The document provides guidance for students on preparing for a synoptic assessment evaluating their critical reflection skills. It emphasizes applying theoretical knowledge to analyze their own production work and relate it to real media texts. Students are instructed to blog about their production process, discussing creative decisions in relation to theoretical concepts and evaluating their technical skills development. Examples are provided of blog posts effectively applying concepts like narrative theory and relating work to specific real media trailers. The document concludes with "Ten Commandments" for reflective writing focusing on theoretical and institutional knowledge application, self-evaluation, and micro-level media analysis.

1. Reflection & evaluation Preparing for synoptic assessment

2. Preparing for synoptic assessment Unit G325: Critical Perspectives In Media Section A: Theoretical Evaluation of Production (50 Marks) The purpose of this assessment is to make you develop your skills of critical reflection which is a highly specialist and valuable skill that universities and employers will look favorably upon (but particularly in the Media Industries). This does not mean simply considering the quality of your finished production work, nor does it only require you to consider your strengths and weaknesses. Effective reflection and evaluation is derived from your ability to apply theoretical knowledge to your own work creating a dialogue in which you consider how you have utilized media theories to deconstruct real media and your own media texts.

4. Creativity

5. Research and Planning

6. Post-production

7. Using conventions from real media textsDo this in your blog as you go and you will be better prepared for your exam preparation later!

9. Narrative

10. Representation

11. Audience

12. Media LanguageDo this in your blog as you go and you will be better prepared for your exam preparation later!

13. Preparing for synoptic assessment Example Blog Post: After looking at the shots in my animatic, it became apparent that the narrative was too generic and too expected for my targeted audience. Therefore, I feel that I will need to alter certain shots to create an "air of mystery", so that enough ambiguity is created for my audience members to suggest things about the main character instead of the narrative directly saying it. As the main protagonist is suffering from an eating disorder, I will alter certain aspects within the narrative to reinforce the need to have the perfect body image without out right getting the character to say it. One prop that I will use is photo frames:- this is good because that way the audience members can see how the girl used to look before she had the disease. - it also shows the girl's reflection in the frame, thus reinforcing her importance of body image. Discuss creative decisions in relation to theoretical knowledge… Quote, paraphrase, reference… Evaluate the process…

14. Preparing for synoptic assessment Example Blog Post: After looking at the shots in my animatic, it became apparent that the narrative was too generic (a traditional linear narrative as described by Todorov - http://sismedia.wetpaint.com/page/Narrative+theory) and too expected for my targeted audience. Therefore, I feel that I will need to alter certain shots to create an "air of mystery", so that enough ambiguity is created for my audience members to suggest things about the main character instead of the narrative directly saying it (here I will be using Barthes’ Enigma Code – Barthes suggests that a narrative should offer a series of mysteries to the audience to be unraveled as the text develops - http://sismedia.wetpaint.com/page/Narrative+theory). As the main protagonist is suffering from an eating disorder, I will alter certain aspects within the narrative to reinforce the need to have the perfect body image without out right getting the character to say it. One prop that I will use is photo frames:- this is good because that way the audience members can see how the girl used to look before she had the disease. - it also shows the girl's reflection in the frame, thus reinforcing her importance of body image. Discuss creative decisions in relation to theoretical knowledge… Quote, paraphrase, reference… ✓ ✓ Evaluate the process…

15. Preparing for synoptic assessment Example Blog Post: ...audience to be unraveled as the text develops - http://sismedia.wetpaint.com/page/Narrative+theory). As the main protagonist is suffering from an eating disorder, I will alter certain aspects within the narrative to reinforce the need to have the perfect body image without out right getting the character to say it. One prop that I will use is photo frames:- this is good because that way the audience members can see how the girl used to look before she had the disease. - it also shows the girl's reflection in the frame, thus reinforcing her importance of body image. Narrative structure and theory is something that I could have given greater consideration to during my AS production therefore here I am attempting to make it an integral part of my pre-production in the hope that it will lead to less problems and changes at the posy production stage. Moreover, I have given far more time to pre-production realizing that had I done so at AS the production process would have been far smoother resulting in an even more accomplished product. Discuss creative decisions in relation to theoretical knowledge… Quote, paraphrase, reference… ✓ ✓ Evaluate the process… ✓

16. Preparing for synoptic assessment Example Blog Post: As I am progressing with my planning stage, still drawing up my final storyboard, with what I have completed I have scanned and started creating my animatic- in order for total completion it is time for me to find the different types of music and sounds I will be using in my trailer, something which I previously hadn't give much thought to. One of my actresses in my trailer is a music artist who writes and produces songs, I have asked her to write the main featured song within the trailer. Research has shown that teaser trailers tend to feature around 2-3 main soundtracks, this was particularly evident within the music genre. I browsed freeplaymusic.com to find sound tracks which I could use, I am still currently searching. It has become obvious that finding free sound effects is quite difficult- specifically a school bell which will be used as a sound bridge in a point during my trailer. Discuss creative decisions in relation to institutional knowledge… Relate to ‘real media’ at the micro level… Deconstruct yourself…

