The first thing to do is take a good look at the mark scheme for your research project. As you will see, you are marked solely on AO4:
“Demonstrate the ability to undertake, apply and present appropriate research”
Make sure you have the level descriptors clearly in mind as you plan your work.
Level 4: A*/A
Level 3: B/C
Level 2: D/E
Level 1: F
“Demonstrate the ability to undertake, apply and present appropriate research”
Make sure you have the level descriptors clearly in mind as you plan your work.
Level 4: A*/A
Level 3: B/C
Level 2: D/E
Level 1: F
Once you’ve gathered sufficient information and ideas from your research, you need to start planning the first draft of your essay.
We will be working on this in class when we return from the summer break so you should ensure you are ready to start writing by then. The summer is an excellent opportunity to finalise your notes and you should continue to update your blogs as you gather more information and ideas.
How to plan:
Your essay should contain a clear introduction in which you:
After this, you can move on to your conclusion. This should be a summary of your findings. You should:
First steps:make a list of the points you want to develop in the main body of your essay. Link each to an analysis of your texts, using theory and terminology. What conclusion can you make? Remember, you should be developing an argument so choose the order of your points carefully.
Ask for help if you need it!
It can be useful to look at some sample essays. These are available in class but here are some others to read through.
The following essays all scored 40+ in the Research Investigation.
When you are reading make sure you make notes on the following things.
We will be working on this in class when we return from the summer break so you should ensure you are ready to start writing by then. The summer is an excellent opportunity to finalise your notes and you should continue to update your blogs as you gather more information and ideas.
How to plan:
Your essay should contain a clear introduction in which you:
- Clearly state the focus of your investigation
- Explain the stereotypes/genre types/typical narratives relevant to your research and how your investigation will explore the positives/negatives or how texts conform to/challenge them
- Give reasons for your choice of texts
- Set up the main argument of your essay
- Make a point to support and develop your argument (make sure to look at both sides of an argument by challenging representations or generic types)
- Analyse an example text
- Apply relevant theory (U&G, Propp’s character functions, hegemonic ideologies, preferred readings etc.)
- Come to mini-conclusions after each point – what issues are addressed? What are the effects created?
After this, you can move on to your conclusion. This should be a summary of your findings. You should:
- Draw conclusions from your research and analysis
- Explain what you have found out
- Relate your findings to the ‘bigger picture’ for the media form you have explored
- Evaluate your findings and the issue you have investigated
First steps:make a list of the points you want to develop in the main body of your essay. Link each to an analysis of your texts, using theory and terminology. What conclusion can you make? Remember, you should be developing an argument so choose the order of your points carefully.
Ask for help if you need it!
It can be useful to look at some sample essays. These are available in class but here are some others to read through.
The following essays all scored 40+ in the Research Investigation.
When you are reading make sure you make notes on the following things.
- Where the essay meets the criteria
- Count the amount of different resources used
- The academic resources are cited
- Look at the depth of the Textual Analysis
- How the question is answered
- Words you would use to describe the structure and flow of the essay
- Give at least one comment as to how the essay could be improved within the framework of the marking criteria