This document provides guidance for students taking the G325: Critical Perspectives in Media A2 Media Studies exam. It outlines the structure and requirements of Section A, which focuses on the theoretical evaluation of student productions. Question 1A requires students to describe and evaluate their skills development from their foundation portfolio to advanced portfolio. Question 1B requires students to evaluate one of their productions in relation to a media concept. The document provides examples of past exam questions and identifies the media concepts and production practices that questions may relate to. It also includes sample student answers and examiner comments to illustrate the level criteria.

1. G325: Critical Perspectives in Media
A2 Media Studies

2. Section A: Theoretical Evaluation of Production
 You are required to answer two compulsory questions – no
choice.
 Question 1(a) requires you to describe and evaluate
your skills development over the course of your production
work, from Foundation Portfolio to Advanced
Portfolio.
 The focus of this evaluation must be on skills development, and
the question will require you to adapt this to one or two specific
production practices

3. Section A: Theoretical Evaluation of Production
 The list of practices to which questions will relate is as
follows:-
o DigitalTechnology
o Creativity
o Research & Planning
o Post-Production
o Using Conventions from real media texts
In your exam, questions will be posed using one or two of these categories!!

4. Q1A in a nutshell
 Directly asks you to evaluate how your media
production skills have developed progressively
from AS toA2
 Critical reflection on creative processes and
decision making in the context of a range of
productions and progress made from AS toA2.

5. Past Examples of Question 1A
 Read over the handout.
 Identify Question 1A
 What topic have come up?
 What has not come up recently!

6. Section A: Theoretical Evaluation of Production
 Question 1(b) requires you to select one production and
evaluate it in relation to a media concept.
 The list of concepts to which questions will relate is as
follows:-
o Genre
o Narrative
o Representation
o Audience
o Media Language
In your exam, questions will be set using one of these concepts only!!

7. Past Examples of Question 1B
 Read over the handout.
 Identify Question 1B
 What topic have come up?
 What has not come up recently!

8. Q1B in a nutshell
This question requires a more distanced
approach – a textual analysis of one
production outcome – as a media text – to
demonstrate the ability to apply a
theoretical concept to the text.

9. Jan 2010 – R&P / Representation

10. June 2010

11. The Mark Scheme

12. Question 1A Level One

13. Question 1A Level Two

14. Question 1A Level Three

15. Question 1A Level Four

16. Question 1B Level One

17. Question 1B Level Two

18. Question 1B Level Three

19. Question 1B Level Four

20. Model Answers
 Now read through the Model answers provided
 Using the highlighter provided highlight (in different colours)
examples of
 Explanation/Analysis/Argument
 Examples
 Terminology
 Write a check list of 10 -15 thing you will need to do when
writing your own answers in order to get a LevelThree or
Four. Use both the model answers and Mark scheme to help
you create your list

21. Model Answers
 Example One
 Explain how your skills in the creative use of digital technology developed over
time
 Mark – 20/25 80%
 ExampleTwo
 Explain how your skills in the creative use of digital technology developed over
time
 Mark – 18/25 72%
 ExampleThree
 Describe a range of creative decision that you made in post-production and how
these decision's made a difference to the final outcome
 Mark – 14/25 56%

22. Let’s start small…. Homework task
 Fill in a different sheet for each production you
have done.
 You should have at least 3 (prelim, thriller, music
video, website, digipack, magazine advert)

23. This should not be too hard- include hardware
(cameras, phones for pictures/audio,
computers and anything else you used)
software (on your computer) and online
programs, such as blogger, youtube etc.
This is a difficult question and
one that does not have a correct
answer as such, but ought to
give you food for thought.
Start with the genre and
type (thriller and film opening)
Then list the conventions you had to
include in order for it to be a successful product.
Repeat this process for the other productions (it’ll
be harder for the prelim as there was no set genre or
form – but there were some things you had to
include…)