2023-2025 MEDIA A LEVEL LESSON PLANS
INDUCTION
The work undertaken before you start the course, ie the first two induction lessons, the summer task and the first couple of weeks at school in September provide an induction into this course.
AUTUMN HALF TERM 1(YEAR 1):
> INTRODUCTION ✔
Monday 4th September – Friday 20th October (7 Weeks)
| 1 | INSET DAY – Monday 4th September | 1st lesson introduction, settling-in, Do’s and Don’ts – Phone Box Welcome poem from Dr M | Introduce first task 1-2-1 interview following STimes style model. Introduce IDENTITY AND SELF (Goffman, Johari Window, Ron Gallo video) | Dr M Hospital! 😕 Students to complete interview, type up on word and email to school account |
> MAKING-DOING-MEANING ✔
| 2 | Re-cap IDENTITY AND SELF get students to complete self identity profile (on line link) + Psychographic profiles | Strike Day | Look at induction tasks and assessment sheet for NEA. Use printer, glue for psychographic profile & character type. Stick on front of note book. Log on to Adobe Creative Cloud | INSET DAY – Thursday 14th September Introduce | Follow FT style model to learn how to use InDesign to layout interviews with image |
> MEDIA LANGUAGE ✔
| 3 | Consolidate InDesign / trouble shoot introduce photography students take photos | take photos and edit photos in Photoshop complete work, save, print out (for assessment and gallery). | Get students on blog Finish work, upload digital copy to blog (low res) | Finish work, upload digital copy to blog (low res). Print out high res on A3 paper | Jurgen Habermas ‘Transformation of the Public Sphere’ Students to make a media blog banner |
> NARRATIVE ✔
| 4 | Peer assessment of interview work as gallery exercise. Use post-it notes to provide mark. | introduce key narrative principles and theories: 1. STRUCTURE Freytag Pyramid Todorov | 2. THEMES – Seymour Chatman satellites and kernels Binary Oppositions Levi-Strauss | Vladimir Propp – stock characters | Apply Narrative theories to Ghost Town and Old Town Road |
| Open book essay, NARRATIVE applied to either Music Video CSP | Using the blog. Upload a JPEG of your magazine article. Upload a style model for a Music Festival poster | In Photoshop Produce an original piece of work based VERY CLOSELY to your style model for a music festival featuring The Specials and Lil Nas X | Complete Photshop Task | PRINT poster as A4 AND UPLOAD TO BLOG as low res JPEG 2 min presentation of posters: SIGNS & MEANING |
> SEMIOTICS ✔
| 6 | Complete A4 Festival poster – upload to blog and print out. | SIGNS & MEANINGS Introduce theory of SEMIOTICS Define some key terms | > C. S. Pierce: iconic, indexical, symbolic > Barthes and Saussure Semiotics = Representation of signs Case study in Feminist Critical thinking: Jean Kilbourne | Tori Moi, Laura Mulvey ‘male gaze’, gender as (fluid) contested and constructed concept | SIGNS & MEANING Unseen CSP exam preparation. Look at past papers and prepare for exam question |
> REPRESENTATION ✔
| 7 | Introduce Representation (Hall, Gauntlett) Key terms around representation | Strike Day | Strike Day | Representation: Stuart Hall David Gauntlett | Exam question (Q2 Paper 1) compare with Bananarama Wow poster |
AUTUMN HALF TERM 2 (YEAR 1):
Monday 30th October – Tuesday 19th November (6 Weeks)
| 1 | Introducing practical project – double page of newspaper following style model of either The i or Daily Mail | Choose style model – upload to blog (ie take a photo) | Layout style model on InDesign as either double page or 2 x separate pages | re-cap on text, wrap around, placing image, changing colour etc | Consolidate skills, build work, plan for original content |
| 2 | Import content produced over the weekend – focus on main article [home learning] | See blog on rules of writing: Note differences between Daily Mail and the I. See at headlines, standfirst, pullquotes, visual style, proxemics and para-proxemics [home learning] | Continue to build up content [home learning] | More exercise in identifying the particular style and ideology of each Newspaper building up content [home learning] | [home learning] |
| 3 | recap styles of writing according to ideology and newspaper character [home learning] Go back and make improvements in terms of quality. Looking at headlines of Daily Mail and the I | styles of writing and ideology [home learning] | Back to school back to practical work: Extension given. recap main points about content and lay out style of close study products | building up content in school |
