Media Studies LINEAR A-LEVEL The Eduqas Media Studies course aims to equip students with a range of skills to empower them as consumers, critics and creators of media texts. Knowledge of the media is increasingly valued and is an important aspect of so many careers in our information society. This qualification will be of value to candidates entering employment across a range of industries, professions or university courses. Understanding of how to deconstruct media texts, using relevant and comprehensive theoretical frameworks, within both a modern and historical context, will focus on these four key concepts: • • • •
Year 2 Component 1: Meanings and Representations in the Media Written examination: 2 hours (30% of qualification)
Media Forms (including media language, narrative and genre) Representation Audience Institutions
This component covers all of the following media forms: music videos, video games, advertising, film marketing, newspapers and radio news/current affairs programmes. The exam consists of three sections. Section A: Media Language and Meanings One extended response question based on two media products, either from the same form or from two different forms. (Music videos & video games) Section B: Representations and Meanings One extended response question based on two media products, either from the same form or from two different forms. There will be a choice of two questions. (Advertising & film marketing) One question in Section A or Section B will be based on evaluation of relevant theories. Section C: Contextual Study - Representations One extended response question based on two media products, either from the same form or from two different forms. (Newspapers, radio news/current affairs)
Year 1 Component 1: Investigating Media Language and Representation Written examination: 1 hour 30 minutes 30% of qualification This component covers all of the following media forms: music videos, video games, advertising, film marketing, newspapers and radio news/current affairs programmes. Section A: Media Language One stepped question based on one specified media form (Music videos & video games) Section B: Representations One extended response based on one specified media form (Advertising & film marketing) Section C: Representations in Context One extended response question based on two specified media forms. (Newspapers, radio news/current affairs)
Component 2: Media Forms and Products in Depth Written examination: 3 hours 40% of qualification
Component 2: Investigating Media Forms and Products Written examination: 2 hours 40% of qualification
This component assesses knowledge and understanding of media language, representation, industry and audiences. The exam consists of three sections: Section A: Television in the Global Age Study Sherlock (UK) S2, E3: ‘The Reichenbach Fall’ (2012) & The Bridge (Denmark/Sweden) S3, E 1 (2015) One two-part question based on both of the set products studied. Section B: Magazines: Mainstream and Alternative Media Study Vogue (July 1965) (Condé Nast) & The Big Issue One two-part question based on both of the set products studied. Section C: Media in the Online Age Study blogger Zoella https://www.zoella.co.uk/ & Attitude http://attitude.co.uk/ One two-part question based on both of the set products studied.
This component assesses knowledge and understanding of media language, representation, media industries and audiences. The exam consists of three sections, each will be intrinsically linked with essential media theorists. Section A: Television Study Sherlock (UK/US) Series 2, Episode 3: ‘The Reichenbach Fall’ (2012) One two-part question based on the set product studied. Section B: Magazines Study Vogue (July 1965) (Condé Nast) One two-part question based on the set product studied. Section C: Online Media Study blogger Zoella https://www.zoella.co.uk/ One two-part question based on the set product studied.
Component 3: Cross-Media Production Non-exam assessment 30% of qualification
Component 3: Media Production Non-exam assessment (coursework) 30% of qualification
An individual cross-media production based on two forms in response to a choice of briefs set by Eduqas, including: Television, Music Advertising & Marketing, Film Advertising & Marketing or Magazines. Applying knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework and digital convergence. Exam Board WJEC
An individual media production comprising a single media product created in response to a choice of briefs set by Eduqas, applying knowledge and understanding of the theoretical framework. Print or audio visual briefs include; producing a television programme title sequence, a music video, a film marketing campaign or pages from a new magazine
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS A grade 6 in Media Studies if studied at GCSE or a grade 5 in English Language and English Literature if the subject has not been studied before. In addition, an enthusiasm for the media, film, television and new technology is essential, as is a willingness to commit to practical work outside of lesson time. 15
