Instructions on how to write the Micro Essay for AS Film Studies WJEC

1. The Essay
What you need to do
How it will be marked
How to write/structure you
essay.

2. The Task
An analysis of a film extract –
1500 words
You are required to explore how one
or more of mise en scene, editing
performance, cinematography and
sound construct meaning and provoke
response.
Support you work with illustrative
visual material
Recommended length of extract 5
mins

3. The Assessment Criteria
• Marked out of a total of 30
• Four Levels of Achievement (specific grade
boundaries are determined after the exam by
the examiners)
• Levels 1 and 2 are not acceptable – you will
need to ‘redo’ if you receive those levels
• Levels 3 and 4 are good!!!!

4. Level One 0-11 marks
• Candidates will give few indications that they
have gained knowledge and understanding of the
micro features of the film they are concentrating
on and will tend to rely on ‘common sense’
• There may be some reference to their chosen film
but this will have no clear analytical purpose
• There may either be little attempt at personal
engagement or only a set of personal statement
that fail to demonstrate any learning
• Struggles to communicate clearly

5. Lower Level Two –12 – 14 marks
• Candidates will show basic ability to identify and
describe specific aspects of the micro features of
film but, compared with work at higher grades,
knowledge will in insecure, generalised and with
significant inaccuracies
• There will be basic reference to the chosen film
but only indicating basic analysis.
• Personal response may be strongly stated but be
characterised by description of personal feeling
and unsupported assertion
• Basic ability to structure ideas and use
appropriate language to communicate.

6. Upper Level Two – 15 – 17 marks
• Candidates will demonstrate some ability to
identify and describe specific aspects of the micro
features of the film they are concentrating on.
This will be generally accurate, though in
consistent in its level of detail
• References to the details of the micro features of
film will sometimes be clear but there will be a
tendency towards imprecision
• Personal response may be strongly stated but
lacking in any conceptual focus on how meaning
is made
• Some ability to structure ideas and use
appropriate language to communicate

7. Lower Level Three – 18 – 20 marks
• Candidates will demonstrate a sound knowledge and
understanding of specific aspects of the micro features
of the film. This will be reflected in their ability to refer
in some details and with a generally high level of
accuracy
• There will be sound analysis of aspects of the micro
features
• Personal response will focus on the process of making
meaning(s) in particular instances but may revel
limitations in broader conceptual understanding or the
interaction between film and spectator
• Soundly structured and reasonably accurate use of
appropriate language to communicate clearly.

8. Upper Level Three – 21 – 23 marks
• Candidates will have a good knowledge and
understanding of micro feature of the film. This
will be reflected in their ability to refer in detail
and with accuracy to their chosen film
• There will be sound analysis of how micro
features produce meaning(s)
• Personal response will show a competent
appreciation of the production of meaning.
However compared with the very best
candidates, more will be taken for granted and a
less exploratory approach will be adopted
• Well structured and accurate use of appropriate
language to communicate clearly

9. Level Four 24 – 30 marks
• Candidates will be distinguished by an excellent
knowledge and confident understanding of the micro
features of the film.
• This will be reflected both in their ability to refer in
detail and with accuracy to their film and in their
analysis of how micro features produce meaning(s)
• Personal response will be characterised by a high level
of analysis of the production of meaning(s) through the
interaction of film and spectator
• The interaction between film and spectator will be
perceived as complex, subtle and resistant to simplistic
assumptions
• Excellently structured and accurate use of appropriate
language to communicate clearly.

10. How to write the Micro Essay
• Research
– You will need to watch the entire film (probably at
least twice)
– You will need to watch your chosen scene
repeatedly (until you know every line of dialogue!)
– Take detailed notes on the micro elements you
have selected
– Find out about what other people have said about
the film (reviews, info on the director,
cinematographer, composer, commentaries,
audience views, blogs etc)

11. How to write the Micro Essay
• How to take notes about the film sequence
• The analysis must have detailed reference to
the text so you may find it easier to write you
notes in three columns to help you do this.
Observation Example Evaluation
Costume is used When Jeff enters the This suggests he is
to show details brightly lit bar, he is alienated from those
about how the dressed in grey where around him and gives
characters are as all of the other the audience a sense of
feeling characters are dressed his depressed state of
in bright colours mind.

12. How to write the micro essay
• Once you have completed the chart for the
whole sequence you should then start to
group you ideas and see if you can come up
with an overall reading/meaning of the clip
• This is very important for the Introduction

13. How to write the Micro Essay
• Introduction
– The title much state which micro features you are
focusing on
– Identify the micro elements you will focus on
– Identify which film and which sequence
– Place the sequence in the film narrative briefly
– Show that you understand the importance of
micro elements in the creation of meaning
– Summary the main types of meaning which can be
generated by the micro elements you have
selected

14. How to write the Micro Essay
• Middle Paragraphs
– Should show a systematic and thorough
evaluation of the impact/effect of micro elements
on the audience
– You could evaluate one micro element at a time
– You could work systematically through the
sequence and discuss micro elements as they
appear
– You could choose to write ‘thematically’ – one
reading/effect at a time and discuss how all the
micro elements contribute to that reading/effect

15. How to write the Micro Essay
• Middle Paragraphs
– Whatever structural pattern you decide to use
stick to it!
– Back up every point you are making with a specific
and detailed example from the sequence
– Try to make links between your chose elements as
well as dealing with them individually
– Use screen shots as it cuts down on the
descriptive writing and allows for more analysis.
– You can make links to macro features as well
(genre, narrative, themes etc)

16. How to write the Micro Essay
• Conclusion
– Summarise the meaning and responses you think
your chosen micro elements have generated
– Comment on whether or not you think the micro
elements have produced meaning and response
effectively

17. Questions
1. Who directed this film? What other films have
they directed? Do they have a unique style
(Auteur)?
2. Who produced the film? How much money did
it cost? How much money did it make and over
what time scale?
3. Who is the target audience? How did the TA
respond to it? How did this film appeal to its
target audience? What did critics say about this
film?
4. What is the dominate message/reading of the
film? What emotional response was the director
going for? What scenes could you write about?