| 4 | Building up, improving. recap key terms: vertical and horizontal integration. How does ownership influence the content of Daily Mail and The Guardian Political Compass: Libertarian vs Authoritarian (+left v right) | extension of practical work for Friday. Building up and Improving lay out and content. (Transformation) of the Public Sphere – Habermas | Chomsky – The Manufacture of Consent | Ownership of newspaper industry – case study of Daily Mail and The Guardian | Continue research into The Daily Mail and The Guardian. Writing exercise |
| 5 | James Curran the Liberal Free Press | Critique of the liberal theory of the press and different forms of regulation, consumer and citizen-based forms regulation | recap and consolidation of theory of the press and its critique. Noam Chomsky and ideological agendas. | Prepare for formal, open-book exam, in class through writing exercise. ‘finish the paragraph with textual evidence’ bottom of the page on Noam Chomsky | Complete exercise on paragraph structure and content, by having at least two paragraphs on the ideological agenda of each CPS |
| 6 | Monday: open book exams (newspapers) | Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday Strike Days: School closed. | Friday: Feedback from open book exam (newspapers) |
| 7 (2 days 18th & 19th December) | Blinded by the Light | Blinded by the Light |
SPRING HALF TERM 1 (YEAR 1):
Thursday 4th January – Friday 9th February (6 Weeks)
| 1 (2 days 4th & 5th January) | Re-cap Blinded by the Light – encourage students to watch film (but NOT in class time) | Introduce Film Industry from the perspective of OWNERSHIP / INSTITUTION as the first topic area for this half term. KEY TERMS? Production/Distrubtion/Exhibition — Formatting. Essay questions |
| 2 | Socio-cultural context and interview clips. Reducing the Risk – marketing, advertising, promotion – vertical / horizontal integration etc | Key concepts in Hesmondhalgh’s theory and their relationship to close study product | Deepending the study on Blinded by the case study product (production. marketing, film festival) | Why are the media industries risky? Introduction to David Hesmondhalgh | INSET FRIDAY 12th JANUARY |
| 3 | How do media industries respond to risk? # part a) forms ownership / and repertoire [apply vertical integration /internationalization to close study product) KAHOOT quiz on key terms | How do media respond to risk part 2 artificial scarcity, formatting Grounding theory to Close study product: table. | match up key terms with their meaning Old and new forms marketing application to close study product/ | regulation BBFC and brainstorm on the various stages of the film production map of all the production and distribution steps | Open book Essay: How do independent films reduce risk and maximize audience? |
| 4 | Using Photoshop and original images only (ie everything must be original! ABSOLUTELY NO CUT AND PASTE FROM GOOGLE!!) Produce 2 x A4 Film posters and 3 x Instagram posts for a new independent UK film that focusses on INCLUSIVITY and DIVERSITY. Each poster must appeal to the readers of EITHER ‘GQ‘ and /or ‘THE GENTLEWOMAN‘ You must print out a high resolution copy of your posters and upload a low resolution of both posters to your blog. You must also write up a 500 word statement of intent and post this to the same blog post as your posters. |
| “A statement of intent outlines your aims for your production. This will be assessed with the products and will allow you to explain the ways in which you will apply knowledge and understanding of media language and media representation to your products, how your products will target the intended audience and reflect the industry context they are created for.” |
| 4 | Research ‘GQ‘ and ‘The Gentlwoman‘ to determine the audience profile for your film – you must be able to make links between the audience for your film and the audience for 1 of the magazines. Write a draft of your statement of intent Look for similar style models / film posters for inspirations | Look for similar style models / film posters for inspirations Brainstorm ideas Sketch out / visualise ideas Photograph original images | Photograph original images Manipulate original ideas in Photoshop Add text Create a convincing and professional looking composition | Manipulate original ideas in Photoshop Add text Create a convincing and professional looking composition | Create a convincing and professional looking composition Revisit and re-edit your statement of intent Upload both film posters and statement of intent to a single blog post. Print off high resolution copies of both posters |
