Gcse revision guide

GCSE MEDIA
REVISION
B324
Name:
Target Grade:
Yr 10 Points
Score
Grad
e
Yr 11 Points Score Grade
Add your points score together to get your overall
Coursework Points score.
Coursework Grades (60% of your GCSE)
TOTAL:
GRADE
NEEDED:
Look at the grade boundaries below, work out the difference
between your COURSEWORK POINTS SCORE and the
points needed for your TARGET GRADE.
A* A B C D
360 320 280 240 200
With this final number, you now know what grade you need in
the exam (boundaries shown below) to achieve your target
grade.
A* A B C D E F
64 14
4
5
8
128 52 112 47 96 40 80 33 64 26 48

GCSE MEDIA
REVISION
B324
Section A- Lifestyle Magazines
Section A is all about lifestyle magazines and you will be
required to analyse an UNSEEN extract. This means that you
will be given a lifestyle magazine front cover, contents and
editors letter to use in the exam.
YOU HAVE UP TO 30 MINS TO READ AND WRITE NOTE
ON THE EXTRACT. USE THIS TIME WISELY!
Q1 - CONVENTIONS
Question 1 is always
the same and asks
you to explain about 2
conventions of a
lifestyle magazine.
LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
CONVENTIONS
1. A Model or a Celeb on the front cover
looking at the audience.
2. Aspirational tone to the stories and
language (Life a lifestyle coach)
3. Mix of Content (Beauty, Health, Fashion,
Sex etc)
4. Direct Mode of Address (As if the stories
are directed at you. Cover lines use YOU or
YOUR.)
YOU ONLY NEED 2
SO USE THESE 2.
EXPLAIN THEM
USING SPECIFIC
EXAMPLES FROM
THE UNSEEN

GCSE MEDIA
REVISION
B324
Section A - Lifestyle
Magazines
Q1 - CONVENTIONS
EXEMPLAR
The magazine „Men‟s Health‟ fits the lifestyle genre because it has
the conventional mix of contents; celebrity, health, fashion, sex,
advice, and (specific to men‟s mags) gadgets. This mix of contents is
clear from the front cover; „Sex Tricks‟, „Weight Loss‟, „and „Man Flu
Defeated‟. Also from the two pages of contents; „Style‟, The Joy of
Decks‟, „Shocking Fillers‟, „What are you Eating?‟ and „Your Winning
Game Plan‟. The best example is on the Editor‟s Page, „The faster
way to a better life‟ which tells you how to navigate the magazine
using „quick navigation icons‟.
The magazine also fits the „lifestyle‟ genre because it assumes the
position of advisor. It uses direct address to „speak‟ to the reader as
though it holds all the answers for „your‟ life to be a success. The
coverlines clearly indicate this position, „LOSE YOUR GUT!‟ and
„Crush Your Hangover, Build Muscle‟ are two examples here.
Level 4 (8–10 marks)
Explains two conventions
Shows thorough understanding of
appropriate generic conventions
Ideas and arguments supported
by evidence
Precise and accurate use of
terminology
Ideas expressed clearly and
fluently.
States two conventions
Shows sound understanding of
appropriate generic conventions
Offers sound textual evidence
Some accurate use of terminology
Ideas expressed with some clarity
and fluency
States at least one convention
Shows some understanding of
generic conventions
Offers some textual evidence
Limited use of terminology
Simple ideas expressed
appropriately. errors of SPaG that
obscure meaning.
Describes some aspects of the text
Shows minimal understanding of
generic conventions
No, minimal or inaccurate use of
terminology
Writing may also lack legibility.
Mark Scheme

GCSE MEDIA
REVISION
B324
Magazines
Q2 - FEATURES
Question 2 is, again,
always the same and
asks you to explain
HOW layout,
typography, colour and
language CREATE
EFFECT.
LAYOUT
Symmetrical (Formal) Balance
Symmetrical balance is mirror image balance. If you draw a line down the
center of the page, all the objects on one side of the screen are mirrored
on the other side (they may not be identical objects, but they are similar
in terms of numbers of objects, colors and other elements.)
Asymmetrical (informal) Balance
Asymmetrical balance occurs when several smaller items on one side are
balanced by a large item on the other side, or smaller items are placed
further away from the center of the screen than larger items. One darker
item may need to be balanced by several lighter items.
An unbalanced page or screen creates a feeling of tension, as if the page
or screen might tip, or things might slide off the side, just as the
unbalanced balance beam would tip to one side.

