Exam structure tips

Here are some helpful tips from A level media teachers, we'll keep adding to this.


1. Use the right media terms for that topic
2. Show knowledge and understanding by including stats and facts
3. Also by referring to other music videos and adverts that are not just the set texts to make your point
4. Don’t bother with an intro or conclusion unless it says make judgements (ocr told me that at inset)
5. Most importantly answer the Q at all times using key words from the question
6. Make 3 detailed points about the music video or advert rather than a thin list of ideas

• Strong topic sentence, evidence and theory if applicable, concluding sentence that gives opinion - do these things as basic paragraph structure.
• PEARL paragraphs - Point, evidence, analysis, relate to industry/audience, link to theory.
• as MEDIA students they need to learn to write a response critically as a media student avoiding obvious comments that any student could potentially make - to do that the key thing is to use very specific examples linked to specific relevant media terminology for that question which also specifically references the question all the way through the response - do that and you will be on the way to a fantastic response

• For the 30 mark essay question:

 It looks like representation is the key theme and the wording of the question appears to be very similar. The latest practise question uses a statement for students to discuss and asks a slightly different question about audiences but I think that generally, the question is similar to the SAMS one. Come up with a generic structure e.g, intro, point about LFTVD1, point about second one, analysis and evaluation then repeat! Working on strong topic and concluding sentences in each paragraph, with the need to stay on the question being key.


Point – What is your point?
A statement that answers the question
Evidence/Episode – Where is your proof (one episode)?
Evidence in the episodes
Analysis – Effect (connotations, representations)?
How that answers the question
Link to Context - Why?
Link to the Big Picture


Point
Evidence
Analysis
Context
Evaluate

examiners will be looking for the same principles when they mark student work, the most important thing to tell students is that it is very easy for anyone to write a media studies essay, I mean if you watch Stranger Things a couple of times anyone can write an essay on Stranger Things but as MEDIA students they need to learn to write a response critically as a media student avoiding obvious comments that any student could potentially make - to do that the key thing is to use very specific examples linked to specific relevant media terminology for that question which also specifically references the question all the way through the response - do that and they will be on the way to a fantastic response