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Media Studies
The media's the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and to make the guilty innocent, and that's power. Because they control the minds of the masses.”
Malcolm X
MISSION STATEMENT:
At Harris Academy Tottenham, we believe that it is vital that students are equipped with the relevant tools in order to challenge the messages around them. Media is now a huge factor in every day life, both through personal engagement as well as being able to access it, students need to explore the media world in a critical manner.
We are dedicated to ensuring that every child is an excellent communicator and creator. We embed a passion for analysing the media as well as providing the opportunity for students to create their own productions through our progressive curriculum.
Staff
Miss S Begum - Subject Leader for Media Studies
Key Stage 4
In Year 9, students start their journey on the three year GCSE course. The course is assessed with two exam papers as well as a non-exam assessed unit (NEA) which weighs at 30%. In year 9, we will prepare for a NEA unit and focus on paper 1 of the exam.
|
TERM |
UNIT TITLE |
SUMMARY |
|
Autumn 1 |
NEA Preparation |
Students will research into existing media products, audiences and institutions in order to develop an understanding of how to address and gather audience feedback. They will focus on print production. |
|
Autumn 2 |
NEA preparation |
Students will plan and draft their print productions to ensure they are being original and creative. Here they will engage with and learn a plethora of production skills to apply to their final print production |
|
Spring 1 |
SECTION A: EXPLORING MEDIA LANGUAGE AND REPRESENTATION |
Students will focus on section A of paper 1. Here they will analyse the use of media language and representation in magazine front covers. The magazines of focus will be Pride Magazine and GQ Magazine. These are set products set by the exam board. Students will draw upon contextual ideas and look at how meaning is created to audiences. Media theory will be applied and comparative skills used to prepare students for the unseen element of the exam. |
|
Spring 2 |
Section A: exploring Media Language and Representation |
Students will focus on section A of paper 1. Here they will analyse the use of media language and representation in film posters. The film posters of focus will be from James Bond, The Man with the Golden Gun and Spectre. These are set products set by the exam board. Students will draw upon contextual ideas and look at how meaning is created to audiences. Media theory will be applied and comparative skills used to prepare students for the unseen element of the exam. |
|
Summer 1 |
Section A: Exploring Media Language and Representation |
Students will focus on section A of paper 1. Here they will analyse the use of media language and representation in Newspaper front pages. The newspapers of focus will be The Sun and The Guardian. These are set products set by the exam board. Students will draw upon contextual ideas and look at how meaning is created to audiences. Media theory will be applied and comparative skills used to prepare students for the unseen element of the exam. |
|
Summer 2 |
Section A: Exploring Media Language and Representation |
Students will focus on section A of paper 1. Here they will analyse the use of media language and representation in print advertisements. The adverts of focus will be This Girl Can and Quality Street. These are set products set by the exam board. Students will draw upon contextual ideas and look at how meaning is created to audiences. Media theory will be applied and comparative skills used to prepare students for the unseen element of the exam.. |
The NEA portfolio weighs at 30% of the overall grade so it is vital we prepare students for this. Students will receive a mark for research and planning, the production, the evaluation and the production log. Assessments will take place regularly, however each piece of work submitted for the portfolio will contribute to the final grade. Students will then turn their focus the exam units, paper 1, Section A. Here students will analyse the use of media language and representation to discuss how meaning is created to audiences. All products that are analysed are set products
In Year 10, students will engage in the exam content for the GCSE exams. The course is assessed with two exam papers as well as a non-exam assessed unit (NEA) which weighs at 30%. In year 10, we will focus on paper 1 of the exam up until the Summer Term. The production brief for the NEA will be released during the half term, and students will embark on their individual productions until the end of the year
|
TERM |
UNIT TITLE |
SUMMARY |
|
Autumn 1 |
Section A: Exploring Media Language and Representation |
Students will focus on section A of paper 1. Here they will analyse the use of media language and representation in magazine front covers and film posters. The magazines of focus will be Pride Magazine and GQ Magazine. The film posters of focus will be from James Bond, The Man with the Golden Gun and Spectre. The newspapers of focus will be The Sun and The Guardian. These are set products set by the exam board. Students will draw upon contextual ideas and look at how meaning is created to audiences. Media theory will be applied and comparative skills used to prepare students for the unseen element of the exam. |
|
Autumn 2 |
Section A: Exploring Media Language and Representation |
Students will focus on section A of paper 1. Here they will analyse the use of media language and representation in newspapers. The newspapers of focus will be The Sun and The Guardian. These are set products set by the exam board. Students will draw upon contextual ideas and look at how meaning is created to audiences. Media theory will be applied and comparative skills used to prepare students for the unseen element of the exam. |
|
Spring 1 |
SECTION A: EXPLORING MEDIA LANGUAGE AND REPRESENTATION |
Students will complete the analysis of print media at the start of this term. Here they apply the same analytical skills as the term before but focus on print advertisements. The adverts of focus will be This Girl Can and Quality Street. We will then move onto section B of the exam which will focus on media industries and audiences. Here students will analyse the role and impact of new media technology in the following industries; newspapers, film, radio and video games. They will also consider the impact this has had on the growing and demanding audiences. Media regulation and theory will also be applied throughout the unit. Again, these are set products issues by the exam board. |
|
Spring 2 |
Section A: exploring Media Language and Representation |
Students will continue with section B of the exam. Here students will analyse the role and impact of new media technology in the following industries; newspapers, film, radio and video games. They will also consider the impact this has had on the growing and demanding audiences. Media regulation and theory will also be applied throughout the unit. Again, these are set products issues by the exam board |
|
Summer 1 |
NEA Production - 30% |
Students will start their NEA productions. They will be provided with their brief (a new one is released every year) and engage in their research and planning before creating their product. Students will focus on their print productions and write a statement of aims which will contribute to their final mark. They must consider media language, issues of representation and how to appeal to an intended audience. |
|
Summer 2 |
NEA Production - 30% |
Students will draft their print productions to ensure they are being original and creative. Here they will engage with and learn a plethora of production skills to apply to their final print production. Students will be assessed on their ability to apply media language, create representation and how they respond to a set brief. |
Students will study for paper 1 of the exam. For section A, students will analyse the use of media language and representation to discuss how meaning is created to audiences. All products that are analysed are set products from the exam board. Students will use these products and compare them against other products to prepare them for the unseen element to this section. Contextual anlaysis will take place, and students are encouraged to be aware of how events in our history have influenced production and meaning. For section B, students will analyse the role and impact of new media technology in the following industries; print, film, radio and video games. Marks will be awarded for vocabulary, spelling, punctuation and grammar. Our focus will then shift to the NEA production in the summer term. The NEA portfolio weighs at 30% of the overall grade so it is vital we spend enough time on this. Students will receive a mark for their response to the released brief which will be ‘The Statement of Aims’. They will then create their product achieving marks for their ability to apply media language and create representation.
Extra Curricular
HATO News
Become part of the School Newspaper team and you could help publish the editions!
Film Club
Look at how book adaptions are translated to the big screen.
Useful Resources
http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/subjects/ztnygk7 - BBC Bitesize GCSE Media Studies
http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-media-studies-j200-from-2017/ - OCR Media Studies
Independent Learning Tasks
All ILT tasks will be published on 'Show my Homework'.
Students will log the majority of their work on their own blog page and in their media portfolios.