GCSE MEDIA
REVISION
B324
Magazines
Balance by colour: Our eyes are drawn by color. Small areas
of vibrant color can be used to balance larger areas of more
neutral colors.
Balance by Value: Value refers to the darkness or lightness of
objects. Black against white has a much stronger contrast than
gray against white. To balance these two colors, you would
need a larger area of gray to balance the stronger value of
black. Large flat areas without much detail can be balanced by
smaller irregularly shaped objects since the eye is led towards
the more intricate shape.
Balance by position: Using a balance beam, a larger weight
closer to the center point can be balanced by a lighter weight
further away from the center. This is the basis for balance by
position. Sometimes larger elements on one side of the page
can be balanced by a smaller element that is positioned by itself
at the far end of the other side of the page. This is a very tricky
type of asymmetrical balance that often ends up looking out of
balance.
Balance by texture: Smaller areas with interesting textures
(variegated light and dark, or random fluctuations) can balance
larger areas with smoother, untextured looks.
Balance by Eye Direction: Your eye can be led to a certain
point in a picture depending on how the elements are arranged.
If the people in a picture are looking in a certain direction, your
eye will be led there as well. Elements in a picture, such as
triangles or arrows, will also lead your eye to look to a certain
point and maintain the balance of a picture.

GCSE MEDIA
REVISION
B324
Magazines
LAYOUT
Masthead (logo)
The name of the magazine displayed in a specific typeface. This is the
visual branding of the title and is often done in a specially designed typeface
to be very recognizable and unique.
Dateline
Month and year of publication, often with the price.
Main image
In the case of this front cover there is a single image of the model Shania.
The image is used in a classic way, the face is big enough to stand out on
the news-stand, with the model making full eye-contact. The image on a
magazine‟s cover represents the personality of the magazine. The reader is
meant to aspire towards being like the cover model.

GCSE MEDIA
REVISION
B324
Magazines
Coverlines
Cosmopolitan magazine uses a lot of cover lines, which are distributed around the main
image without detracting from it too much. In our culture we learn to read from left to right
and from top to bottom of the page. This is why the prime position for information is the top
left hand corner. Front covers also make good use of underlining, emboldening and a
variety of font sizes, styles and colour. Magazines usually stick to the same set of fonts for
each cover to keep the HOUSE STYLE even though the colours may or may not change.
Main cover line
This is very large - taking up almost a quarter of the magazine cover – and comes in three
layers, each with a different colour. Note the main cover line is positioned against the
model's shoulder so it shows up clearly
Left third
The left third of the magazine cover is vital for sales in shops where the magazine is not
shown full-frontage. The title must be easily recognisable in a display of dozens of
competitors. The start of the masthead is important here, as are short cover lines that are
easy to read
Bar code
Standard bar code used by retailers
Selling line
Short, sharp description of the title's main marketing point (for Cosmopolitan: 'The world's
No 1 magazine for young women') or perhaps setting out its editorial philosophy.
EXEMPLAR
The front cover uses a symmetrical layout to give the page balance. It
is as though the page is following the „rule of thirds‟ where the page
has three distinct columns and a line can be drawn down the centre
to show a mirror image. The mirror image is not exact because the
coverlines are different but a balance of colours on both sides is used
to achieve the overall effect. This is effective because it is pleasing to
the eye and the target audience can quickly scan the page from left to
right, to get information on the contents.
TYPOGR
APHYITS ALL ABOUT THE FONT!
The typography of a magazine will have a number of factors that you will
need to consider. You must consider the COLOUR of a font and the
CONNOTATIONS of that font. You must also say whether a font is SERIF
or SANS SERIF and talk about the CONNOTATIONS of each.

GCSE MEDIA
REVISION
B324
Magazines
TYPOGR
APHY
PASTEL COLOURS ARE LESS INTENSE COLOURS AND
WILL HAVE A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT CONNOTATION.
Serif has connotations of sophistication, elegance and tradition.
Sans Serif has connotations of modernity, youth and simplicity.

