This document provides guidance on how to write an effective planning report to earn full marks. The planning report should explain the group's production decisions and reasons for their choices, rather than just describing what has already been done. Additional marks are given based on teacher observation of individual contributions, such as attendance, meeting deadlines, and contributing ideas. Students should provide evidence of planning activities in individual/group blogs, including draft scripts, storyboards, schedules, and permission documentation. The quality of the finished production will demonstrate how well it was planned regarding typical codes and conventions of the chosen media genre.

1. Planning Guidelines

2. Planning:Guide to getting full marks Q:What is the purpose of my planning ? A:This is your opportunity to explain to the examiner your groups decisions and reasons for your choices before starting your production i.e. a discussion on what your group plans to do and not what your group has already done. Q: What should I put into my planning report? A: Avoid giving a blow by blow account of group’s ambitions. Instead focus on talking the examiner through exact plans and how your group plans to technically and/or practically achieve your productions goals. For more precise details of what you should include see mark sheet and sample essays of past students work.

3. Planning:Guide to getting full marks Q:How else are planning marks allocated? A: Additional marks are allocated based on: Teacher observation of individual contributions to group productions. Q: what areas can individual group members be expected to be observed in? A: Levels of attendance, punctuality and ability to meet group deadlines scripting and storyboarding prior to filming, and contribution to group ideas and activities. Individual blogs – all group members must make it clear in their essay their contribution to all stages of planning and that of their fellow group members. Examiners will use student essays as further evidence of the extent/significance, of individual contributions to all stages of planning.

4. Planning:Guide to getting full marks Evidence presented in individual/ group blog: Drafts and completed scripts Drafts and completed storyboards Wreckie photos of intended locations Schedules – time management Permission letters Organising of locations, props, equipment and actors etc. Any other planning activities. Finally! The quality of your finished production will be read as further evidence of how well your production was planned. For example, the examiner will expect most of your groups decisions to be planned in the context of those codes and conventions which are typical of your chosen media text.

5. Planning Level 4 16–20 marks There is excellent research into similar products and a potential target audience. There is excellent organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props. There is excellent work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or storyboarding. Time management is excellent. There is an excellent level of care in the presentation of the research and planning. Where used, there is excellent skill in the use of digital technology or ICT in the presentation. There are excellent communication skills. Evaluation -You can also add to your evaluation marks by keeping in mind the following when blogging your planning: Make it clear how/when aspects of your planning media develops or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? If you obtain any audience feedback during the planning stages make it clear what have you learned from your audience feedback?