1. Section A: Theoretical Evaluation of Production
A2 Media Studies Exam
Section A: Theoretical Evaluation of Production

2. Learning Objectives
To look at how your use of digital technology developed from AS to A2.
To focus on the aspects of digital technology you could focus on in the examination.

3. A reminder…

4. Section A looks like this

5. Question 1(a) – Skills Development
Question 1(a) will ask you to describe and evaluate the development of your skills from your AS to A2 productions.
The question will ask you to discuss how your skills have developed in relation to one or two of the following:
Digital technology
Creativity
Research and planning
Post-production
Using conventions from real media texts

6. Question 1(b) - Theory
Question 1(b) will ask you to select either your AS or A2 coursework production and analyse it in relation to one of the following media concepts:
Genre
Narrative
Representation
Audience
Media Language

7. Question 1(a) Level 4 Criteria

8. Key Criteria
Progression – how have your skills developed over the course of the A Level?
Reflection
Specific and relevant examples
Terminology

9. Advice from the Examiner
‘We are looking for theoretical, reflective and articulate explanations of the relationship between making/creating and various other aspects of their experiences such as digital technology…It is about helping students to reflect on how digital technology, for example, can aid creativity, or how final outcomes are dependent on research and planning…We are looking also for reflection on a progressive “journey” from the start of the course to the day of the exam’ Julian McDougall.

10. Digital Technology
How did you use digital technology in your coursework productions?
Divide your sheet into three columns under the headings AS, A2, and Progression.
Bullet point ideas about your use of digital technology for both your AS and A2 coursework productions.
Think about what digital technologies you used, and what they allowed you to do.
The following questions may help you come up with ideas.

11. Digital Technology
How has digital technology helped you capture your ideas for media production?
How did digital technology allow you to be creative?
What benefits do digital technologies offer over analogue? Are they any disadvantages?
How did digital technology influence your work in post-production, e.g. in the creation of video effects, or editing images?
What role might digital technology play in the distribution of your product?

12. Exam Style Question – What is tricky in this one?
1 (a) “Digital technology turns media consumers into producers.” In your own experience, how has your creativity developed through using digital technology to complete your coursework productions?
Think about:
Progression
Reflection
Examples
Terminology

13. Exam Style Question – This is the one we will be looking at
1 (a) Explain how your skills in the creative use of digital technology developed over time. Refer to a range of examples from your media productions in your answer. (25 marks)
Think about:
Progression
Reflection
Examples
Terminology

14. Digital Technology Question – Possible essay outline
Introduction – Say something about the importance of digital technology in the media industry. Paragraph 2 - What digital technologies did you use for your AS production? Paragraph 3 - What did these technologies allow you to do? Paragraph 4 - How did you use digital technology in your A2 production? Paragraph 5 - How had your use of these technologies developed from AS to A2? Conclusion – what are the benefits of digital technology?

15. An even easier way to structure your essay in four parts…
Introduction – Say something about the importance of digital technology in the media industry. Paragraph 2 - What digital technologies did you use for your AS production and what did these technologies allow you to do? Paragraph 3 - How did you use digital technology in your A2 production and what did they allow you to do? How had your use of these technologies developed from AS to A2? Conclusion – what are the benefits of digital technology and sum up how your use and understanding of it has developed over time?

16. Look at the digital technology exemplar – what did they do well
Look at the digital technology exemplar – what did they do well? How could it improve? (It got 24/25 marks!
This is what the examiner said about the question:

17. Level 4 Mark Scheme for 1(a)

18. Look at the digital technology exemplar – what did they do well
Look at the digital technology exemplar – what did they do well? How could it improve? (It got 24/25 marks!
This is what the examiner said about the question:

19. Essay Plan
Create an essay plan for the digital technology exam question.
Your essay plan should include key points, and specific examples you can use to support those points.
In the examination you would get 30 minutes to complete this task (including planning). Time yourself to get
1 (a) Explain how your skills in the creative use of digital technology developed over time. Refer to a range of examples from your media productions in your answer. (25 marks)