This document outlines the requirements for a 50% assessment in media studies. It includes three linked pieces of work: a pre-production artifact worth 20% demonstrating research and planning, a production piece worth 40% developed from the pre-production, and a report worth 40% evaluating the process. The pre-production must include research on the target audience and chosen media product/industry. The production applies this research and planning. The report discusses research findings, justifies the target audience, and evaluates strengths and weaknesses of the production compared to other media. Deadlines are provided for each stage.

1. 50% of final AS grade

2. What is it?
 Three pieces of linked work:
 A pre-production reflecting research and demonstrating
planning techniques (20%)
 A production piece, developed from the pre-production
work (40%)
 A report of 1200 – 1600 words (40%).

3. Assessment Objectives
 Apply knowledge and understanding when analysing
media products and processes, and when evaluating
your own practical work, to show how meanings and
responses are created.
 Demonstrate the ability to plan and construct media
products using appropriate technical and creative
skills.
 Demonstrate the ability to undertake, apply and
present appropriate research.

4. Pre-production
Must include:
 Research into your chosen product/industry
 Research into your target audience
 An artefact that demonstrates planning skills, as would be
used in the media industry – minimum 2 pages:
 Eg: storyboard, mock-up (very detailed draft), screenplay
(script)…
Must demonstrate:
 Planning skills
 Technical and creative skills
 Written accuracy

5. Where to start?
 Consider your own technical skills and set an
achievable goal.
 Gather lots of examples (style models) of the product
and deconstruct them – identifying generic, narrative
and technical codes.
 Keep all of your notes!

6. Audience research
 Identify your target audience (consider demographic
and psychographic factors – gender, age, VALs…)
 Consider how your text will be consumed (where will it
‘appear’?).
 Undertake primary research: consider a questionnaire
or a focus group.
 Undertake secondary research – use the internet to
research audiences.

7. Production
 40 % of marks.
 Must be linked to pre-production, may be:
 Audio-visual – up to 3 minutes
 Print – minimum of 2 pages of original material,
including images
 E-media – as ‘print’.
 A production should be a “fully realised media product
that could exist in the market place.”

8. Success criteria
 Ability to construct media products using appropriate
generic, narrative and technical codes
 Technical skills
 Creative skills
 Good written skills

9. Audio visual work
 Come up with a list of ‘issues’ that you need to
consider if you choose audio-visual work.
 Eg – Do I know how to use a camera?

10. Audio-visual work
 Consider:
 Shots/edits
 Lighting/sound (diegetic & non-diegetic)
 Setting (location)/costume/props
 Actors
 Script, storyboard, set design
 Shooting schedule
 Equipment: microphones, cameras, tripod, lights

11. Print work
 What do you need to consider if you choose print?

12. Print work
 Consider:
 Typeface
 Layout
 Language & register
 Mode of address
 Colour
 Images
 Style/design
 Industry elements (barcode, price, logo)
 Brand image
 Narrative codes

13. Requirements
 You need to:
 Produce a mock-up
 Get feedback
 Take your original images. Think about:
 Composition
 Setting
 Lighting
 Framing
 Props
 Model
 Costume
 Colour
 Shot type

14. E-media
 Same applies!

15. The report
 This must include:
 A discussion of the most significant research findings
which informed the pre-production
 A brief justification of the target audience for the
production
 An evaluation of the production which highlights its
strengths and weaknesses, through comparison with
existing media products

16. It can be:
 An illustrated report
 An essay
 A blog

17. Success criteria
 Demonstrating independent research skills; use of
research to inform pre-production.
 Ability to apply knowledge and understanding in
evaluating the product, with reference to comparable
media products

18. Research and pre-production
 What comparable texts did you use for research?
 How did you adapt the codes and conventions from
these texts for your pre-production artefact?
 What research did you undertake into your target
audience?
 How did you use the results of this research to inform
your artefact?

19. Evaluation
 Evaluate your final product, demonstrating your
knowledge and understanding of relevant codes and
conventions.
 Reference your research.
 Compare you product to ‘real’ products.
 Get some audience feedback.

20. Strengths and weaknesses
 Evaluate:
 Media language
 Genre conventions
 Narrative codes and conventions
 Representation
 Technical sophistication
 Targeting of an appropriate audience

21. Warning!
 MS3 coursework (at A2) must not be the same form as
MS2.

22. Brainstorm
 In groups, brainstorm ideas for production tasks for the
different media platforms.
Maisie Natasha Amy
Megan Lucy Georgia
George Matt Tom J
Tom S. Lee Scott
Cameron James
 What style models could you use?
 What audience research would you do?
 What would suitable pre-production work be?

23. Spidergram
 Now, for each product, list
 codes and conventions and
 production issues/considerations.
 Eg – Horror Film trailer – where do I get fake blood?
 Eg – Music video – do I know anyone who can sing?

24. Problems
 Look at your given problem scenarios.
 Discuss possible solutions.

25. Task brief
 MS2: Brief
 Name:
 Production:
 Description/details:
 Pre-Production:
 Target Audience:
 Genre:

26.  Yr 12 Media Studies Deadlines
 All deadlines are to be met.
 Work is to reach your teacher by 3.00pm on that day –
regardless of whether you actually have a lesson on that day
 IMPORTANT:
 THIS SHEET MUST BE HANDED IN WITH YOUR
COURSEWORK
 Monday 31st October 2011
 Creation of brief with style model
 Complete the brief template, explaining what you plan to do
for your production and find an example of an existing text,
which is similar to what you want to produce.


27. Tuesday 3rd January 2012
Pre-Production
This should be a completed artefact – nothing hand-drawn to be handed in (except
for storyboards, which should be accompanied with detailed descriptions)
Tuesday 17th January 2012
First 500 words of report
This should be an analysis of your style model together with all of your research so
far (e.g. into target audience)
Thursday 19th March 2012
FINAL Production
This should be printed in colour (if Print or Website) or burned off onto DVD (if
moving image)
Thursday 26th March 2012
Final Report
Remember that this is worth 50% of your coursework mark. It should detail all of
your research as well as evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.