1. AS Media Studies
How to write a good essay for Section A: Textual
Analysis

2. The exam
• You will have 2 hrs to answers questions on
Section A (Textual analysis - what we have been
studying so far), and Section B (The Film
Industry - will study this after half term)
• You will also have 30 mins to watch the unseen
extract 4 times, 3 of those times where you can
write notes.
• You will get equal marks for Section A and B so
its advisable to spend 45 mins on each answer.

3. Sample questions
• Discuss the representation of class in this
extract from Shameless, in terms of:
• camera
• sound
• editing
• mise en scene

4. Note taking
• Work out how every character in every scene is being represented
and write down as many descriptive words as you can.
• Make good notes on camera, sound, editing mise en scene that show
how the character is being represented. (divide page into 4)
• Make a note of the person / action that relates to these 4 technical
codes (or micro areas) notes. So as you write the note, you don’t
write ‘two shot’ without saying who is in it and what they are doing.
• On second and third viewing, make notes on what meaning you get
from the technical codes that relates to the representation you are
focussing on. eg the high angle shot shows the man to be
inferior.
• Make sure you have notes for all 4 areas.

5. Essay writing
• Start with a strong opening paragraph that
summarises what overall representation you have
found - eg. the women are mainly portrayed counter-
typically and the men and are portrayed mostly
stereotypically in terms of their bravery but
sometimes also counter-typically in terms of their
costume.
• Finish with a strong conclusion that summarises your
essay and is different to the opening paragraph.

6. Essay writing
• The strongest essays go through each extract scene by scene. In
this way you can go through your notes in the same order as the
extract, and use the representation as your focus, sometimes
commenting on two technical codes at the same time, eg camera
and editing.
• You can choose to structure it by going through camera / sound /
editing / mise en scene one by one, but you must be confident you have
enough to say about all 4 areas, and that you are not going to repeat
what you say about the way the clip represents characters by saying
“the up close camera shot shows her to be stern and aggressive”, then
make the same comment about her dialogue.
• In my opinion, the best essays use the first structure, and the
vast majority of students write their essays in this fashion.

7. The key
• The key is to work out how each character, group, event
or place is being represented. How are they portrayed?
• Key questions to ask yourself are:
• Is the representation positive, negative or balanced?
• Is the representation stereotypical / non-stereotypical /
counter-typical? Is the representation realistic?
• What descriptive words can you use to describe the way
the characters look, sound, their emotions, body
language, facial expressions?

8. The most important
thing....
• is to link what you notice about camera,
sound, editing and mise en scene with the
area of representation you are examining eg,
gender, age, class.
• Always tie in the shot or the sound with
HOW this represents a person or a place.

9. Writing skills
• Good grammar - spelling, leaving out conversational terms such as ‘lots of’.
• Don’t write bullet points, write in a fluid essay style
• Keep in the same tense
• Think of as many adjectives as you can (describing words), to discuss your
characters. eg brave, but sometimes cowardly, naive, blunt, happy, bullying.
• Look at notes for how to put media terminology in the right context, eg
the continuity editing masks the change of hard cuts from
close ups to wide shot. Or the man is carrying a prop of a
briefcase, and the low key lighting creates a shadowy
silhouette.

10. Remember:
• Remember the T-E-A principle. Terminology /
example / analysis.
• Be specific, and don’t generalise eg. try not to
write: “there are lots of close ups” or “there are
lots of high angle shots” or “there are many
diegetic sounds such as the creaking of doors and
footsteps”
• Use examples AND also discuss meaning for
every point you make.

11. Marking scheme
• out of 20 for - Examples used
• out of 20 for analysis offered
• out of 10 for use of terminology.

12. • Camera Shots, Angle, Movement and
Composition
!! hots: establishing shot, master shot, close-up, mid-
S
shot, long shot, wide shot, two-shot, aerial shot, point
of view shot, over the shoulder shot, and variations of
these.
!! ngle: high angle, low angle, canted angle.
A
!! ovement: pan, tilt, track, dolly, crane, steadicam,
M
hand-held, zoom, reverse zoom. !! Composition:
framing, rule of thirds, depth of field – deep and
shallow focus, focus pulls.

13. Editing and Sound
Editing: Includes transition of image and sound – continuity and non-
continuity systems.
!! Cutting: shot/reverse shot, eyeline match, graphic match, action
match, jump cut, crosscutting, parallel editing, cutaway; insert.
!! Other transitions, dissolve, fade-in, fade-out, wipe, superimposition,
long take, short take, slow motion, ellipsis and expansion of time, post-
production, visual effects.
Sound: Diegetic and non-diegetic sound; synchronous/asynchronous
sound; sound effects; sound motif, sound bridge, dialogue, voiceover,
mode of address/direct address, sound mixing, sound perspective.
!! Soundtrack: score, incidental music, themes and stings, ambient
sound.

14. Mise-en-Scène
!!Production design: location, studio, set design, costume
and make-up, properties. !! Lighting; colour design. Facial
expression and body language. Props.

15. The textual analysis
• Not every one of the above technical areas will feature in
equal measure in any given extract.
• Examiners will bear this in mind - there is no need for you to
comment on this.
• You have to analyse representations of individuals, groups,
events or places.
• You should also discuss the messages and values that have
social significance.