This document provides an introduction and overview of the requirements for the G325: Critical Perspectives in Media exam. The exam assesses students' understanding of media concepts, contexts, and debates through two sections. Section A requires students to answer two compulsory questions evaluating their skills development and theoretically analyzing one of their productions. Section B involves answering one question from six topics areas about a contemporary media issue. The document outlines the specific criteria and theoretical concepts that will be addressed in the exam questions for Sections A and B. It also provides guidance on the tasks students need to complete to prepare for the exam, including describing their media productions and answering practice questions.

1. A2 Media StudiesG325: Critical Perspectives in MediaAim:To be able to understand and explore the exam criteria and requirements for Critical Perspectives in Media

2. Mock ExamsNext week

3. G325: Critical Perspectives in Media – An IntroductionThe purpose of this unit is to assess your knowledge and understanding of media concepts, contexts and critical debates.You are to show your understanding of one contemporary media issue and evaluate your own practical work in reflective and theoretical ways.

4. G325: Critical Perspectives in Media – An IntroductionYou will have a two-hour examination at the end of this unit. You will be required to answer two compulsory questions, on your own production work, and one question from a choice of six topic areas.The unit will be marked out of a total of 100 marks, with two questions on production work marked out of 25 each, and the media theory question marked out of 50.

5. G325: Critical Perspectives in Media – An IntroductionThere are two sections to this Unit:-Section A: Theoretical Evaluation of Production (50 marks)Section B: Contemporary Media Issues (50 marks)

6. Section A: Theoretical Evaluation of ProductionYou are required to answer two compulsory questions.

7. The first requires you to describe and evaluate your skills development over the course of your production work, from Foundation Portfolio to Advanced Portfolio.

8. This means you MUST keep and update your EXISTINGblogs!!

9. The second asks you to identify one production and evaluate it in relation to one theoretical concept.Section A: Theoretical Evaluation of ProductionQuestion 1(a) requires you to describe and evaluate your skills development over the course of your production work, from Foundation Portfolio to Advanced Portfolio.The focus of this evaluation must be on skills development, and the question will require you to adapt this to one or two specific production practices

10. Section A: Theoretical Evaluation of ProductionThe list of practices to which questions will relate is as follows:-Digital TechnologyCreativityResearch & PlanningPost-ProductionUsing Conventions from real media textsIn your exam, questions will be posed using one or two of these categories!!

11. Section A: Theoretical Evaluation of ProductionQuestion 1(b) requires you to select one production and evaluate it in relation to a media concept.The list of concepts to which questions will relate is as follows:-GenreNarrativeRepresentationAudienceMedia LanguageIn your exam, questions will be posed using one of these concepts only!!!

12. We will need theory about:Working in groupsEvaluating your own performance.Reflecting on experience, especially skills development

13. TASK Write down a brief description of your AS and A2 production pieces of work.You should include:What you were asked to produce and the target audience.How you evaluated your product.

14. The following tasks....Will involve you answering the questions on the categories specific to question 1 (a) in the exam.You can write your answers in note form (for now) using bullet points.You must make sure that you are consistently comparing/referring to your AS AND A2 work. So it might be easier to make your notes using a comparison table.You have 15 minutes for each category!!!

15. Digital TechnologyWhat software was used?What equipment was used?What were the technical pros and cons of the software and hardware?In what ways was technology used to create the production?In what ways did the technology constrain or enable the production to be developed?

16. CreativityWhat was the intended outcome of the production? (Assessment Objectives, preferred readings, promotional purpose etc.)How were these outcomes achieved in terms of page layout and camera shot choices (codes and conventions)?What stylistic techniques were used to appeal to the audience?

17. Research And Planning 1What primary and secondary research was undertaken? How did it inform the production? (Effectiveness of these kinds of research)What quantitative and qualitative analysis methods were employed? How did the results from these inform the production? (Effectiveness of these kinds of research)How effectively were storyboards followed?

18. Pre-Production(Research and planning) 2Things to include for all questions to discuss development betweenAS and A2:Textual analysis and information gathering,Blogger and organising materials,Presentation and other technology/software used,Brainstorming,Drafting and Storyboards,Audience Feedback,Location scouting and production design,Production schedules and call sheetsRe-drafting after production rushes/feedback.Remembers pros/cons, strengths weaknessesKey Concepts

19. Post-Production 1What editing decisions were made? How did they inform the production? What particular editing tools were used and to what effect?How did the post-production process enhance the overall production?

20. Post-Production 2Arranging production materials to create preferred meaningsEditing footage and audio – tools and specifics usedSpecial effectsLayout design Photograph manipulationRemembers pros/cons, strengths weaknessesKey Concepts

21. Generic Media ConventionsGenre theory. Codes and conventions of various forms etc.In what ways were media conventions adhered to? For example, did your short film have little or no dialogue?What media theories were utilised? Were the representations involved appropriate to the product?Specific and in depth description of the skills in question must be included, e.g. how was the razor blade tool used in Premiere to edit a clip placed in the timeline?Explicit descriptions of progress between the two units MUST be shown