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STUDENT WORKBOOK
NAME

2. AQA GCSE Media Studies (4812) Single Award
EXAM (40%)
Unit 1: Investigating the Media
Written Paper – 1 hour 30 mins – 60 marks – 40% of total
GCSE mark;
Unit 1 is a written exam; based on pre-release material
and topic;
The topic for 2011 exam is ‘Action Adventure Films’.
The provisional exam date for Unit 1 is Monday 13th June
2011 (PM)
PLUS
COURSEWORK (60%)
Unit 2: Understanding the Media
Controlled Assessment – Practical Production Tasks – 90
marks – 60% of total GCSE mark;
The Production Tasks for 2010/2011 are:
Project One: Magazine Analysis and Design
Project Two: Cross-Media Study: Advertising & Marketing
Project Three: Music Video

4. EXAM UNIT
Unit 1: Investigating the Media (40% of total GCSE)
The provisional exam date for this unit is Monday 13th June 2011
(PM).
The topic for Unit 1 is Action Adventure Films. You will receive a
pre-release pack and production brief four weeks before the exam,
which gives you time to research and plan for the exam. In
preparation for the exam you will have studied a wide range of Action
Adventure Films.
You will need to consider aspects of:
• Style
• Presentation,
• Values
• Audience and
• Representation
• Codes and conventions
• Impact of new technology
Production skills will be expected in the exam; you may be asked to
produce storyboards, scripts, print-based design sketches and
drawings.

5. COURSEWORK UNIT
Unit 2: Understanding the Media
(60% of total GCSE)
Three Practical Production Projects:
1.Magazine Analysis & Design
2.Cross-Media Study: Advertising &
Marketing
3.Music Video

6. Project 1 Magazine Analysis & Design
Research
Analyse the front cover of a music or lifestyle
magazine of your choice; key question: how does the
cover appeal to the target audience? (500 words).
Production & Evaluation
Design the front cover for a new music or lifestyle
magazine aimed at a specific audience; evaluate
your magazine using technical media language.
Research activities:
• Apply media terminology; considering the effect of media language;
• Apply analytical techniques such as denotation and connotation;
• Identify how genre is established;
• Discuss how narrative is suggested;
• Make judgements about who the target audience might be.

7. Project 2 Cross-Media Study: Advertising &
Marketing
Research
Compare two advertisements for the same product or
service across two media platforms.
Research areas:
Make-up/Beauty;
Fashion;
Perfume/After Shave;
Media Technology – phones, Wii, PS3 etc;
Sports;
Cars;
Alcohol.
Production & Evaluation
For this project you complete two tasks:
Task One: Print
Design a mock-up for an advertisement for a magazine,
newspaper or billboard
Task Two: TV
Devise a storyboard for a TV advertisement for the same
product
Both tasks require photography and/or drawing skills
PTO

8. Research questions for existing ad campaign:
• What is the aim of your chosen campaign?
• What common codes and conventions appear in your print and TV
advert?
• How has the advertising been produced to appeal to a particular
target audience?
• What is the target audience for the product? What evidence is there
within the campaign to prove this?
• What images of people, groups or places are represented? Is this
fair and accurate?
• In your opinion how and why do the adverts appeal to the Values,
Aspirations and Lifestyles of the target audience?
• How has the campaign been scheduled and distributed?

9. Assignment 3 Music Video
Research and Planning
Analysis of existing music videos using media
terminology; audience research; sketches, storyboards,
filming test footage, practise edit tasks
Production & Evaluation
A three minute music video to accompany all or part of a
particular track; group project – maximum group size is 4.
700- 800 word evaluation
For music video, confidence in handling technology can be
demonstrated by:
• Careful framing of shots;
• Editing appropriate to the nature of the production and audience;
• Evidence of consideration being given to lighting, mise-en-scene
and sound.
Music video conventions could include:
• Performance;
• Narrative;
• Interpretation;
• Lip-synch;
• Animation;
• Symmetrical framing;
• Shot-composition;
• Cross-cutting.
PTO

10. Evaluation
You must produce a 700-800 word evaluation which should reflect
upon:
• How the aims of the production have been met;
• How the music video applies appropriate codes and conventions
and uses appropriate media language;
• How the music video represents people, places or events;
• Where and when the music video would be viewed;
• What regulations and controls might be applied to your music
video and how these have been taken into consideration
(copyright, You Tube Terms of Service);
• The strengths and weaknesses of your music video in terms of
meeting the needs of the target audience.