| 5 | work on you project, refine visual and textual components | proceed to instagram posts | refine visual and textual components | refine visual and textual components |
| 6 | Writing a STATEMENT OF INTENT | Writing about MEDIA LANGUAGE | Writing about AUDIENCE (Uses and Grats) | Complete writing statement of intent | SUBMISSION of creative work for assessment |
SPRING HALF TERM 2 (YEAR 1):
Monday 19th February – Wednesday 27th March (5.5 Weeks)
| 1 | Magazine Language/Semiotics: and CSP’s: The Gentle Woman and GQ Main Image/Outlay/Typography denotation and connotation: reading the cover of the GQ | Semiotics 2: How is the cover of GQ Anchorerd? The cover of the Gentle Woman. Dominant signifier. Modes of address. | Revisit Theory: Industry Concentration of ownwership. GQ. Hesmondalgh: concentration, star power and digital environment/native marketing [see online presence and social media prewsence | Revisit Theory: Audiences: look at the media kits, target audiences (class and gender) Uses and gratification theory | NEA read the brief make notes for a statement of intent brain storm; studio booked for photoshoots |
| 2 | Feedback day read feedbaclk upload your action plans on your media studies profile. Keep on working | Laura Mulvey Writing exercice: how do your CPS confirm or challenge Laura Mulveys views on the male gaze? thinking about describing and characterizing an image = evidence to support an argument | Feminist Critical Thinking Kilbourne video – Killing Us Softly Writing exercise: How do your CPS confirm or challenge Killbourne ideas on objectification? Structure of an essay: Intro main body [paragraphs/case studies] conclusion | Writing exercise: Intro and two paragraphs applying/challenging objectification on CPS | Practical working on the cover. |
| 3 | Practical Monday | Practical Monday | Intesectional theory bell hook Link/applying — challenging these ideas by using CSP | Butler and the Performativity of Gender Link to the CSP | Applying bulter to Magazines and Old Town Road : writing day. unseen product: eurovision video clip |
| Practical Monday | Post feminism, Raunch Culture and Female gaze. Writing exercise | Postfeminism and men Writing exercise | David Gaunlett Identity theory: | David Gaunlett writing |
| Open Book Exam | Revision musical videos/media language and representation (practical extension: Inner pages interview) | Revision/media language and representation Practical extension: inner page interview | Revision/advertisement media language/representation Practical extension: inner page interview | Practical extension: submission |
| 6 | revision newspapers planning Industry and audienc es – complete any outstanding work | revision newspaper (industry and audiences) planning – complete any outstanding work | revision: blinded by the light (industry and audiences) – complete any outstanding work |
SUMMER HALF TERM 1 (YEAR 1):
Monday 15th April – Friday 24th May (6 Weeks)
| 1 | MOCK EXAM REVISION | MOCK EXAM ALL MEDIA STUDENTS 23rd of April | MOCK EXAM REVISION | MOCK EXAM REVISION | MOCK EXAM REVISION |
| 2 | Work through Ms Magowan booklet on New Technology CSP’s – complete tasks as set | Work through Ms Magowan booklet on New Technology CSP’s – complete tasks as set | Work through Ms Magowan booklet on New Technology CSP’s – complete tasks as set | Work through Ms Magowan booklet on New Technology CSP’s – complete tasks as set | Work through Ms Magowan booklet on New Technology CSP’s – complete tasks as set |
| 3 | BANK HOLIDAY | Work through Ms Magowan booklet on New Technology CSP’s – complete tasks as set | Leaving Day (year 12 to work through Ms Magowan booklet on New Technology CSP’s – complete tasks as set) | BANK HOLIDAY | Feedback from Mock exam Ms Magowan |