GCSE MEDIA
REVISION
B324
Magazines
EXEMPLAR
The magazine uses the two font families (serif and sans serif)
throughout perhaps to connote that the magazine is for a
sophisticated but modern male. The majority of article titles and
coverlines are sans serif and bold but the magazine title itself is serif.
I think this is a key indicator of the target audience for the magazine
because it does connote intelligence and sophistication in
comparison to say the title for Loaded or Nuts.
LANGUA
GE As there is little space on the front of a magazine, the text
producer needs to cram a lot of information into a few words.
There are a few different techniques the producer uses on the
front cover to ensure the reader finds the content appealing.
Some producers prefer a particular type of sentence and
sometimes this communicates a message about the text.
Sentences can be divided into four types:
Declaratives: This type of sentence makes a statement or
assertion - All Saints get mucky
Imperatives: Give orders or make requests - Get stress off your
back
Interrogatives: Asks questions - Feeding friends?
Exclamatives: These are used to express surprise, alarm or a
strong opinion and are accompanied by an exclamation mark -
Nice tackle!Producers use an array of linguistic tools in order to attract our
attention.
Rhyme: Catch him, snatch him, make him yours
Alliteration: Six simple secrets to keep you looking fabulous
Puns: Frisky Fellas. How to spring the little lambs
Intertextuality: CURL POWER!
You just need to find TWO of these in the unseen extract and
talk about the effect that they have on the TARGET AUDIENCE

GCSE MEDIA
REVISION
B324
Magazines
EXEMPLAR
The magazine uses a variety of language techniques to excite the
reader and fit everything on the front cover. One example is the use
of exclamatives and imperatives. For example there is „Lose your
Gut! Which is an imperative because it gives the reader and order
and „Secrets of Lean Muscle!‟ which is an exclamative because it
expresses surprise as though they hold a special recipe for success.
STACKED LIKE STACKHOUSE! is another exclamative and it also
uses alliteration to grab the attention of the audience.
COLOUR
EXEMPLAR
The most significant point about colour in this magazine is what is
missing. There is not a pink or pastel shade in sight. Black, red and
blue are central to the colour design of the magazine and this is
evident throughout. The colour red has connotations of danger and
urgency in this context and of course blue connotes a sense of calm.
Bold black text connotes a sense of importance and seriousness.
Together they would be considered a very „masculine‟ grouping of

GCSE MEDIA
REVISION
B324
Magazines
Q2 MARK
SCHEME
Comprehensive range of examples
Detailed analysis of textual evidence
from the extract
Precise and accurate use of
terminology
Thorough understanding of connotative
effect
Ideas expressed clearly and fluently in
well structured
Comprehensive range of examples (all
bullet points covered)
Offers sound textual evidence from the
extract
Sound understanding of connotative
effect
Ideas expressed with some clarity and
fluency
Attempts at least three bullet points
Offers some textual evidence from the
extract
Some understanding of connotative
effect (at the top end)
Some simple ideas expressed
appropriately
Attempts one or two bullet points
Describes some aspects of the extract
No, minimal or inaccurate use of
terminology
Minimal or no understanding of
connotative effect
Some simple ideas expressed with errors
of SPaG
Q3 - REPRESENTATION
STEROTYPE – USE IT!!!!
Question 3 is all about HOW the extract REPRESENTS
different people and lifestyles.
That means that you need to show (using specific examples)
how the people in the magazine are presented.
This will include Race, Age, Gender and Class. Their will also
be issues surrounding the representation.
YOU MUST PICK OUT AT LEAST 2 ISSUES.

GCSE MEDIA
REVISION
B324
Magazines

GCSE MEDIA
REVISION
B324
Magazines
Answer the questions below:
Which social group is being represented here?
What is apparently „valued‟ by this social group? (What is
important to them?)
Why could some of these „values‟ not be integrated into a
mainstream magazine like FHM?Level 4 (16–20 marks)
Discusses a range of issues of the
representation of people and/or lifestyle in the
extract, or discusses one or more issues in
depth
Shows thorough understanding of appropriate
representation issues
Offers a range of textual evidence from the
extract that exemplifies these issues
Ideas expressed clearly and fluently in well
structured
sentences with few, if any, errors of SPaG
Clearly identifies at least one issue of the
representation of people and/or lifestyle in the
extract
Shows sound understanding of appropriate
representation issues – accurate use of the
term „stereotyping‟
Describes aspects of representation in the
extract
Shows some limited understanding of
representation issues – uses the concept of
stereotyping or the term itself
Offers some textual evidence from the extract
Simple ideas expressed appropriately.
Describes some aspects of the extract
Shows no or minimal understanding of
representation issues – no reference to
stereotyping
Offers minimal textual evidence from the extract
Some simple ideas expressed.

