This document provides an overview of the aims, objectives, expectations and assessment policies for an A-Level Media Studies course. The key points are: - The aims of the course are to develop students' analytical skills, appreciation of different media forms, ability to form their own ideas, and confidence in presenting work. - Students are expected to take responsibility for their own learning and work independently, as A-Levels require more effort than GCSEs. - Assessment will include exams, coursework, class discussions and presentations to evaluate students' knowledge, skills, research abilities and practical work. - Students are expected to spend a minimum of 3 hours per week on personal study of media topics to support their

1. a-level 2015/2017
course handbook
50% coursework, 50% examination
examining board: wjec
nick saward & matt o’regan
name: _________________________________
block & tutor: ___________________________

2. aims of the department.
the media department shares the same aims as every other department at South Sefton Sixth Form
College: to help you achieve the best possible grade in your A level and provide you with the guidance and
support you need to make any relevant choices after you have finished the course.
that is our reason for being here, that is the most important aim. There are other aims they include:
• for students to become confident and independent ‘readers’ of the media
• for students to use expert skills of analysis
• for students to experience and appreciate a range of media they would never usually engage with
• for students to formulate their own ideas not just those that have been written before
• for students to build confidence in presenting work, finding ways to articulate their ideas clearly, both
written and spoken
• for students to become expert researchers
• for students to increase their enjoyment of the media they consume
that’s probably enough for now, but remember this is your course - if you think that we should have more
aims for your experience of media studies, let us know.
objectives of this handbook.
one thing you cannot underestimate as you start your A level courses is the difference between the work
ethic, determination and independence needed to succeed in comparison with any courses you have done
before.
it is believed that A levels are the most difficult
qualifications you can take because the leap from GCSE
to A-level is greater than that from A-level to degree.
this does not mean that A-levels are impossible – it just
means that you need to take responsibility for your
own work and ask for help when you need it.
this handbook will go some way to provide a safety
harness for this leap, or at least prepare you for what
lies ahead.
the game is always much easier to play if you know the rules!

3. your expectations - our commitment.
• your teacher will be working hard to plan, write and deliver a course that ensures you have the
opportunity to achieve your potential.
• your teacher will make sure you have the opportunity to improve your knowledge of the media and
practise your exam technique through regular homework assignments.
• your teacher will provide feedback on work that will help you improve.
• your teacher will support you and help you if you are finding the subject or skills difficult.
• your teacher will challenge you if you are finding the work too easy.
• your teacher will ensure open communication throughout the course,
whether
• that is via email or even a conversation outside of lessons.
• your teacher will provide resources and work for the subject VLE to enable
you to work and revise independently.
• your teacher will motivate you and help your individual needs - not just tell
you to ‘get on with it’.
our expectations - your commitment.
• most of all we expect you to want to work hard and achieve your potential in this course, otherwise,
why did you take it and why are you here?
• we expect you to attend all lessons, and be on time every lesson, fully equipped.
• we expect you to make notes during every lesson.
• we expect you to ask questions if you do not understand or need help.
• we expect you to consume the media and read about the subject outside of the lessons.
• we expect you to complete homework and coursework to the best of your ability and on time.
At the end of the day, this is your course and your adventure. Our job is to guide
you through it in a way that will ensure that you get the most of it and become
an informed independent learner.
We are not here to harass you or cajole you for an essay you should be
interesting and beneficial for you to complete.

4. who is Michael Gove? (and does it matter?)
the Rt Hon Michael Gove is an MP and member of the Conservative Party. Apart from all the things he has
to do to look after the people that live in his constituency, he used to be the education minister, which
means that he was the government spokesman on educational matters and that essentially he was in charge
of schools and education – but he doesn’t do that job anymore.
he is also quite an outspoken politician who has views that some people have agreed with
and made other people angry, either way he has enjoyed some press coverage and a little
fame as a result, which was possibly his aim in the first place.
A few years ago he caused controversy by claiming that some A levels should be worth
more university points than others because, in his opinion, some subjects are more difficult
than others which he described as: ‘soft subjects’.
Gove’s example of a ‘soft subject’ was Media Studies.
he does not have a Media Studies A-level, nor does he have a Media Studies degree - what he is basing this
assumption on, or what criteria makes a subject ‘soft’ (or ‘hard’ for that matter) is not at all clear because
he failed to mention this at all.
he is 100% wrong about his assumptions of Media Studies just as he would be if he had made the same
claims about any other A level subject. But let’s look at a few reasons why he has been so shortsighted...
• the media is possibly the fastest growing industry in the Western World.
• the media is becoming a more dominant and controlling influence in our lives.
• the media actually allows us to understand people through what they consume and what they produce
(you would think that a politician would be aware of this!).
• Media Studies uses detailed skills of analysis, research and production equal to any other A-level course.
• a lot of things have changed since Michael Gove was in full time education!
• Michael Gove’s attention seeking comments would not be so widespread if it weren’t for the media
(maybe that’s why he is so worried about us deconstructing it?).
so to answer the question: who
is Michael Gove?
he may have once had an
influence on your education,
but for now...
...he is the least important
person in your Media Studies
course.

