Media Studies AS/A2

The course requires two different skills from the student. First, as producers of coursework they should be well equipped to plan, draft and construct digital media products and be creative in their use of new media technologies. Secondly, they should be ready to study and analyse media texts and produce well structured and literate essay responses under examination conditions.

Course Structure; AS Level
The full OCR prospectus is on the OCR website - http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/AS_ALevelGCEMediaStudies.html -


G321 – Foundation Portfolio (coursework)
Print media – a front cover for a new College Magazine and a new music magazine aimed at a teenage audience. Planning and Evaluation questions must be included in the portfolio submitted in November.

G322 – Key Media Concepts (TV Drama)
Section A: Textual Analysis and Representation; a 45 minute deconstruction of a short sequence from a TV drama eg Skins, Dr Who, Primeval, Eastenders

Section B: Institutions and Audiences (Magazines); a 45 minute essay on the relationship between media institutions and their audiences with case study materials on music magazine publishers such as Bauer, IPC and Hachette.

Course Structure; A2 Level
G324 – Advanced Portfolio (coursework)
Three closely related media products such as a trailer for a new Soap Opera and the supporting print and website media that would be used to launch it. They will also produce planning and evaluation supporting folders.

G325 – Critical Perspectives in Media (a 2 hour exam in June 2011)
Section A: Theoretical Evaluation and Reflective Analysis. Students will apply media theory to their own productions from AS to A2 for a one hour exam in two parts.

Section B: Contemporary Media Issues: a one hour exam response to the topic “Media and Collective Identity.” This asks for 2 formats and detailed analysis of past, present and future developments within representation.

This course is delivered by timetabled blocks of teaching and supervised coursework sessions. Students will have access to college hardware, an editing suite, laptop PCs and study resources but it is assumed that PC, digital camera, digital TV/DVD and mobile phone technologies would be accessible from home.

High grades can only be achieved through homework which is set regularly. Students need to be highly motivated to complete A2 as this year will be dominated by project work with strict deadlines. An interest in the creative possibilities of new digital technology would be very useful.