mest3 focus of the questions and tips

7/25/2019 MEST3 Focus of the Questions and Tips

1/5

AQA Education (AQA) is a registered charity (number 1073334) and a company limited by guarantee registered inEngland and Wales (number 3644723). Our registered address is AQA, Devas Street, Manchester M15 6EX.

MEST3 Focus of the Questions and Tips

A-level Media Studies

Updated September 2015


2/5


2 of 5

SECTION A

The focus of the three questions are:

Media concepts

Students should use the unseen products to answer a question on forms (including medialanguage, narrative and genre), representations, institutions, audiences or values and ideology.

Media issues and debates

Students should use the unseen products to answer a question on media issues and debates.

Students may refer to other media products to support their answers. The may is intended toencourage students to move beyond the two unseen exam products.

Wider contexts

Students should use the unseen products to answer a question on wider contexts. Students should

move beyond the products, referring to other media products to support their answer. The should

is intended to tell students they will be expected to move beyond the two unseen products andinclude other examples.

For Questions 2 and 3 students can include examples from either of their individual case studies,class work they have done and from their own media use. Media issues and debates and wider

contexts should attempt to address up to date events, issues and trends in the media. The three

questions will include one based on each of the two pre-set topics.

TIPS FOR ACHIEVING A GOOD MARK

Students should:

use the marks awarded to questions as a guide to how long to spend on each answer.

Question 1 (8 marks), Question 2 (12 marks) and Question 3 (12 marks).

answer the particular question.

make detailed references to the two media products, especially in Question 1 to illustrate

the points made.

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

points.

Higher level answers will include students own opinions explained and justified, especially for

Questions 2 and 3. Students should take a standpoint and back it up with wider contexts andexamples from other media products. Also if it is relevant to the question higher level answers willdiscuss the different sides of the argument and show a sense of debate.


3/5


3 of 5

SECTION B

Teaching and learning will be made up of:

teacher led classroom activities, including an overview of media concepts, media issuesand debates, theory and wider contexts and maybe a mini class case study.

students own individual case study for each preset topic on a particular area of the topicthat will include secondary research and analysis of media products. This could bepresented as an essay, portfolio of research, illustrated talk or presentation to class orgroup.

Centres can:

allow their students the freedom to complete whatever case study they want toor

narrow down the area of choice to a particular area and allow students to choose withinthat.

Whichever approach is decided each student should complete an individual case study withdifferent products.

For example:

Identities and the media

Teacher overview and mini class case study transgender individuals; exploring how identities

are constructed, moulded and responded to by audiences, with a focus on well-known examplessuch as Caitlyn Jenner and explored through concepts, media theory, wider contexts and debates

Individual case study - each student chooses a different identity and explores howindividuals/groups are able to portray themselves, alongside how those identities are shaped bypre-existing media products, and completes an individual case study with research and detailedanalysis including - concepts, media issues and debates, relevant theory, wider contexts

The impact of new/digital media

Teacher overview and mini class case study - the impact of new and digital media on a particular

industry e.g. TV, music, film, including - concepts, media issues and debates, relevant theory,wider contexts

Individual case study - each student chooses a different institution/s from that industry andcompletes an individual case study with research and detailed analysis including - concepts, media

issues and debates, relevant theory, wider contexts


4/5


4 of 5

What should my students study for each topic?

Page 14 and 15 in the specification suggest areas students might study. The following are possible

essay topics:

Identities and the media how and why individuals or social groups are able to reveal andportray their own identities, with reference to a range of media and the relevant wider contexts andmedia issues, debates and theories

the influence of mainstream media

audience uses and responses

the impact of social media power and resistance

dominant and marginalised identities

identity politics

ideology, the ideas and values

The impact of new/digital media what is the impact of new and digital media, with the relevant

wider contexts and media issues, debates and theories

media institutions and the changing role of the producer

the changing role of the audience/consumer

user generated content,

media and democracy

the effect of globalisation

the attempts of traditional media to survive/compete

cross cultural factors

values and ideology

It would be useful for students to use the grids to summarise the work they have done on each

possible essay topic to help their revision and to make sure they are able to answer all thequestions that might be asked in Section B.


5/5


5 of 5

Identit ies and the Media Case Study

Product The

Medias

Role

Audience

and

Identities

Social Media

& Individual

as Producer

Power and

Resistance

Dominant

and

Marginalised

Identities

Identity

Politics

Ideology

The Impact of New and Digi tal Media Case Study

Product Institution

+ the

changing

role of the

producer

The

changing

role of the

audience +

consumer +

user

generated

content

Values,

ideology and

cross

cultural

factors

Media and

democracyThe effect of

globalisationTraditional media

attempts to

survive

mest3 focus of the questions and tips

Documents