| 4 | Dr M Mock exam feedback, and introduction to NEA | Dr M input on writing a statement of intent. Students to start SoI | Complete first draft of statement of intent plan production timeline for first production BUILD UP RESOURCE MATERIAL FOR NEA PRODUCTION 1 OUTSIDE OF CLASS TIME | Start First Production and try to finish by Monday. BUILD UP RESOURCE MATERIAL FOR NEA PRODUCTION 1 OUTSIDE OF CLASS TIME | Submit statement of intent – either on blog or email m.mckinlay@hautlieu.sch.je BUILD UP RESOURCE MATERIAL FOR NEA PRODUCTION 1 OUTSIDE OF CLASS TIME |
| 5 | Complete first product for Production 1. Continue to build up NEA portfolio by completing Product 1 BUILD UP RESOURCE MATERIAL FOR NEA PRODUCTION 1 OUTSIDE OF CLASS TIME | Continue to build up NEA portfolio by completing Product 1 BUILD UP RESOURCE MATERIAL FOR NEA PRODUCTION 1 OUTSIDE OF CLASS TIME | Complete second product for Production 1. BUILD UP RESOURCE MATERIAL FOR NEA PRODUCTION 1 OUTSIDE OF CLASS TIME | BUILD UP RESOURCE MATERIAL FOR NEA PRODUCTION 1 OUTSIDE OF CLASS TIME | Complete third product for Production 1. Submit all products for Production 1 in appropriate media form (so if it is print, you need to print it out!) 13th Parish Film Festival events 2:00 pm screening of short films https://13thparish.org.je/ |
SUMMER HALF TERM 2 (YEAR 1):
Monday 3rd June – Friday 19th July (7 Weeks)
| 1 | Feedback whole class from first mark Planning document for summer half term | MM 1-2-1 feedback. Students to start work on Production 2. Outside of class revisit Statement of Intent and Production 1. | MM 1-2-1 feedback. Students to start work on Production 2. Outside of class revisit Statement of Intent and Production 1. | MM away but cover provided. Carry on with your production work | INSET Day at Hautlieu. Please carry on with your production work. |
| 2 | MM to introduce Genre Theory Steve Neale. Students to continue with production work (outside of class) | MM 1-2-1 feedback. Students to start work on Production 2. | MM 1-2-1 feedback. Students to start work on Production 2. | MM away | Peer-2-Peer feedback reflection and progress check. Think, pair, share in reference to assessment criteria and set brief. |
- Establish talk partners –
- set question with goal (which is an audit) – look at the set brief and identify what you have already completed and what you still need to do
- build thinking time
- circulate to listen
- cold call . . .
- ask the class a question
- give thinking time
- select someone to respond
- respond to answer
- select another to respond
| 3 | MM to demonstrate basic editing with Adobe InDesign | MM to demonstrate flash lighting set-up (in class) and basic photo editing with Adobe Photoshop | MM to demonstrate basic video editing with Adobe Premier | MM to demonstrate basic video editing with Adobe Premier | 1-2-1 Student assessment – using marking criteria provide new (student) mark for Go4Schools as interim assessment and as point of reference for work to be done |
| 4 | SCHOOL SPORTS DAY | MM to make sure students are aware of expectations | WINCHESTER HE TRIP | WINCHESTER HE TRIP | WINCHESTER HE TRIP |
| 5 | Introduction of 6th lesson from this week onwards | Work on 2nd (Main) Production | Work on 2nd (Main) Production | Work on 2nd (Main) Production | MM in London |
| 6 | Start submitting final productions – make sure prints are of high quality and printed to correct size, make sure that videos are easily transferable | Start submitting final productions – make sure prints are of high quality and printed to correct size, make sure that videos are easily transferable | Start submitting final productions – make sure prints are of high quality and printed to correct size, make sure that videos are easily transferable | Start submitting final productions – make sure prints are of high quality and printed to correct size, make sure that videos are easily transferable | Start submitting final productions – make sure prints are of high quality and printed to correct size, make sure that videos are easily transferable |
| 7 | Make sure printed work is printed out that on-line work is on-line etc etc – don’t wait until the end of the week | Complete NEA – Both productions (so all products) and Statement of Intent, for summer assessment, mark and feedback | Complete NEA – Both productions (so all products) and Statement of Intent, for summer assessment, mark and feedback | Complete NEA – Both productions (so all products) and Statement of Intent, for summer assessment, mark and feedback | Complete NEA – Both productions (so all products) and Statement of Intent, for summer assessment, mark and feedback |