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OCR Conference Notes On Evaluation Questions
OCR Conference Notes On Evaluation Questions
Victoria Allen
Head of Media Studies at Thomas Rotherham Sixth Form College
Answers can demonstrate how work supports or challenges ideas within the areas.
In groups from your own experience, write down what you think the students find/might find difficult about Section A in general.
In my experience as a teacher... - Students dont like evaluating their own work. - They find it difficult to identify what skills they have developed over two years (and any outside work for 1a). -They think they already know many aspects (particularly for 1a). - They dont like learning or applying the theory (for 1b).
In my experience as an examiner... - They have misunderstood what is required for 1a) only discuss one product. - They are vague for 1b) either no real theory/terms or just a textual analysis of their product. - Students havent applied any kind of structure to either of the questions - Timing their answers they run out of time and only do one OR dont write enough to
Question 1a)
What we can do to help the students structure their thoughts and learning?
Q1a) Structure...
It is possible to teach some essay structure for these options if we structure a plan to the three elements of the production process (which is what the whole question is essentially asking the students to evaluate). Pre-Production Production Post-Production
The three options that can be taught to this easy structure are: - Digital Technology - Creativity - Use of Real Media Texts
An affect on/effects of structure can be applied that takes into account the stages of production to more difficult options: - Research and Planning - Post Production
AS
A2
Pre-Production
AS
A2
Production
AS
A2
Post-Production
Question 1b)
The key way to help them do this is not to give them too much and make the theoretical ideas as generic as possible (particularly for centres like mine that complete a variety of coursework options).
It is possible to get them to pick one of their productions and work through all the options in the syllabus early on.
Aims/Objectives
To introduce the concept of genre theory and key genre theorists. To have a basic understanding of how to categorise evaluate your coursework against genre theory.
Definition
Genre is a critical tool that helps us study texts and audience responses to texts by dividing them into categories based on common elements. Daniel Chandler (2001) details that the word genre comes from the word for 'kind' or 'class'. The term is widely used in rhetoric, literary theory, media theory to refer to a distinctive type of text.
All genres have sub genres (genre within a genre). This means that they are divided up into more specific categories. Barry Keith Grant (1995) suggests that this allows audiences to identify them specifically by their familiar and what become recognisable characteristics.
Jason Mittell (2001) argues that industries use genre to sell products to audiences. Media producers use familiar codes and conventions that very often make references to their audience knowledge of society, other texts.
Genre also allows audiences to make choices about what products they want to consume through acceptance in order to fulfil a particular pleasure. Theorist Rick Altman (1999) argues that genre offers audiences a set of pleasures. This can also be linked to Denis McQuails (1972) theory on uses and gratifications of media texts for audiences. Basically, the genre of your text will have provided your demographic/subculture with some satisfaction upon their consumption.
Genres are not fixed. They constantly change and evolve over time your coursework productions, as we have discussed, are postmodern pieces and/or adapt to changes to advances in technology.
Christian Metz (1974) argued that genres go through a typical cycle of changes during their lifetime. David Buckingham (1993) argues that 'genre is not... Simply "given" by the culture: rather, it is in a constant process of negotiation and change. Steve Neale (1995) genres are processes of systemisation they change over time.
Certain genres are also said to have certain themes. David Bordwell (1989) notes, 'any theme may appear in any genre.
Plenary
Write down 3 genre theorists (not including Chandler or Grant) that you have learnt today and what they have said. Write down 2 pieces of medium specific theory and relate it to your sub genre.
Homework
Analyse one of your coursework productions in relation to genre.