A2 Media Studies G325 - Question 1A Theoretical Evaluation

1. A2 Media Studies
Unit G325: Theoretical Evaluation

2. Learning Objectives
• Do I understand the success criteria for Unit
G325 Question 1A?
• How will I apply my knowledge of AS and A2
to my exam response?
• Literacy: Can I communicate my
understanding using media terminology, PEEL,
and proper SPaG?

3. A2 Media Studies - Exam
• 2 Hours
• 3 Questions
• 100 marks
• 1A: 25 – Theoretical Evaluation of Production Work
• 1B: 25 – Theoretical Evaluation of Concept
• 2: 50 – Contemporary Media Issues

4. What is a skill?
• The ability to do something well; expertise.
• A developed talent or ability.

5. Question 1A

6. Question 1A
• Describe and evaluate your skills development
over the course of your production work (AS &
A2) – this can include the preliminary tasks,
coursework, and any other work created in
the past year.

7. What is it about?
• What did you do?
• How did you do it?
• How did your skills develop?
• Frequently supported with examples
• Related to the areas(s) in the question

8. What is it about?
It’s easy… talk about yourself.
Your generation loves themselves ;)

9. Your skills
• List 3 media skills that
you have:
1. _______
2. _______
3. _______

10. Your skills
• Can you make them more specific (with
examples)?
• What level of skill?
• Can you qualify your skill; what can you do
that proves and demonstrates this skill?

11. G325: Theoretical Evaluation
Section A – Question 1A
• What can the question be on? 1 or 2 of the
following…
• Digital technology
• Creativity
• Research and Planning
• Post-production
• Using conventions of real media productions

12. G325: Theoretical Evaluation
Section A – Question 1A
• Digital technology – hardware, software, online tools
• Creativity – making stuff
• Research and Planning – real media, logistics,
audiences, instituions
• Post-production – photo editing, video editing,
changing ‘raw’ material
• Using conventions of real media productions – actual
examples and how they influenced your work

13. Generate Ideas
• In small groups, each will focus on one of the five
possible areas for Q1A.
• Use Padlet to generate ideas on…
• What skills apply to this area
• What you did and used
• What’s changed (developed) from AS to A2?
• Email your finished Padlet wall link

14. Past Questions
Research & Planning and Creativity
Describe how you developed research and
planning skills for media production and
evaluate how these skills contributed to creative
decision making.
Refer to a range of examples in your answer to
show how these skills developed over time.

15. Past Questions
Research & Planning
Describe the ways in which your production
work was informed by research into real media
texts and how your ability to use such research
for production over time.

16. Past Questions
Digital Technology and Conventions of Real Media
Describe how you developed your skills in the
use of digital technology for media production
and evaluate how these skills contributed to
your creative decision making.
Refer to a range of examples in your answer to
show how these skills developed over time.

17. Past Questions
Creativity and Conventions of Real Media
Explain how far your understanding of the
conventions of existing media influenced the
way you created your own media products.
Refer to a range of examples in your answer to
show how this understanding developed over
time.

18. Past Questions
Creativity and Conventions of Real Media
Describe how your analysis of the conventions
of real media texts informed your own creative
media practice. Refer to a range of examples in
your answer to show how these skills developed
over time.

19. Learning Check
• Question 1A requires you to describe and
evaluate your ______ ___________.

20. Learning Check
• Question 1A requires you to describe and
evaluate your skills development.

21. Evaluative Essay
How to write an evaluation essay for
Question 1A

22. Mark Scheme
Level 4
Explanation/analysis/argument (9-10 marks)
• There is a clear sense of progression established by the answer, and a range of articulate reflections
on the production process are offered.
Use of examples (9-10 marks)
• Candidates offer a broad range of specific, relevant and clear examples
Use of terminology (5 marks)
• The use of media terminology applied throughout is excellent.
• Complex issues have been expressed clearly and fluently using a style of writing appropriate to the
complex subject matter.
• Sentences and paragraphs, consistently relevant, have been well structured, using appropriate
terminology.
• There may be few, if any, errors of spelling, punctuation and grammar.

