This document provides guidance on preparing for a potential exam question (Q1a) that asks students to evaluate the development of their skills across various areas of media production work over two years. It outlines the key areas the question may focus on, including digital technology, creativity, research and planning, post-production, and use of conventions from real media texts. It recommends structuring the response around the three stages of production: pre-production, production, and post-production. Sample questions and essay introductions are provided, as well as suggestions for revising examples from the student's own work to highlight how their skills developed over time.

1. SECTION A:1A

2. MIND MAP

3. Key Questions
1. What is Q1a about?
2. What topic/s may you have to discuss
3. Which production will this question be
about?
4. How will you structure your response?

4. Today’s menu
• Mind map
• Overview of 1a, structure, sample
questions
• Plan ideas for each topic
• Beach Ball

5. Rubric for 1a)
Evaluate skills development across media
production work over two years of ‘A’ Level or
any other media production within the areas of:
• Digital Technology
• Creativity
• Research and Planning
• Post Production
• Use of Real Media Texts
Question can be based on one or two of the areas.

6. Marks and Timing
All that does seem a lot to write in 30 minutes.
But to get the marks you need examples from your
work.
So – could limit the examples to 3 per section (e.g.
3 digital technologies at AS at pre-production stage
and at A2 3 development examples)

7. Q1a) Structure...
It is possible to apply a structure/plan for this question
by using the three elements of the production process
(which is what the whole question is essentially asking
the students to evaluate).
- Pre-Production
- Production
- Post-Production

8. essay introductions for 1a
In terms of essay introductions for 1a), use a three
part structure
1. Answer or give point of view to question.
2. Outline briefly what you made across both
years.
3. Explain to the examiner how you are going to
structure your essay.

9. Theory
It isn’t vital that there is theory but if it helps
support
your answer then the application of it can be
applied.
i.e. genre iconography in reference to the use of
conventions from real texts.

10. Q1a) Previous Questions
Describe how you developed research and planning
skills for media production and evaluate how these
skills contributed to creative decision making. Refer to a
range of examples in your answer to show how these
skills developed over time.
Describe the ways in which your production work was
informed by research into real media texts and how
your ability to use such research for production
developed over time.

11. Q1a) Previous Questions
Describe how you developed your skills in the use of
digital technology for media production and evaluate
how these skills contributed to your creative decision
making. Refer to a range of examples in your answer to
show how these skills developed over time.
ENSURE you move quickly from description (so the
reader knows what you did) to
analysis/evaluation/reflection, so the examiner starts to
understand what you learnt from it.

12. Revision task
On cards or post-its, ensure you have a list of answers to
these questions:
What production activities have you done?
What digital technology have you used?
In what ways can the work you have done be described as
creative?
What different forms of research did you do?
What conventions of real media did you need to know about?
What do you understand by ‘post-production’ in your work?

13. Q1a) Tasks for now
You need practise at writing about these areas in a
short space of time.
Have a go at planning your answers for how you have
developed in each of the five areas.
• Research & Planning
• Creativity
• Using conventions from real texts
• Digital Technology
• Post-Production

14. Key Questions
1. What is Q1a about?
2. What topic/s may you have to discuss
3. Which production will this question be about?
4. How will you structure your response?

15. Homework
• Plan/revise your responses for both
questions
• Submit Audience essay for Q1b 23rd April

16. BEACH BALL