GCSE MEDIA
REVISION
B324
Magazines
EXEMPLAR
If I look at the magazine as though it is telling a story about who men
are and how they live their lives, I would conclude that men are
obsessed with their muscles, working out and their diet, heterosexual
and like to look at women wearing only a bra and pants, owning
gadgets that make their life simple and having the right clothes to look
good. If I didn‟t know better I might argue that this is ideally suited to
what men want and need in life.
However, I do know better and I would say that this magazine presents
society with an issue. In the same way that women have always been
represented as being obsessed with diets, the perfect dress size,
clothes, beauty and sex – men are now being represented as having
similar obsessions. A criticism of this type of lifestyle magazine is that it
sets up a vision of the „ ideal‟ man and then makes audiences insecure
about not being able to obtain this apparently better version of
themselves. The magazine uses a photograph of a handsome slim
celebrity with muscles and veins and holds this up as what men should
aspire to look like. It then seems to point a finger at the reader who is
no doubt already comparing his arms to the arms in the photo and
demands; „LOSE YOUR GUT!‟ in bold capitals. In the contents under
ALPHA MALE it asks, „isn‟t it time you started upping your game?‟ so it
sets out a problem and offers a solution. It also suggests that the reader
needs to learn sex tricks and make „simple purchases that will drive her
wild.‟
The magazine has many more solutions to offer the reader for a range
of problems he might have. To be honest, you might start reading the
magazine thinking you were OK but by the time you‟ve finished you‟d
have so many insecurities about how you looked you wouldn‟t be
feeling so confident. Maybe this is why people buy it every month?
They‟re now convinced they‟re useless and need all the advice the
magazine can throw at them!

GCSE MEDIA
REVISION
B324
Section B – TV Comedy
This section of the exam is all about TV Comedy and
the channels that they are scheduled on.
This year we have studied:
Gavin & Stacey on the BBC
The Big Bang Theory on E4/Channel 4
You will need to know all about the specific episodes and
the characters in them.
Gavin & Stacey - Series 1 Episode 1 - Sunday 13th May 07
– 9pm on BBC Three
The Big Bang Theory – Series 6 Episode 14 – Thursday
2nd May 2013 – 8pm on E4
You must know all of this!
The most important part
of this question!

GCSE MEDIA
REVISION
B324
Section B – TV Comedy
Bernadette
Howard
Raj Penny Sheldon Leonard Amy
Bryn
Gwen Nessa
Stacey
Gavin
Smithy
Mick & Pam

GCSE MEDIA
REVISION
B324
Section B – TV
Comedy

GCSE MEDIA
REVISION
B324
Section B – TV
Comedy
Level 4 (12-15 marks)
Discusses the scheduling of two
comedies
Precise and accurate use of terminology
Shows detailed knowledge of TV or radio
channels and scheduling with
understanding of how programmes
reflect institutional contexts
Thorough understanding of how
channels use scheduling to reach
audiences
Ideas expressed clearly and fluently in
well structured sentences.
Accurately describes and evaluates the
scheduling of two comedies
Shows sound knowledge of TV or radio
channels and scheduling with some
understanding of how programmes
reflect institutional contexts
Sound understanding of how channels
use scheduling to reach audiences
fluency.
Level 2 (4-8 marks)
Describes the scheduling of two
comedies
Shows some knowledge of TV or radio
channels and scheduling
Some understanding of how channels
use scheduling to reach audiences
Simple ideas expressed appropriately
but possibly with some errors of SPaG.
Level 1 (0-3 marks)
Partially describes the scheduling of one
or two comedies
Shows minimal knowledge of TV or radio
channels and scheduling
Some simple ideas expressed with errors
of SPaG that obscure meaning.
EXEMPLAR
Friends is shown on E4 which is part of the Channel 4 institution which
is aimed at a young audience like Friends is as it attracts categories
from the audience demographic category E. It is shown 5pm until 6pm
in paired episodes to hook viewers on E4 and is then repeated on
E4+1 from 6pm to 7pm every weekday. This is because both these
times are very competitive for the teenage audience slot; by showing it
at both times the channel is more likely to gain more viewers. Back in
1994 Friends was broadcasted on Sky 1 and 9pm, before the
watershed but was later bought by Channel 4 in 1996 as it proved very
popular and as Channel 4 is under the public service broadcasting
regulations it cannot show Friends on a stripped schedule in repeated
blocks like E4 as it has to attract other audience demographics not just
the niche audience Friends attracts. E4 was set up to appeal to a niche

