Exam topics - structure and analysis

1. Entrance Activity
YOU MUST list as many examples/approaches to answering this Question from BOTH Case
Studies.
Extension – YOU COULD refer to examples that are similar/different.
2 minutes

2. Entrance Activity
YOU MUST state whether you AGREE or DISAGREE with the view that Prison
Guard Raymond Lohan (Stuart Graham) is a ‘Villain’ who receives punishment for
his actions.
3 minutes
‘PUNISHMENT’ (Propp): Villain is punished.

3. Title:
WJEC Exam Topics -
Structure of Answer
Monday 16th
March 2015
FM2 –
British and American Film (60%) of AS Level)
Section B –
British Film topics Identity Study –
‘In the Name of the Father’ and
‘Hunger’

4. Why?
Aims & Objectives
• YOU WILL re-cap prior
learning.
• YOU WILL develop your
understanding of the Exam
Boards expectations regarding
structure to an exam, what
you’re assessed on and HOW
you would apply examples to
your answer.
• Review the learning
AO1
Demonstrate knowledge and
understanding of film as an
audio-visual form of creative
expression together and
AO2
Apply knowledge and
understanding, including
some of the common critical
approaches that characterise
the subject, when exploring
and analysing films.

5. FM2 –
EXAM BOARD EXPECTATIONS
Mark Scheme
• Excellent Knowledge – Institutional information, Character (Actor names), Key Scenes
that are accurate (relevant) to the Question.
• Specialist language = Micro Features, Terminology associated to the Texts being
studied – for example ‘The Troubles’.
• Narrative and Representation – Narrative Theory – Hallam & Marshment (2000);
Syd Field; Vladimir Propp; Todorov; Stereotypes/Anti-stereotypes.

6. Recommended Structure
Introduction –
•Demonstrate your ‘EXCELLENT KNOWLEDGE &
UNDERSTANDING’ of the texts by presenting the films
Institutional information such as:
1.‘Name of the Film’ – e.g. ‘Hunger’
2.(Year – Director) - e.g. (2008 – Steve McQueen)
•Specialist language - Use some language from the question to
state what your essay will focus on and (if relevant) provide
some brief context surrounding the films

7. Recommended Structure
Main Body–
•‘EXCELLENT KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING’ of BOTH texts
– YOU MUST make ‘very detailed and accurate references to
both films’ when answering your question.
•RELEVANCE – RELEVANCE – RELEVANCE.
•Narrative and Representation – When providing your
examples, refer to Theories we have covered for BOTH Films,
for example:
1. Hallam & Marshment (2000)
2. Syd Field
3. Vladimir Propp
4. Todorov’s 3 part Narrative
YOU MUST
demonstrate your
understanding of
these theories.

8. Recommended Structure
CONCLUSION –
•Brief
•Have you achieved what you set out to?
Look back at your introduction
•Use language from the Question.

9. Recommended StructureMain Body–
When deconstructing ‘The Setup’ (Syd Field) of ‘Hunger’, it is very apparent that conflict is
present amongst the stock characters introduced and there are many enigma clues (Roland
Barthes – 1975) that arise to suggest a potential for a ‘confrontation’ (Syd Field)
throughout the text.
For example, the quiet and isolated figure of the Prison Guard Raymond Lohan (Stuart
Graham) is immediately represented as a character who is on edge and wary of the
dangers of his job, for example McQueen’s use of a low angle shot of Lohan checking under
his car whilst his clearly concerned wife looks on with caution. This connotes how his job
and status in society during ‘The Troubles’ provides the spectator with a clear
understanding of the dangers of his job. The use of mise-en-scene through the non verbal
code of the Union Jack key ring (shot through an ECU) later on in the scene once he arrives
at “work” also ‘signifies’ (De Saussure) the establishment of the binary opposition between
two conflicting communities during this period of time, as this establishes who he’s loyal to
beyond providing for his wife. Towards the end of the opening sequence, a non-diegetic
and authoritive voiceover can be heard proclaiming the Republican prisoners to be
“criminal” in their actions as they demand political status. Margaret Thatcher’s determined
and forthright views only help to further the sense of slow building tension in the narrative
and the conflict that will take place in the remainder of the text.

10. MAIN TASK
20 Minutes
YOU MUST annotate the paragraph provided using the following colours:
•BLUE – Theory
•Green – Key Terminology/Language from the Question
•RED – Evidence from the text
YOU SHOULD then reflect on the strengths of the structure as well.
THEN, YOU MUST write a PEA Paragraph of your own based around the Question
below from BOTH of the texts:

11. What have you learnt?
“What if….”
On your mini-whiteboards, YOU MUST write
down what you would need to know IF you
were presented with an Exam Question such
as:
To what extent is conflict a
major component of the texts
you have studied Narrative?

12. Homework
Revise for the upcoming Mock Exam
Due: 4 Lessons time – Friday 20th
March