The document provides instructions for a report assignment that involves creating magazine front pages and a double page spread (40 marks total). Students must: 1) Write 500 words on how research of existing magazines informed their pre-production pages, covering conventions like typography and images. 2) Write 200 words about the target audience for their double page spread. 3) Spend 900-1000 words evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of their double page spread by comparing to existing magazines, covering design influences, conventions, representation, and narrative elements. The evaluation should show how research informed their design choices.

1. Writing your report (40 marks)
The first 500 words of your 1,600 words should be about how
the research you have made into existing magazines has led to
the creation of your magazine front pages (pre-production).
You should include:
Typical codes & conventions such as typography, colours, and picture
choices that are typical of your genre.
You should then write around 200 words about the target audience of your double
page spread (production piece). You need to support the reasons why you have
chosen this audience.
The main bulk of your report (around 900 to 1,000 words) is the evaluation
part of your double page spread & contents page (production). This is an
exploration of the strengths and weaknesses of your double page. You
should be comparing your pages with existing market products (published
magazines).
Have you used similar design elements to an existing magazine? If so, why?
If you have changed your designs – what have you done differently and why?
(Perhaps you have taken elements from different genres of music
magazines).
The key to good marks is to consider design issues and analyse how you
have been influenced by existing magazine designs.
Have you incorporated genre conventions? (think about tagline fonts,
language and mode of address).
Explain how your analysis and research into existing double pages has led
you to choose certain designs in your own product.
In your analysis you need to show that you understand representational
issues (of gender for example, or social groups) and discuss any narrative
elements to your design (is there a story/theme, e.g. tour bus exploits?)
You should illustrate your report with screenshots of your designs and of
existing, printed front pages and double page/contents pages from the
magazines you’ve researched.
You need to show the examiner that you understand what makes a good
existing double page designs/contents pages and how you have evaluated
their effectiveness – and used the ideas in your production pieces.
Don’t just describe existing products – explain how they have helped you, e.g.
I have chosen to have strongly edited images in my pages because this style
is found in Q magazine, one of the magazines I felt strongly represented the
target audience of mature rock fans which I have decided to appeal to. My
main double page spread image uses direct mode of address and includes
typical conventional mise-en-scene of the rock genre.

2. Marking criteria for coursework
Your pre-production piece (two mock ups of front pages of a magazine) is marked
out of 20.
The examiner is looking for evidence of AO3:
AO3: Demonstrate the ability to plan and construct media products using
appropriate technical and creative skills.
To get top marks in this part of your work you must show: Excellent ability to plan
and construct media products appropriate for pre-production. Sophisticated
technical and creative skills will also be demonstrated. The examiner also wants
sophisticated ability to structure ideas effectively.
Your production piece (the double page spread and contents page of your
magazine) is marked out of 40. Again, the examiner is looking for skills linking to
AO3.
AO3: Demonstrate the ability to plan and construct media products using
appropriate technical and creative skills.
To get top marks on this part of your coursework you must show: Excellent ability to
construct media products. Sophisticated technical and creative skills will also be
demonstrated. The examiner also wants you to show a high degree of accuracy
and a sophisticated ability to structure ideas effectively.
The report
Both the pre-production and production tasks are accompanied by a report marked
out of 40.
The examiner is looking for marks from:
AO4: Demonstrate the ability to undertake, apply and present appropriate research.
To get top marks on this you must show: Excellent ability to research
independently...sophisticated use of research to inform the pre-production.
AO2: Apply knowledge and understanding when analyzing media products and
processes, and when evaluating their own practical work, to show how meanings and
responses are created. This is mainly marked on the evaluation of your actual
production piece.
To get top marks on this part of your written work you must show: Excellent ability
to apply knowledge and understanding when evaluating the production.
Sophisticated evaluation of the production’s effectiveness. The evaluation
incorporates sophisticated reference to comparable media products.