GCSE MEDIA
REVISION
B324
Section B – TV
ComedyEXEMPLAR 2

GCSE MEDIA
REVISION
B324
Section B – TV
Comedy
You need to identify & give examples of four audience
pleasures and how it generates pleasure (comedy).
The exam may ask for examples from TWO or ONE
program.
FOR ONE PROGRAM – USE 2 EXAMPLES PER
PLEASURE
FOR TWO PROGRAMS – USE AN EXAMPLE FROM
EACH PROGRAME PER PLEASURE.
Make sure that you
know the examples
Talk about the
audience!!!
Don‟t forget to explain what the pleasure is!

GCSE MEDIA
REVISION
B324
Section B – TV
Comedy
Shows detailed knowledge of audience
pleasures
Thorough understanding of how programmes
offer audience pleasures
Detailed and appropriate exemplification
Ideas expressed clearly and fluently in well
structured sentences.
Shows sound knowledge of different
audience pleasures
Sound understanding of how programmes
offer audience pleasures
Relevant textual exemplification (with some
detail at the top of the band)
fluency.
Level 2 (4-8 marks)
Shows knowledge of one or two audience
pleasures
Basic understanding of how at least one
programme offers audience pleasures
Some textual exemplification (at the top of the
band)
Some ideas expressed appropriately but
possibly with some errors of SPaG.
Level 1 (0-3 marks)
Describes one text
Some simple ideas expressed with errors of
spelling, punctuation and grammar that obscure
meaning. Writing may also lack legibility
EXEMPLAR
Friends is a sitcom is which the actors follow a script which means that the actors and writers
have a symbiotic relationship allowing for comedic timing but also by being scripted it allows
audiences to feel included in the storyline and watch it unfold from one episode to the next e.g.
when in one episode they all go to a beach and Ross brings his girlfriend: she shakes her head
and Ross dumps her for Rachel but by the next episode Ross and Rachel are fighting and
throwing objects at each other. Whereas „Have I Got News For You‟ is a panel show and has a
loose no narrative and is unscripted therefore allowing different opinions to be raised in the
show. The show ridicules topics in the news and the audience feel good as they feel as though
they know what is going on in the world.
Also in Friends and every sitcom after most episodes it comes to a conclusion and audiences
like to watch enigma and resolution of the episode e.g. The one where the monkey gets away,
the episode starts in a state of equilibrium where Rachel is looking after Marseille the monkey
but then it goes into a state of disequilibrium when he runs out of the door and so most of the
episode involves the whole gang looking for the monkey around New York and is resolved when
[unreadable] cannot give him back after they shot Phoebe with a dart and so the disruption is
restored when the monkey is returned and the audience feel as though they have been on a
journey with the character. Whereas HIGNFY doesn‟t come to a conclusion they just play the
game and try to gain as many points as they can by being satirical and humorous; they offer
different audience gratifications such as in one episode when Frank Skinner is guest host they
show a clip of Gordon Brown saying he was responsible for a mistake and then contradicting
himself by
saying he fired the person responsible leading journalist Ian Hislop to say “Pure Stalin” so it is
offering the audience an attack on wealthy people or those who are usually highly regarded
becoming figures of ridicule – making the audience feel better about themselves.
Lastly in Friends audiences can relate to the characters and understand what they are doing e.g.
when Chandler gets a promotion to a great job is season eight the audience can relate the
situation and like his character but for characters audiences don‟t like, we like to see them suffer

GCSE MEDIA
REVISION
B324
Section B – TV
Comedy
If you have revised and worked hard then you don‟t
need it, but…
GOOD LUCK

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