This document provides tips for planning and structuring a 2000-word critical investigation essay. It advises creating a detailed plan breaking down each paragraph with the point being made, supporting evidence from sources, and how theories and issues relate to the argument. The plan should be a comprehensive document created on a computer to allow for easy editing. When writing the essay, the introduction should present the question, supporting texts, and hypothesis, while each paragraph should make a point supported by evidence and evaluating how it relates to the question. The conclusion should summarize findings and whether the hypothesis was confirmed or contradicted.

1. A2-Critical InvestigationA2-Critical Investigation
Essay planningEssay planning
Essay structureEssay structure
2000 words2000 words

2. Your plan:Your plan:
• This should break down each paragraph andThis should break down each paragraph and
include quotes and evidence you intend to useinclude quotes and evidence you intend to use
to support your investigation.to support your investigation.
• This document will support you in writing aThis document will support you in writing a
thorough essay andthorough essay and shouldshould take several hourstake several hours
to put together. Here, you are bringing togetherto put together. Here, you are bringing together
all of your research.all of your research.

3. Essay planning: TIPSEssay planning: TIPS
• Use a computer rather than written notesUse a computer rather than written notes
so you can cut and paste easily- thisso you can cut and paste easily- this
means you can adjust the structure as youmeans you can adjust the structure as you
go along;go along;
• List all of your quotes from each source onList all of your quotes from each source on
one document and categorise them by theone document and categorise them by the
argument or point they support.argument or point they support.
(Perhaps as simple as FOR and(Perhaps as simple as FOR and
AGAINST)AGAINST)

4. Essay planning: TIPSEssay planning: TIPS
• Use your hypothesis alongside a detailed spiderUse your hypothesis alongside a detailed spider
diagram to plan where your essay will go. Thediagram to plan where your essay will go. The
spider diagram should include all the necessaryspider diagram should include all the necessary
requirements of the essay as well as all therequirements of the essay as well as all the
different arguments or points you would like todifferent arguments or points you would like to
make.make.
• From this, you can then start to order your essayFrom this, you can then start to order your essay
paragraph by paragraph. If it helps, this can beparagraph by paragraph. If it helps, this can be
drawn as a flow chart.drawn as a flow chart.

5. Essay planning: TIPSEssay planning: TIPS
• The final plan, which we would like to see soon, shouldThe final plan, which we would like to see soon, should
be abe a comprehensivecomprehensive document with bullet points for eachdocument with bullet points for each
paragraph on:paragraph on:
1. The1. The pointpoint you wish to makeyou wish to make
2. The2. The evidenceevidence you’ve found to support this (textualyou’ve found to support this (textual
analysis of existing products/quotes..)analysis of existing products/quotes..)
3.3. Theories/media issuesTheories/media issues that you could apply orthat you could apply or
relate to your argumentrelate to your argument
4.4. EvaluationEvaluation of this evidence against your questionof this evidence against your question

6. Essay structure:Essay structure:
What should you include where?What should you include where?
• IntroductionIntroduction
-introduce your question-introduce your question
-texts to support-texts to support
-how this relates to contemporary media landscape-how this relates to contemporary media landscape
-hypothesis of where you think the question will take you-hypothesis of where you think the question will take you
• Paragraph split with a POINT eachParagraph split with a POINT each
-evidence from a wide range of sources-evidence from a wide range of sources
-quotes-quotes
-effects of globalisation on your topic-effects of globalisation on your topic
-how this ties in with cross cultural understandings-how this ties in with cross cultural understandings
-theories/media issues and debates-theories/media issues and debates
-EVALUATE against your question-EVALUATE against your question
• ConclusionConclusion
-sum up what you’ve found-sum up what you’ve found
-did your hypothesis come true?-did your hypothesis come true?
-any other findings that were interesting/contradicted-any other findings that were interesting/contradicted

7. Don’t forget:Don’t forget:
• Use Media terminology throughoutUse Media terminology throughout
• Use a variety of relevant theories to support youUse a variety of relevant theories to support you
findingsfindings
• Use a wide range of different researchUse a wide range of different research
• Include a discussion on cross media/cultural factorsInclude a discussion on cross media/cultural factors
in your topicin your topic
• Include a discussion of why your topic is relevant inInclude a discussion of why your topic is relevant in
the contemporary media landscapethe contemporary media landscape
• To reference where your sources of information areTo reference where your sources of information are
fromfrom
• Collect sources ready for your bibliographyCollect sources ready for your bibliography

8. How you are assessed:How you are assessed:
• Demonstrate knowledge andDemonstrate knowledge and
understanding of media concepts,understanding of media concepts,
contexts and critical debatescontexts and critical debates
• Demonstrate the ability to undertake,Demonstrate the ability to undertake,
apply and present appropriate researchapply and present appropriate research