17. Preparing for synoptic assessment Example Blog Post: As I am progressing with my planning stage, still drawing up my final storyboard, with what I have completed I have scanned and started creating my animatic- in order for total completion it is time for me to find the different types of music and sounds I will be using in my trailer, something which I previously hadn't give much thought to. In this I feel that I need to address the way I organize the pre-production process – I am tending to move from one feature to another in a liner way however this isn’t proving to be effective – I need to consider how aspects are connected to one another and tackle a variety of features at the same time. This will speed up the process while also helping me to be more cohesive in my decision making. One of my actresses in my trailer is a music artist who writes and produces songs, I have asked her to write the main featured song within the trailer. Research has shown that teaser trailers tend to feature around 2-3 main soundtracks, this was particularly evident within the music genre. I browsed freeplaymusic.com to find sound tracks which I could use, I am still currently searching. It has become obvious that finding free sound effects is quite difficult- specifically a school bell which will be used as a sound bridge in a point during my trailer. Discuss creative decisions in relation to institutional knowledge… Relate to ‘real media’ at the micro level… Deconstruct yourself… ✓

18. Preparing for synoptic assessment Example Blog Post: …will speed up the process while also helping me to be more cohesive in my decision making. One of my actresses in my trailer is a music artist who writes and produces songs, I have asked her to write the main featured song within the trailer. Research has shown that teaser trailers tend to feature around 2-3 main soundtracks (the trailer for Joe Johnston’s Wolfman (Universal Studios, 2009) uses three separate pieces of non-diegetic classical music that are used in a very traditional way to create a sense of suspense and anticipation for the viewer. This is very much in keeping with this particular style of trailer used by Universal for its long line of horror films dating back to the 50s with its many Hitchcock productions to a plethora of other classic horror films including the Halloween series of films. Specializing in the horror genre it is clear that Universal makes use of specific narrative, auditory and visual structures within their trailers to guarantee engagement from their target audience.), this was particularly evident within the music genre. I browsed freeplaymusic.com to find sound tracks which I could use, I am still currently searching. It has become obvious that finding free sound effects is quite difficult- specifically a school bell which will be used as a sound bridge in a point during my trailer. Discuss creative decisions in relation to institutional knowledge… Relate to ‘real media’ at the micro level… ✓ ✓ Deconstruct yourself… ✓

19. Preparing for synoptic assessment OCR MEDIA STUDIES FOR A2 – MCDOUGALL, Julian, 2009 Pages 30 – 39 The Ten Commandments for reflective writing: Focus on creative decisions informed by institutional knowledge Focus on creative decisions informed by theoretical understanding Evaluate the process – don’t just describe it Relate your media to ‘real media’ at the micro level Try to deconstruct yourself (this is hard!) Choose clearly relevant micro examples to relate to macro reflective themes Avoid binary oppositions Try to write about your broader media culture Adopt a metadiscourse Quote, paraphrase, reference

20. Preparing for synoptic assessment OCR MEDIA STUDIES FOR A2 – MCDOUGALL, Julian, 2009 Pages 30 – 39 Woman Clone by Sophie Hughes We are going to work through the case study – be prepared to make notes!

21. Preparing for synoptic assessment OCR MEDIA STUDIES FOR A2 – MCDOUGALL, Julian, 2009 Pages 30 – 39 Woman Clone by Sophie Hughes We are going to work through the case study – be prepared to make notes! 1a – Creativity in context – compare, analyze, reflect, evaluate. For a thorough response discuss the various stages of production focusing on decisions and revisions and their impact on the finished productions. Ensure that you also comment on the various technical skills you developed and resources used from HD cameras to the blog that you kept.

22. Preparing for synoptic assessment OCR MEDIA STUDIES FOR A2 – MCDOUGALL, Julian, 2009 Pages 30 – 39 Woman Clone by Sophie Hughes We are going to work through the case study – be prepared to make notes! 1a – Creativity in context – compare, analyze, reflect, evaluate. For a thorough response discuss the various stages of production focusing on decisions and revisions and their impact on the finished productions. Ensure that you also comment on the various technical skills you developed and resources used from HD cameras to the blog that you kept. 1b – Theorized creativity - be prepared to discuss one of your finished productions in relation to any of the key conceptual areas – genre, narrative, representation, audience and media language. Try to maintain an awareness of which key conceptual areas best suit your production and which ones do not. Be prepared to discuss how your production does not fit effectively within the confines of a specific concept – this opens up an opportunity for detailed analysis and deep exploration of conceptual ideas – although this is more challenging!

24. Creativity

25. Research and Planning

26. Post-production

27. Using conventions from real media textsStart doing this now! As you progress through your production compare your progress and development against your AS coursework.

29. Narrative

30. Representation

31. Audience

32. Media LanguageComing Soon: Mr. Ford and Mr. Michie’s guide to Media Theory. Start doing this now! Incorporate ideas, reflections, references to these areas throughout your blog.