Practical coursework A2 feedback brief: An extract from an original documentary TV programme, lasting approximately five minutes, together with two ancillary tasks: a double-page spread from a listings magazine focused on the documentary & a newspaper advertisement for the documentary.
AO1 • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of media concepts, contexts and critical debates, using terminology appropriately and with accurate and coherent written expression. AO2 • Apply knowledge and understanding to show how meanings are created when analysing media products and evaluating their own practical work. AO3 • Demonstrate the ability to plan and construct media products using appropriate technical and creative skills. AO4 • Demonstrate the ability to undertake and apply appropriate research.
Marking Criteria for Research and Planning- Level 4 (16–20 marks) • Planning and research evidence will be complete and detailed. • There is excellent research into similar products and a potential target audience. • There is excellent work on shotlists, layouts, drafting, scripting or storyboarding. • There is excellent organisation of actors, locations, costumes or props. • Time management is excellent. • There is excellent skill in the use of digital technology or ICT in the presentation. • There are excellent communication skills. • There is an excellent level of care in the presentation of the research and planning.
Marking Criteria for the Filmed Media Texts - Level 4 (32 – 40 marks) The candidate is expected to demonstrate excellence in the creative use of most of the following technical skills: • shooting material appropriate to the task set; including controlled use of the camera, attention to framing, variety of shot sizes and close attention to mise en scene • editing so that meaning is apparent to the viewer and making selective and appropriate use of shot transitions, captions and other effects • recording and editing sound with images appropriately. Where a candidate has worked in a group, an excellent contribution to construction is evident
Marking Criteria for the Print Ancillary Texts - Level 4 ( 9– 10 marks) The candidate is expected to demonstrate excellence in the creative use of most of the following technical skills: • awareness of conventions of layout and page design • awareness of the need for variety in fonts and text size • accurate use of language and register • the appropriate use of ICT for the task set • appropriate integration of illustration and text • framing a shot, using a variety of shot distances as appropriate • shooting material appropriate to the task set; selecting mise-en-scène including colour, figure, lighting, objects and setting • manipulating photographs as appropriate, including cropping and resizing.
Term 1 Jack you have made a bright start to this project, well done. I have been impressed with your willingness to research documentaries (AO4) and your anecdotal evidence of those- please do make sure that your blog reflects all that independent study with some clear analysis of those you have enjoyed. There write ups do not need to be long, but should contain your reflections on each documentary (AO2) Target: You need to ensure you have clearly defined the parameters of the codes and documentaries in your R&P section; this will enable you to compare your own decisions with those conventions later in your evaluation and self analysis (AO1). How will your initial ideas become shaped into a comparative documentary?
I will take documentary conventions into account when making decisions.
Term 2 Great start to your practical project Jack- I am delighted to see that you are among the first to pick up the camera and get some footage recorded (Ao3). While this will give you more time to edit, do ensure that you are giving enough time to your diary entries too- every time you make any decision, no matter how small, get it on your blog. (Ao4) Target: When discussing your research, ensure you are constantly referring to media terminology - for example, instead of saying "I'll run music over the top", say "The use of non diegetic sound in this clip..." This shows the examiner your grasp of the media landscape is secure (AO1)
Term 3 Some excellent work is starting to appear on this blog Jack- well done. I have been pleased to see the number of your own independent research entries appearing (AO4) and the quality of your analysis in each of these aspects is improving too, smashing (AO1). Make sure that when you are editing, you are still discussing your decision making process; some screen shots of the project developing might be nice to see. Target: (AO2) Don't forget too that you need to give your ancillary tasks sufficient time to form- in most cases, these are redesigned several times and each attempt should feature on your blog along with reasons as to why it has been rejected or how it has been improved.