This document provides guidance on correctly submitting assignments and common issues to avoid. It emphasizes including a completed top sheet with key information stapled to the essay, appending a word count, using correct formatting and checking for errors. Recurrent problems identified are lack of depth, overuse of description rather than analysis, and failing to apply appropriate concepts. The document then defines important semiotic terms like signifier, signified, denoted and connoted needed to analyze texts. It provides an example of deconstructing an advertisement by identifying signifiers and their signified meanings and associations. Finally, it outlines the proper structure for essays with introduction, main body, conclusion, and references.

1. Assignment Feedback
Typical problems and issues

2. Correct Submission
• Always attach top sheet – staple top left
• Ensure top sheet completed with info – name,
class, planning and reflection comments
• Append word count to essay
• Word process
• Correct usage and presentation – check
spelling and grammar issues.
• Ensure any images needed are attached.

3. Recurrent Issues
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Depth and detail
Textual analysis (L3 skill)
Avoid description only (L2 skill)
Use all appropriate terms and concepts –
critical theory and its application. In this case
semiotic terms.

4. Semiotic Terminology
• To be able to analyse a text you must first make
sure that you are using the correct terminology
• Signifier - the elements that can be described,
the things that are there
• Signified - the things associated with the signifier
two similar and equally important words are...
• Denoted - the actual thing, something that is
actually there
• Connoted - what is associated with that thing,
what is suggested or implied

5. Deconstruct this advert

6. Signifiers or Denotation
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A model in a dark suit leaning against a wall
A bunch of pink roses
The word 'Paris'
The Yves Saint Laurent logo
The Eiffel tower (out of focus) in the
background
• A superimposed image of a perfume bottle

7. Signifiers or Denotation
• Any of these elements can be analysed by
themselves or can be combined with others to
be analysed.
• The second part of the paragraph is where
you analyse and say what is associated - this
should be longer than your description.

8. Signified or Connotation
• The second part of the paragraph is where
you analyse and say what is associated - this
should be longer than your description.

9. Essay Structure
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An essay should have 4 main sections:
1) An introduction
1) Main body
3) A conclusion (this should be 10% of your
overall word count)
• 4) References and Bibliography.

10. • i) Writing an Introduction
• First, explain the aims of the essay to the
reader.
• Give the reader a ‘roadmap’ of your essay.
Which topics will you cover and in which
order? What issues will the essay raise? That
means you will outline the structure of it.
• You may find it easiest to write the
introduction when you have written the rest
of the report!

11. • ii) Main Body
• This is the main section, where you should
ensure that you do the following:
• Define all key terms (don’t assume the reader
knows what they mean!).
• There should be a logical flow to the essay.
This stops you repeating yourself.
• Thoughts, ideas or discussions should be
written in paragraphs.

12. • iii) Conclusion
• ALWAYS return to your original introductionwhat were your aims?
• Summarise your main conclusions and findings.
You can do this by reading through the Main Body
and making notes –what is the main conclusion
of each paragraph? These conclusions should
refer back to your original aims or essay question.
• Do not give new information in the conclusion.
• If you make recommendations, state them clearly
and concisely.
• “This is a good place to include a ‘killer quote’ if
you’ve got one.”

13. Reflection & Tracking Achievement
• Reflect on the strengths & weaknesses of your
work based on feedback from teacher.
• Complete tracking sheet
• After 2-3 periods, look for patterns you can
correct and work on
• Aim to improve for the medium and long term
– not simply the short term.