magazine article
magazine interview
Magazine Article
Practical (NEA) work
30% of your A level grade will come from your coursework which is called a non-examined assessment (NEA). We don’t know what the set tasks will be yet – they will be released towards the end of your first year. But generally they are a cross-media production portfolio, which essentially means you produce 2 different media forms for the same product – so for example, you would produce both a magazine review (PRINT) and an opening sequence (FILM / TV) for a new drama (= the product). Or you produce 6 Instagram posts (NEW MEDIA) and a newspaper interview (PRINT) for a new green energy campaign (= the product) – note that these are all just hypothetical.
The good news is that I really, really like practical work and I believe that we can learn a lot about media (theory) ie your exam stuff by completing practical work. So, for example, we have been looking at theories of identity, the self and audience by producing our interviews.
Induction
For the induction I asked you to create a print product that follows the style, layout and conventions of a real media product. The brief was very wide (often the case with real media products!), so for your real NEA / coursework you are requested to write a STATEMENT OF INTENT which is a short piece of writing (400-500 words) which outlines what your intentions are ie what it is you are trying to achieve. You write this before you start your production.
As we didn’t do this for the summer task, I may need a bit of explanation from you about your intentions just to give me a better idea of what it was you were trying to do. We can do this in class when we look at all of our work as a ‘gallery’ exercise. We can also use this session to think about assessment – yep! Basically, how good is your work!?
To help I have emailed you back with an assessment sheet, asking you best guess where you think your assessment lies. Essentially, do you think your product is:
- Excellent (level 5)
- Good (level 4)
- Satisfactory (level 3)
- Basic (level 2)
- Minimal (level 1)
- Level 0 = 0 marks
Here is the assessment that I have sent out to everybody
To build up confidence, knowledge, understanding and ability in terms of practical work we are now going to produce an interview following a style model from the Weekend FT magazine.
Narrative Theory
For an A level you will need theory.
Theory helps us to understand what we do. So that what we do, we may do better. Theories are generally made up and around some key language this is REALLY IMPORTANT! You must show your KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING OF key language in your A level assessments if you want to score high marks.
Look for example at this assessment sheet for your narrative essay which clearly assesses your knowledge and understanding of narrative theory . .
Let’s start with some key language around NARRATIVE. Let’s start this one by you telling me (and everyone else) something you know about NARRATIVE / STORYTELLING THEORY. So, what do you know?
TASK: I suggest that you print out this list below. Annotate it to provide an AUDIT of WHAT YOU KNOW and WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW, (ie highlight it, or provide a brief description, or . . . ) and then stick it in your book.
Key Terminology (could be a Kahoot test!)
- Linear
- Chronological
- Sequential
- Circular structure
- Time based
- Narrative arc
- Freytag’s Pyramid
- exposition,
- inciting incident,
- rising action,
- climax,
- falling action,
- resolution,
- denouement
- Beginning / middle / end
- Equilibrium
- Disruption
- Transgression – often disequilibrium is caused by societal / moral / ethical transgression (ie challenging Aristotelian virtues)
- New equilibrium
- Peripeteia
- Anagnoresis
- Catharsis
- The 3 Unities: Action, Time, Place
- flashback / flash forward
- Foreshadowing
- Ellipsis
- Pathos
- Empathy
- diegetic / non-diegetic
- slow motion
- In Media Res – starting in mid-action
- Metanarratives – drawing attention to the process of storytelling
- Quest narratives
Welcome to Media Studies MEDIA A LEVEL 2023-2025!
A STORY
Welcome.
Welcome.
Welcome.
Are you ready to Play?
Are you happy to Play?
Then
Firstly,
Let us silence our magic Talismen
And place them thus . . .
In the Harness of Tranquility.
We will have no peace while they try to Torment us!
Many thanks.
So let us begin
and yes we have begun
with Three Welcomes!
Because (as we shall discover)
Three is a Magic Number!
And indeed,
this Welcome is divided into three parts:
An opening Salutation – to set the scene,
introducing setting, theme, characters, quest.
Secondly, the real action starts –
as characters interact, tension may rise!
Brains may boil!
