1. GCSE Media Studies

2. Course Overview This is a GCSE course involving written essays, planning assignments, creating practical production pieces in preparation for doing your coursework. You will also spend some of the course preparing for the written examination on special topics chosen by the WJEC exam board, for example, films, advertising, posters, newspapers, CDs and TV drama

3. Course Structure Your course is 60% coursework, which you will start in the first academic year and complete in Yr11. You will complete two text investigations on set topic/texts. You will also complete a media production consisting of research, planning, the actual creation of a practical production and an evaluation. The other 40% is a written examination on set topics, which takes place in the second year. This will involve written and creative design tasks in response to previously unseen material.

4. Topics For Study For The Exam The topics that will be on the exam are as follows: In 2014 – the topics are TV Crime Drama and TV Magazines. In 2015 – the topics for this year of examination are yet to be confirmed, but could be from any type of media area, including radio, tv, film, magazines, websites etc.

5. Topics for study in class You will explore a range of topics from the following Music Television Drama Advertising Animation Magazines Lifestyle and celebrity News and newspapers. Film advertising and trailers. Radio. Pop music Videos.

6. The Media Studies Framework The Media Studies framework will be used to explore all topics. It is based on: Media Texts – the actual products and how they relate to: Genre Narrative Representation Organisations – that are media related: Marketing and Promotion Regulation and Control Personal, social and Ethical Dimensions

7. Skills You Will Develop Academic writing Analytical and evaluation skills A wide range of practical production talents (no previous experience necessary) Design, planning, drawing, creating, devising, filming, teamwork and organisational skills

8. Things you may need You will need to be extremely well motivated as you will be expected to work outside the class, sometimes organising yourself to meet and work with others. You will need extreme amounts of patience as care and attention to detail is crucial