23. Do you demonstrate…
• Clear point of view which is established at the beginning of
the essay.
• Relevant evidence to support their ideas and opinions.
• A balanced argument considering both sides of the question.
• Addresses the question clearly and continually refers back to
it.
• Impartial and reasonable tone.
• Use of key media terminology.
• Clearly evaluates progress in practical work from AS to A2.
• Structures answer well, using sentences and PEEL paragraphs

24. Success Evaluation Essays
• Will contain…
• A sufficiently described topic.
• A judgment.
• A persuasive argument.
• An impartial and reasonable tone.
• An obvious pattern of organization.

25. A Sufficiently Described Topic
Okay, my essay is about digital
technology. I used it. I was
great at it. Essay done now.

26. A Sufficiently Described Topic
Okay, my essay is about digital
technology. I used it. I was
great at it. Essay done now.

27. A Sufficiently Described Topic
- Provide a thorough overview
of your topic
- Enough info to allow your
audience to accept your
point of view

28. A Judgment
Erm, I’m not really sure if
research and planning did
anything for me. Let me see…
um…

29. A Judgment
Erm, I’m not really sure if
research and planning did
anything for me. Let me see…
um…

30. A Judgment
- A clear standpoint on the
topic
- Acts as a thesis statement
- Your evaluation essay
should aim to prove this
standpoint
- ‘Research and planning was
imperative in our success of
both AS and A2 production
work…’

31. Persuasive Argument
I was creative because I’m
naturally creative.

32. Persuasive Argument
I was creative because I’m
naturally creative.

33. Persuasive Argument
- Clear and detailed argument,
utilizing relevant evidence;
comparative evidence
- I.E. “ We utilized camerawork
and editing that would be
considered unique to the
genre as (these researched
texts) clearly enforce the
conventions of this genre and
format…”

34. Impartial and Reasonable Tone
Basically, I am the best at using
digital technology like Final Cut
Pro because no one else is
good. Sayyyy nuthin’

35. Impartial and Reasonable Tone
Basically, I am the best at using
digital technology like Final Cut
Pro because no one else is
good. Sayyyy nuthin’

36. Impartial and Reasonable Tone
- Focus on providing the facts
and clear reasons of how
and why…
- “During my AS production
work, I had difficulties
presenting research
effectively as using
WordPress was a relatively
new experience. Now, in
A2…”

37. Obvious Pattern of Organisation
In A2 we used a blog. Using
research and planning is all
good. In AS I think we used a
camera.

38. Obvious Pattern of Organisation
In A2 we used a blog. Using
research and planning is all
good. In AS I think we used a
camera.

39. Obvious Pattern of Organisation
- A clear structure and
direction
- Intro  Thesis 
Arguments to support with
evidence  Conclusion
- Focus on demonstrating
progression of skills from
AS to A2

40. Example Response
• First, highlight all the key terms in one colour
• Highlight use of examples in another
• Use the Peer Assessment sheet and mark
scheme to assess the example response…

41. Practice Question

42. Practice Question
• 25 Minutes
• Typed, no less than 1 page!
• 12 pt. font, no more than 1.15 spacing.
• Individual
• Exam practice
• Choose one of the following
• DUE WEDNESDAY 27 MARCH 2014

43. Practice Questions
Research & Planning
Describe the ways in which your production
work was informed by research into real media
texts and how your ability to use such research
for production over time.

44. Practice Questions
Digital Technology and Creativity
Describe how you developed your skills in the
use of digital technology for media production
and evaluate how these skills contributed to
your creative decision making.
Refer to a range of examples in your answer to
show how these skills developed over time.

45. Practice Questions
Creativity and Conventions of Real Media
Explain how far your understanding of the
conventions of existing media influenced the
way you created your own media products.
Refer to a range of examples in your answer to
show how this understanding developed over
time.