This document provides guidance for students on conducting effective research for a coursework project. It emphasizes that research should be focused, relevant, analytical and look closely at similar products to inform planning. Students are advised to research their target genre, audience and conventions, and institutions that produce related work. Research tasks include analyzing similar products, researching the target audience through questionnaires, and planning elements like production plans and storyboards. Presentation of the research blog is also assessed, and students are encouraged to embed videos, links and use clear headings and formatting.

1. RESEARCH: GENRE
RESEARCH
LESSON OBJECTIVES: TO BE ABLE TO PRODUCE
EFFECTIVE RESEARCH. TO COMPLETE RESEARCH
INTO YOUR CHOSEN COURSEWORK PRODUCT.

2. CREATIVE RESEARCH
Think of a creative way you can present an element of your
research?

3. EXAMINER’S REPORT
Read through the examiner’s report and identify the qualities
of good research and planning, and examples of what the
examiner says students did badly.

4. EXAMINER’S ADVICE
Embedded video – analysis, and work in progress
Audio – audience interviews, commentaries
Hyperlinked to relevant sites.
Use of comment facility – audience feedback
‘the best research was focused, relevant, and analytical,
rather than descriptive and looked closely at a range of
similar products which then informed planning’.

5. To achieve a Level 4 for your Research and Planning you
need to have a clear understanding of the purpose of this
stage of your project.
The purpose of research is to identify conventions of your
genre, and understand how to target your audience.
The purpose of planning is think through how you will
produce your products and guide you during the production
process.
If the links between the Research and Planning and the
finished products are not evident your work will struggle to
reach the higher levels for both the Research and Planning
and the Product.

6. WHAT YOU NEED…
Detailed analysis of similar products for the main and
ancillary tasks. This must be analytical not descriptive.
Explain the effect of technical elements using specific
examples and terminology.
Research into your target audience – questionnaire and
results, focus group.
Planning – production plan, draft work, script, storyboard,
shotlist.
Institutions – research into the type of institution that would
produce your product.

7. PRESENTATION
You are also assessed on the presentation of your blog.
Make sure you embed videos, include links to sites you have
looked at.
All blog posts need a clear heading.
Make sure all your entries are viewable and appropriately
sized.
It is a good idea to either use pages or tags on blogger.

8. RESEARCH TASK 1:
BACKGROUND
RESEARCH
Complete initial research into your chosen genre and form.
You should find out general information about important
examples, associated institutions, conventions, etc.
You will then need to summarise the key things you found
out. You could create a mind-map, slideshow, poster using
glogster, or any other suitable format.
You will then need to set up your coursework blog upload
your completed work.

9. REVIEW PROGRESS
What are the key things you found out?
Update your progress sheet.