompanying written work.
HOW YOU ARE ASSESSED
One exam:
Advertising & Marketing (40%)
Television Game Shows
One Media Production (40%)
Research, planning, Production, Evaluation (Moving image, Radio, Web, Print, TV, Music, Video game).
Two Textual Investigations (20%)
1. Film 2. Newspaper
USEFUL RESOURCES AND FURTHER INFORMATION
GCSE Media can lead to a range of ‘next steps’ including:
- Studying Media at AS/A Level;
- Taking other media related qualifications;
- Undertaking qualifications in other subjects;
- Starting work in the media industry at a ‘trainee’ level.
Sixth Form Course Offer September 2016
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Department |
Media Studies |
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Courses |
AS/ A2 Media Studies (1571, 2571) |
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Exam Board |
AQA |
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Course Description
50% of AS 25% of A Level 80 Marks
50% of AS 25% of A Level 80 Marks
25% of A Level 80 Marks
25% of A Level 80 Marks
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AS Units Unit 1 and Unit 2 allow students to study the media landscape. These will cover the key media concepts and platforms that used to present the media in its different forms and formats.
Unit 1: Investigating Media requires the students to sit a two hour exam in which they carry out a cross-media study for an unseen examination. The topic for the examination changes yearly.
Unit 2: Creating Media is a practical unit where students work independently to create a cross-media product. The brief for this unit is again changed yearly. This unit is also designed to arm the students with the knowledge and information to succeed in the examination and gain the required AS to progress into A2.
A2 Units Unit 3 and Unit 4 allows students to demonstrate both a synoptic and holistic understanding of what was studied in the AS unit.
Unit 3: Critical Perspectives encourages students to demonstrate their understanding of the media concepts and develop their approach to the media and its role in today’s society. For example, social, political, historical and economical. Students are again required to sit a two hour exam with a yearly changed the exam topic.
Unit 4: Research and Production is a practical unit divided into two parts. Critical investigation (research) and Linked production (production). Students are to research a current media related debate of their choice. They are then to create a media production that is linked to their research.
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Entry Requirements |
Minimum: 5A*-C in English and Maths
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