Media A level – WJEC – specification code A680QS
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Media Studies – Year 12 and 13
Coronavirus – Working from Home
Students may find some useful links to film and media websites here.
About Media Studies
Students will cover meanings and representations in all of the following media forms: music videos, video games, advertising, film marketing, newspapers and radio news/current affairs programmes. Students will explore different case study media texts in order to be able to answer questions about the media industry, audience response and media production. Students will consider a variety of different media theories that address issues of narrative, semiotics, gender, sexuality and ethnicity.
In addition, students cover media forms and products in depth for the following media forms; TV programmes, Magazines and Social media. Students will learn about the construction of media products, considering visual and audio codes and how language is used to manipulate and position audiences. This knowledge will then be applied through a range of activities that encourage students to consider the meanings created from the media products that flood contemporary society.
Students will produce an individual cross-media production in response to a choice of briefs set by WJEC, applying their knowledge and understanding of media language, representation, industry and audiences. The forms that learners can work in include television, magazine, film marketing, music marketing and online options. The intended audience and industry context are specified in the brief.
Breakdown of course by terms:
Autumn term (Year 12)
Students will be introduced to AS level codes and conventions used in different media products and texts. They will become familiar with key concepts and media language used within the A level course which is of a more complex level to GCSE. There will be a focus of set media texts such as advertising of both charities and film. Students will also look at key concepts such as representation and audience. Students will also look at historical products and identify how representations have changed across time. Students will also look at magazines and music videos, specifically Dream by Dizzie Rascal.
Spring term (Year 12)
Students will explore the television and radio industries, focusing on Life on Mars and Late Night Women’s Hour. Students will consolidate learning and theoretical knowledge of media language, representations and ethnicity.
Students will also complete their non-examined work, they will receive a brief and create pre-production work as well as the production itself and an evaluation.
Summer term (Year 12)
Students will have their final opportunities to develop their productions using feedback. Then students will look at blogging and website design.
Autumn term (Year 13)
Revision and further exploration of media theories. Students will also cover more close analysis of the requirements of the exam. Students will consolidate previous learning and application of media knowledge. There will then be a focus on newspapers, looking at the Daily Mirror and The Times and magazines looking at Vogue and The Big Issue. Also, revisiting music videos and exam practice with a central part of each lesson being revision.
Spring term (Year 13)
Students will review the television industry and radio, as well as looking closely at exam technique, motivation and time management.
Students will develop their non-examined production work, working on ways to better meet assessment criteria.
Summer term (Year 13)
Preparation for written exam techniques and revision, including after school sessions.
Recommended text books:
WJEC/Eduqas Media Studies for A Level Year 1 and AS – ISBN: 978-1-911208-10-5
WJEC/Eduqas Media Studies for A Level Year 2 and A2 – ISBN: 978-1-911208-11-2
WJEC/Eduqas Media Studies for A Level AS and Year 1 Revision Guide – ISBN: 978-1911208877
WJEC/Eduqas Media Studies for A level Year 2 & A2: Revision Guide – ISBN: 978-1912820184
Media Theory for A Level: The Essential Revision Guide – ISBN: 978-0367145439