2016 Research Blogs
The MS3 Coursework brings together all elements of the course and builds upon the knowledge, understanding and skills you’ve already gained. It will test your understanding of the different elements of the A-level specification.
It is designed to allow you to:
• Demonstrate research skills
• Demonstrate your knowledge of media concepts and apply them to the analysis of media texts
• Organise relevant information clearly and coherently using media language and terminology as appropriate
• Explore an area of contemporary media in depth
• Use your research to inform a media product
• Build on existing, and develop new technical & creative media skills
• Evaluate the success of your project as a whole
• Choose a subject to research that you really enjoy and have an interest in!
Here's what the exam specification says:
Introduction
This unit develops the knowledge and skills acquired at AS and as such contributes to synoptic assessment. In particular, it is designed to demonstrate the importance of research in informing media production and to develop the skills acquired in MS2.
Content
Candidates are required to produce three pieces of linked work:
• a research investigation (1400 – 1800 words)
• a production (informed by the investigation)
• a brief evaluation (500 – 750 words).
(a) Research Investigation
Candidates are required to undertake an individual investigation into a specific area of study focused on one of the following concepts: genre, narrative or representation. Their research should draw on a range of both primary and secondary sources. It should enable candidates to reach conclusions that will inform their production.
Examples of investigations include:
• the representation of teenagers in two British films
• the generic similarities between Dr Who and Stargate
• the narrative structures of The X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing.
(b) Production
Candidates are required to submit a production which should develop from and be informed by the candidate's research investigation. This production must be in a different form from the AS production. Audio-visual productions should be up to 4 minutes in length (depending on the nature of the production). Print-based productions (or their digital equivalent) should be a minimum of 3 pages. Digital media (other than audio-visual productions) and print-based productions must be individual. Audio-visual productions can be produced either individually or in groups (maximum 4). Group tasks must offer appropriate opportunities for each candidate to demonstrate an individual contribution.
(c) Evaluation
The production must be accompanied by an individual evaluation which explores how the production has been informed by the research undertaken into the relevant media concept.
The evaluation can be produced in any appropriate form such as:
• a discursive essay (with or without illustrations)
• a digital presentation with slide notes (such as a PowerPoint)
• a suitably edited blog.
Assessment
This unit will be internally marked and externally moderated, assessing AO2, AO3 and AO4.
Candidates are required to submit:
• a research investigation (1400 – 1800 words): 45 marks
• a production (informed by the investigation): 45 marks
• a brief evaluation (500 – 750 words): 10 marks
Each of the three pieces of work will be assessed separately and then combined to achieve a total mark for the unit.
The PowerPoint and booklet below tell you (almost!) everything you need to know about this project. The links even further down the page take you to a guide to how to research effectively, and to the MS3 blog, which will be updated regularly throughout your project. Keep checking back!
It is designed to allow you to:
• Demonstrate research skills
• Demonstrate your knowledge of media concepts and apply them to the analysis of media texts
• Organise relevant information clearly and coherently using media language and terminology as appropriate
• Explore an area of contemporary media in depth
• Use your research to inform a media product
• Build on existing, and develop new technical & creative media skills
• Evaluate the success of your project as a whole
• Choose a subject to research that you really enjoy and have an interest in!
Here's what the exam specification says:
Introduction
This unit develops the knowledge and skills acquired at AS and as such contributes to synoptic assessment. In particular, it is designed to demonstrate the importance of research in informing media production and to develop the skills acquired in MS2.
Content
Candidates are required to produce three pieces of linked work:
• a research investigation (1400 – 1800 words)
• a production (informed by the investigation)
• a brief evaluation (500 – 750 words).
(a) Research Investigation
Candidates are required to undertake an individual investigation into a specific area of study focused on one of the following concepts: genre, narrative or representation. Their research should draw on a range of both primary and secondary sources. It should enable candidates to reach conclusions that will inform their production.
Examples of investigations include:
• the representation of teenagers in two British films
• the generic similarities between Dr Who and Stargate
• the narrative structures of The X Factor and Strictly Come Dancing.
(b) Production
Candidates are required to submit a production which should develop from and be informed by the candidate's research investigation. This production must be in a different form from the AS production. Audio-visual productions should be up to 4 minutes in length (depending on the nature of the production). Print-based productions (or their digital equivalent) should be a minimum of 3 pages. Digital media (other than audio-visual productions) and print-based productions must be individual. Audio-visual productions can be produced either individually or in groups (maximum 4). Group tasks must offer appropriate opportunities for each candidate to demonstrate an individual contribution.
(c) Evaluation
The production must be accompanied by an individual evaluation which explores how the production has been informed by the research undertaken into the relevant media concept.
The evaluation can be produced in any appropriate form such as:
• a discursive essay (with or without illustrations)
• a digital presentation with slide notes (such as a PowerPoint)
• a suitably edited blog.
Assessment
This unit will be internally marked and externally moderated, assessing AO2, AO3 and AO4.
Candidates are required to submit:
• a research investigation (1400 – 1800 words): 45 marks
• a production (informed by the investigation): 45 marks
• a brief evaluation (500 – 750 words): 10 marks
Each of the three pieces of work will be assessed separately and then combined to achieve a total mark for the unit.
The PowerPoint and booklet below tell you (almost!) everything you need to know about this project. The links even further down the page take you to a guide to how to research effectively, and to the MS3 blog, which will be updated regularly throughout your project. Keep checking back!