What makes a good exam answer?

What do you think that the examiners (and I) are looking

for?

Good answers include:

Good answers include:• EXAMPLES!!!!!!!!!! -own case study examples -detail/specifics• Well structured - paragraphs - full sentences. - P.E.E.L - introduction and conclusion. (Concise)• THEORY!Not ‘thrown in’• -Language - spag -formal language - sort of, kind of, might,

What do you know?Look at the potential topics outlined on each piece of paper. Use this to explore different ideas and examples that you could include on a question about this topic.• On the left, identify any specific media texts

and examples you could reference.• On the right, identify any specific theory,

regulations, thoughts and contemporary issues relating to this area.

Internet

Youth audiences

Female identity

Marginalized groups

Globalisationthe idea that the world is becoming increasingly interconnected through one global culture.

TV

Regulation

News

Film

Print

Politics

Social media

Identity

New and digital media

Making links...Can you now make an informed choice as to

the strongest examples that you could discuss on this topic.

• Select two media texts• Regulations and contemporary issues• Some relevant theory that could be applied

here.

Topic, concept, issue, platform

Example Example

Theory

regulations Contemporary issues

Terminology Theory Terminology

Marginalised groups

Advert – MaltesersUses people with varying

disabilities as the main protagonist in their

adverts.Represented as funny.

Paralympics advert ‘yes I

can’

Positive representation

RegulationsChannel 4 remit -

representation

Under represented in main stream media.

Used genuine disabled actors and athletes in both examples.

Reinforcing the ever changing dominant

ideology of disability –

particularly the Paralympics

Institutions and hegemony

Reception theoryDifferent styles of advert in a

series will hopefully appeal to a variety of audience

types

SECTION A – FOCUS OF THE QUESTIONS AND TIPS

FOCUS OF THE QUESTIONS The focus of the 3 questions are:

1. Media concepts

Use the unseen products to answer a question on forms, representations, institutions, audiences or values. This paper and the sample papers have been on representation as a gentle introduction to the new paper, but question 1. can be on any of the concepts.

2. Media issues and debates

Use the unseen products to answer a question on media issues and debates. You may refer to other media products to support your answer. The ‘may’ is intended to encourage candidates to move beyond the two unseen exam products, they will get more marks if they do, but they can still get a pass level if they don’t.

3. Wider contexts

Use the unseen products to answer a question on wider contexts. You should move beyond the texts, referring to other media products to support

your answer. The ‘should’ is intended to tell candidates they will be expected to move beyond the two unseen products and include other examples. For question 2 and 3 candidates can include examples from either of their individual case studies, class work they have done and from their own media use.

TIPS FOR ACHIEVING A GOOD MARK

1. Use the marks awarded to questions as a guide to how long to spend on each answer - Q1 8 marks, Q2 12 marks and Q3 12 marks.

2. Answer the particular question.

3. Make detailed references to the two media products, especially in question 1 to illustrate the points made.

4. Higher level answers include a range of points, not just repeated explanation of one or two points.

5. Higher level answers include candidates own opinions explained and justified, especially for question 2 and 3. They take a standpoint and back it up with wider contexts and examples from other media products. Also if it is relevant to the question higher level answers discuss the different sides of the argument and show a sense of debate.