Tongues will either wag wearily
or
they may dry up, like cement in the mouth!
Thirdly, last of all in our Final Act
The denouement plays out!
Each character plays out their performance
to the hesitant, nervous, waiting crowd.
This is a most important part of proceedings
And full respect and utmost attention
must be given
To those who hold the stage.
A word of caution at this point!
Hold back your judgement
Wait patiently in the wings.
Remember that we live lour lives moving forwards
But we understand ourselves looking back.
So hold judgement
And be wary.
It is Telios we seek
And Hubris we seek to avoid!
So let us begin
And welcome you to this:
the Chapel of Knowledge
And I,
your appointed priest.
I am a Seer, a Prophet, a poet and a Philosopher.
I am Michael.
In Ancient times it meant teacher or wise.
Now a welcome to you
and your crippling, agonising awkwardness which is
The Beginning.
Now,
Take a moment.
Be still.
Rest the whirling Furies trying to poison your mind.
Quell them with all your might.
Be at peace.
Breathe
And Breath (again).
Find an inner calm.
And embrace
Your fear
Your excitement
And your trepidation.
Embrace this new day
And assuage and reconcile your emotions.
As I must do mine,
So you should do yours.
So take just a little longer
another ‘moment’
Quell yourself.
Tame your emotions
To harness your actions.
As we cast off on our journey.
But what is this journey
For which you have anticipated?
What is your purpose?
What will be your tasks?
To make it easier for you to understand
I shall give it just one name
And that name is . . .
Story.
For what have we got
And what can we hope to get?
If anything at all . . .
It is the chance to tell our story.
And as you will be part of my story
(which starts right here and now)
So I will be part of yours.
And look around
At what you see
And who you see
Because (for better or for worse)
It has been ordered
By Destiny and Fate
that they also will be part of your story.
So expect to tell your stories
To make your Story.
And expect to be able to listen
and respond
to stories of Others.
Expect to reflect and think and evaluate.
Expect to be challenged.
Expect to be tested.
Expect to learn.
Expect Change.
If possible,
enter your expectations with courage and heart.
If possible, last the course,
Rise to the challenge
And leave with success, with pride
and above all,
the ability to tell a better story.
Any questions?
Once answered
Let us go to work.
Your first task
is to deposit your first task in this secret envelope
(that I will now pass around)
And if not today
then tomorrow.
But be warned – do not baulk this Task.
It is the first step in your journey
and judgement will be made!
Once done –
Gather around in groups of three
Because
Three is the Magic Number!
And get set to go to work.
(And here we are in the second Act)
The task is as follows:
Each one of the three must choose another,
But each of the three must only be chosen once.
Talk to them.
Talk to each other.
And be prepared
To tell their story.
If possible,
can it be told in verse?
If it is possible,
It is possible that you may have
the strength of Zeus
and/or the wisdom of Apollo
and/or the wit of Dionysus
To tell it well,
You will need all Three –
which as we know . . .
is the . . .
If not,
And you find yourself possessed by the Wild Furies
Devouring your whole being.
Then lay quiet and nothing will be expected of you . . .
Yet!
So go!
Children of Men
and set to work
You have 15 minutes to complete your task!
Any questions?
So be it!
The Sands of Cronos mark time
And in 15 minutes the final Act will begin
Our journey to the end!
Good luck!
Media Studies Induction Task 2023
KEY THEMES: #JOURNALISM, #STORYTELLING, #MEDIA PRODUCTION, #PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
- Choose a real, professionally produced ‘long media article’ – such as: a magazine, newspaper or on-line article. The article needs to be a minimum of 500 words long and needs to be supported by some images.
- Think about how it is written ie the organisation of words into sentences and paragraphs.
- Choose absolutely any topic that interests you
- Write your own original article that follows the style and form of your chosen (professionally produced) article. It must be a minimum of 500 words.
- Bring in both the professionally produced article (what is known as the ‘style model’) and your own original article (as a digital copy) to the very first Media Studies lesson that you attend.
Choose any article you like from magazine, newspaper, on-line etc. This is what we call a ‘style model’ it gives you a starting point for your own productions.
Any problems or questions email m.mckinlay@hautlieu.sch.je