1. AS Media Studies:
Introduction to AS Media
Students

2. AS Media Introduction Session:
Tuesday 10th September 2013 (2
sessions)
• Lesson Aims:
An introductory lesson aimed to provide an overview
of the course and what is expected of you as a AS
Media student
• Lesson Objectives:
• Introduction to Media Studies
• Introduction to ilearn resources

3. Introductory Lesson Pack
Tracking Sheets – taking ownership of your work

4. Our Expectations of Students
• Full attendance
• Punctuality – lesson starts at 9.00!
• Mature and open dialogue with
staff
• Come prepared to work
• Be pro-active not reactive

5. Our Rules
• No mobile phones in class! Any student
accessing or looking at their mobile
(unless its part of a class based exercise)
may have it confiscated or asked to leave
the lesson. Repeat problems will require
your parents involvement.
• No food & drink in class.
• Do not sit in the corridor or cause an
obstruction

6. Ensure you have lined A4 paper, pens, A4
folders/binders and all the materials that are required
as standard for an A level student.
•Keep and use a diary (hard copy or electronic but
remember no mobiles in class) to organise the work
you are given.
•Open a Google Documents or other account asap –
useful way to move work around, including,
coursework, research and essays.
•Purchase the required text book asap – often cheap
& second hand on Amazon.

7. Key requirements for a successful year
•Read the Course Handbook on iLearn – provides
useful information on the course and helpful
guidance.
•Join our twitter feed @parkmediandfilm
•These are your first homework tasks!

8. What is the Media?
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Television
Magazines
Film
Radio
Advertising
Pop music
Newspapers
The Internet
20/10/2013
8

9. What is Media Studies?
• Media Studies involves the close analysis of the images,
sounds and text that we experience via the media. It is
the study of individual media texts (such as films, TV
shows, magazines, websites) and
– Who made them ("institution")?
– How they were made ("process")?
– Why they were made ("purpose")?
– Who they were made for ("audience")?
– What rules were followed when making them
("conventions" and "genre")?

10. Why is it so Important?
• Media Studies also deals with the very latest ideas
and products (new media technologies). Although
you do need to have some understanding of the
history of media (particularly how new
technological developments have changed
things), the focus of your studies is what is
happening right now, buzzing round the airwaves
of the globe.
20/10/2013
10

11. The AS course comprises of two modules:
MS1 Media Representations and Responses
Examination module based on three sections (June)
MS2 Media Production Processes
Coursework module (February/March)

12. Unit MS1 – Media Representations and Responses
(Exam module): Comprises of three sections:
1) Texts
How technical codes, genre codes and narrative codes are used in different media to create
meaning
2) Representations
How media texts use the concept of representation to create meaning
3) Media Responses
Focus on audiences, will need to consider the ways in which different audiences can
respond to the same text in different ways.

13. Unit MS2 – Media Production Processes
(Coursework module)
AS coursework is print-based with a number of different options
You will be required to produce 3 pieces of work:-
1) a pre-production reflecting research and demonstrating planning techniques
An artefact of 2/3 A4 pages that is produced as a direct result of research and planning
you have undertaken
2) a production
An artefact of 2 or 3 A4 pages that is linked to the pre-production artefact in
3) a report
some way
A 1600 word report that discusses research, planning, audience and production

14. September
Induction (2 weeks) – first assignment set. Unit MS2 – initial research & intro.
Unit MS1 – Texts – semiotics introduced.
October
Unit MS2 introduced – students commence planning & research through the pr
production phase. Proposal form completed by candidates.
November
Unit MS1 – Representations theory introduced.
December
Unit MS1 – Combined & comparative work for texts and representation.
January
Unit MS2 Production phase – independent study & workshop sessions in GH22
Turing Suite.
February
Unit MS2 – final production phase for coursework package.
March
Unit MS2 Deadline – see ilearn for details
Unit MS1 – Audiences & Genre/Narrative
April -May
MS1 - Revision and mock exam practice
June
MS1 Examination

15. This or an earlier edition is
fine!
The Media Student’s Book
by Gill Branston & Roy
Stafford (Routledge)

16. New and
recommended!
£14.99 from Amazon
AS Media Studies Study & Revision
Guide
By Christine Bell

17. In summary…
You need to take responsibility for
your learning.
We expect you to be on-task in
lessons and take advantage of
opportunities we will give you for
extra input and revision.