5. the most important person in media studies.
you.
that’s right - you are the most important person in your media studies course. This is not an attempt to
inflate your ego or even apply any pressure. It is simply to draw your attention to the fact that without
young people taking an interest in the media and wanting to add to its growing importance in society there
would be no media studies course.
whilst every student is unique and you will all be able to bring something new to the course, there are
several characteristics that media students will share. So how do you know if you are going to be a good
media student?
these are some of the qualities that will stand you in good stead throughout the course:
• you enjoy discussion
• you are analytical - that is you like to ‘read between the lines’
• you are enthusiastic
• you ‘consume’ lots of media
• you don’t take things that you see or read in the media for granted
• you enjoy using technology
• you are not afraid of giving your own opinion whilst also listening to the views of others
• you are not afraid to ask for help if you need it!
you may not have all of these qualities, and some of them may seem difficult right now, however, eventually
you will find yourself with all of these characteristics. You will find that they are useful for your other
courses as well as in higher education or even in work!
it is important to remember though, that your uniqueness will also make the course interesting, some
people are in music, whilst others are film buffs, some can’t go anywhere without their head in a magazine
whilst others can spend days fixated on a single computer game until it is completed.
the great thing about media studies is that we will all learn from each other, that is why it is so important
you are prepared to share your experiences of the media with others, whilst remembering that everyone
has something to offer.

6. …mmm…
Media Studies…
We just have
to watch TV,
right?
classwork.
sorry homer.
one of the reasons media studies has been described as a ‘soft’
subject in the past is because there are certain misconceptions
about what media studies is and more often what you need to
do to get a good grade.
compared to other subjects media studies actually requires you to be
able to use a lot of different skills and disciplines. Some are practical skills,
some are thinking skills. You will work in groups and you will work
independently. All of these skills should not be underestimated.
in addition to this, both the AS and the A2 courses have a lot of content to
cover and often you will be required to research different aspects of the
media as well as keep a journal of your own media consumption so that you
can use your own examples in the examination.
sometimes lessons may involve research on the internet, group presentations
or discussions or practising exam style answers. Lessons may also take the
form of university style lectures where you will be introduced to new
concepts and keywords.
the lessons should give you the information you need to be successful in your exam and you should be
prepared to also use your own examples of the media not just those we study in class.
during coursework lessons you will have more control and responsibility over how you use your time. This
will mostly be planning the production of a media text either in a group or by yourself.
the ‘h’ word.
as aforementioned, you will be expected to complete work
at home - this is entirely to support your learning and
improve your grade at the end of the course. Homework
in media studies is important because...
• it will enable you to practise skills of analysis
• it gives you the chance to find lots of your own of
examples to use in your exam
• you can improve your exam technique
• your coursework will be unique to you and you will
have to take responsibility for how you plan your
project
• it gives you experience of working to deadlines that
must be kept.

7. how to work.
the fact that you are attending college means that you have definitely achieved success in other courses
and therefore know how to work - these points are not meant to be condescending - neither should they
be ignored. They are there to help you prepare for the differences between the A level and GCSE courses.
• make notes in class - these will be your main source of information for essay writing and revision
• re-read these notes at home and re-write them if they are difficult to read, or could be organised
better. This process won’t take long if done regularly and will actually help you remember the things
that you have learned in class.
• keep your folders organised - they will be checked throughout the year.
• always remember that you are a student - this means that you should be reading around the subject,
the students that achieve the most have always been those that use their initiative.
• always remember that you are a media student - you should always be prepared to engage with the
media outside of lessons - not just the things you always do, but things that might seem out of the
ordinary - whether that is picking up a newspaper or magazine, going to the cinema or playing a video
game - it is all useful, all relevant.
• use the college VLE to catch up on work missed and find useful websites to visit or books to read.
• use your notes to write essays and revise. That’s why you will be making them in the first place!
how not to work.
don’t leave things to the last possible moment.
don’t spend more time making excuses for not
doing work than actually working.
don’t assume that you know everything already.
don’t try to blag it - eventually you will always
get caught out!

8. a closer look at the AS.
we look at these types of media: to understand these concepts:
Advertising images
Newspapers
Magazine covers
Radio sequences
Film extracts
Television sequences
Music Videos
Computer Game Extracts
Websites
CD and DVD Covers
Representation and stereotypes
Audience categorisation
Models of audience reception
Preferred readings
Effects debates
Moral panics
Realism
Sign and Code systems
Selection and construction
Modes of address and point
of view
Narrative construction
Genre
MS1: Media Representations and Responses
June Exam 2 and a half hrs - 50% of AS mark
Consists of 2 units:
MS1: Media Representations and Responses
MS2: Media Production Processes

9. assessment objectives.
the examination board - in our case wjec - devises a set of assessment objectives that are used as a
guideline for marking the exam and coursework elements of the A-level. They are basically a set of criteria
that informs everything we will do throughout the two years.
AO1 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of media concepts, contexts and critical debates.
A02 Apply knowledge and understanding when analysing media
products and processes, and when evaluating their own practical
work, to show how meanings and responses are created.
AO3 Demonstrate the ability to plan and construct media products
using appropriate technical and creative skills.
A04 Demonstrate the ability to undertake, apply and present
appropriate research.
roughly speaking the first two assessment objectives are looked at in the exam and the second two in the
coursework - however there is some cross over. For example, you will be expected to provide your own
examples of media texts in the exam that relate to the questions, therefore this will be an example of
AO4. Similarly you will have to give a written report of your coursework which will include an analysis and
this falls under AO2.
you will learn how to write quality exam responses and what to include in your coursework so the
assessment objectives will not be something you refer to explicitly in your work. However, you should be
mindful that they are the aims that underpin the learning throughout the A level course.

10. assessment policies & procedures
Throughout the course your development will be assessed. This takes place not only in formal situations
such as examinations, class tests, and homework assignments but also in group discussions, presentations
to the class and individual research. It is clear that to succeed at "A” level you need a high level of
commitment and a good level of organisational skill. In general these are indicated by your attendance,
punctuality, work submission rates and note-making. All these aspects will be recorded by your tutor and
will be commented upon regularly, at least during Subject Reviews, which occur three times in your first
year and twice in your second year. As part of the College Review System, reviews from each of your
subjects will be amalgamated several times during your programme of study, to give everyone who needs it
a clear view of your overall performance. Assessment is about measuring
the development of your skills. Each piece of work set, task given or
activity arranged is an opportunity for you to identify:
• areas in which you have skills of a high level
• skills which need to be developed
• what you should do to develop your skills
assessed homework
You will be set specific homework, usually once a week. This is normally concerned with questions based
on stimulus material. At “A” level work is expected to be well researched and detailed in content. You
should also build up a file of notes. As far as set pieces of work are concerned the onus is on you to see
that you adhere to the following requirements:
a) that you hand work in on time. Staff will specify when they want a piece of work completed and it
is up to you to see that you comply with this. Meeting deadlines is one of the organisational skills
you need, to be fully successful.
b) that you put in more than just the minimum amount of effort to your work. Certainly, tutors will
require you to resubmit work that is below your Minimum Expected Grade. Write your MEG
grade on your work before you hand it in.
c) that you do not plagiarise work. You should never copy word-for-word from a
published source. If you want to use someone else’s words, you must put them in
quotation marks. If you use ideas from a publication put the source in
brackets (where you have used it). It is a disciplinary offence to copy
any other student’s work.
that you take care with the presentation of your homework. Again,
there are minimum standards of presentation which you are expected
to meet.
REMEMBER – SPECIFIC HOMEWORK IS SET FOR YOUR BENEFIT.

11. work policy for AS media studies
the amount of work you need to put into an A level course is much greater than that for previous courses.
You will be given advice early on in the course on how to structure your workload. You will be given
several ‘personal study’ periods on your timetable. This time is not free. It is to be used constructively for
individual research, reading and widening your knowledge of your subjects. We suggest that you should be
spending a minimum of three hours a week in personal study in media related issues.
The main tasks you are expected to undertake during this time are listed below:
• reading over and checking work that has been carried out in class. This needs to be done on a
regular basis in order to consolidate understanding. It should certainly be done at least once per
week. It is important that you identify points on which you need help – ask your teacher.
• reading around the subject and making notes. This is something that is always emphasised at A level
and your performance will be that much better if you do this regularly, at least once per week, you
should regularly check the media VLE to see if there are any particular TV shows, new films or
magazines that you should look out for or watch.
• you may be asked to create a presentation for part of a seminar or as a revision guide for the rest
of the group or for the media studies VLE
• keep a media diary of the different media texts you consume. This doesn’t have to be all of the
texts you are an audience to – it is more important to record a variety. The media diary will be
vital to your success in this course as the exam insists that you provide your own examples of texts
that relate to the question. You should spend at least one hour a week writing your media diary.
They will be checked by your teacher.
in areas such as reading around the subject, revising class notes and keeping up to date with developments
in media studies, a lot of the responsibility for doing the work is yours. It is a matter of having a mature
approach and developing sound learning habits.
we are confident you can achieve these, and you should be too!
you don’t have to be Bridget Jones to write a media diary, but you should be thorough in your account of
the media that you encounter.
be sure to describe where the text came from, i.e. which institution produced the text.
you should also make sure that you have described who the target audience are and why the text might
appeal to them – as well as giving your own opinion of course!