The MEST3 exam is fast approaching on Wednesday 8 June.
We strongly recommend you read the latest issue of Media Magazine - there are three excellent articles at the very least which make for essential reading:
Page 10: Living and learning in a digital age
Page 46: Periscope and the implications of live streaming
Page 53: A fully reproduced 48/48 A* essay from last year's MEST3 A2 Section B exam on new and digital media. You HAVE to read this!
If you want us to look over any practice questions make sure you get them to us first thing on Monday 6 June and we'll turn them around as quickly as we can.
Good luck with the revision!
Friday, May 27, 2016
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
MEST1 re-sit resources
Well done to all of you who attended the MEST1 revision session on Monday. Remember, TODAY Wednesday 11 May is the MEST1 mock exam - Lecture Theatre 3.15pm.
As promised, here are the resources from Monday's lesson:
MEST1 re-sit revision - Language and Theory 2016
Make sure you attend the mock exam this afternoon and then the final revision session on Monday after school (16 May).
Good luck!
As promised, here are the resources from Monday's lesson:
MEST1 re-sit revision - Language and Theory 2016
Make sure you attend the mock exam this afternoon and then the final revision session on Monday after school (16 May).
Good luck!
Sunday, May 08, 2016
Unit 3 Revision Checklist
Use this checklist to organise your Media revision: there is more than enough here to help you get a top grade...
Mainly for Section A
- Section A Practice Questions (with model answers)
Mainly for Section B
Section A and Section B
...start working on this NOW and put together a revision plan to cover it all before the exam on Wednesday June 8th.
Section A Practice Questions (+ model answers)
There are THREE excellent sample papers/responses on MediaEdu...
(login first: username: greenford; password: greenfordedu)
Make sure you do these yourself, under timed conditions, then check the model answers to compare how you did. There is no substitue for practising using exam questions and applying what you've learnt - this is the most important aspect of revision!
(login first: username: greenford; password: greenfordedu)
Make sure you do these yourself, under timed conditions, then check the model answers to compare how you did. There is no substitue for practising using exam questions and applying what you've learnt - this is the most important aspect of revision!
Revision Express Textbook
This is a fantastic resource! Really concise.
You are advised to learn all the key terms (in bold) and have a go at the exam questions at the end of each section (these are good for practice although NOT the typical ones you'll get in the exam; see the list of Section B questions for that).
This download covers most of the key issues & debates that you MUST be able to apply to the Section A texts you have to analyse/compare in the exam...
Advertising, Advertising & Marketing, Audience Profiling, Cult of the Celebrity, Effects Theory, Globalisation, Marxism, Media Ownership, Narrative Theory, News Values, Pluralism, Postmodernism, Reception Theory, Uses & Gratifications
Identities & The Media Lessons
Section A will have one question (Q2 or Q3) that that asks you to consider identity/representation issues in the two texts, as well as linking them to other texts you can discuss.
This is where you should be able to make some use of the representation theories/examples you covered in your 'Identities & The Media' lessons on Post-Colonialism and (Post)-Feminism, so make sure you revise them.
This is where you should be able to make some use of the representation theories/examples you covered in your 'Identities & The Media' lessons on Post-Colonialism and (Post)-Feminism, so make sure you revise them.
AQA Textbook
Media A-Z Glossary
Make sure you keep reading this during your revision, using it to look up straightforward meanings of any theories/theorists/keywords you need to be clear about.
The more media terminology you include in the exam (all the terms covered in this book) the more marks you will get, so keep testing/re-testing yourself on what's in here...
And here is a checklist of the media Issues/Debates and Theories that the specification says you need to know (the AQA textbook has more detailed explanations/examples of all of these)...
Issues/Debates
- Representation and stereotyping
- Media effects
- Reality TV
- News Values
- Moral Panics
- Post 9/11 and the media
- Ownership and control
- Regulation and censorship
- Media technology and the digital revolution – changing technologies in the 21st century
- The effect of globalisation on the media
Theories
- Semiotics
- Structuralism and post-structuralism
- Postmodernism and its critiques
- Gender and ethnicity
- Marxism and hegemony
- Liberal Pluralism
- Colonialism and Post-colonialism
- Audience theories
- Genre theories
...make sure you have some keywords/theorists for each one that you can apply to whichever texts appear in Section A, or in response to typical Section B questions.
Theory Quotes
Here is a list of some of some useful quotations that will really impress the examiners if you can incorporate them...
They will also help to clarify some key Media Studies concepts...
hegemony, Marxism, cultural imperialism, globalisation, liberal pluralism, web 2.0
You should try to memorise a few (or simply a phrase or two from them), thinking about how you could include at least one of them in each of the Section B essay questions (although they are just as useful for Section A too).
Theories, Issues and Debates Summaries
Easy to revise from - some of the key ideas/theorists you need to know...
UNIT 3 Section B Questions
A big part of your revision will be going back over your Case Studies for New/Digital Media.
Make sure you refine your research - adding to it over the final few weeks with up-to-the-minute info from sources like MediaGuardian, and new articles that will be posted up here.
Read through all your blog postings on your weekly NDM stories (using your really useful index) and look at other students' from both classes too for some of the key topics over the last year.
Read through all your blog postings on your weekly NDM stories (using your really useful index) and look at other students' from both classes too for some of the key topics over the last year.
This is also a really helpful summary of some key ideas...
You should be able to answer all the typical questions for Section B in the exam (the most recent ones are towards the end and quite a few you've done already)...
New/Digital Media
- “Digital media have, in many ways, changed how we consume media products.” Who do you think benefits most – audiences or producers?
- “Media institutions are right to feel threatened by new/digital media.” Consider this statement and show how media institutions are reacting to technological developments.
- The development of new/digital media means the audience is more powerful in terms of consumption and production. Discuss the arguments for and against this view.
- “The new generation of UK media power players are going stratight to their audience via the web” www.mediaguardian.co.uk Monday July 14 2008. How have media institutions responded to the opportunities offered by new/digital media?
- Developments in new/digital media mean that audiences can now have access to a greater variety of views and values. To what extent are audiences empowered by these developments?
- Why and with what success are traditional media institutions adapting to the challenge posed by new/digital media?
- The world first heard about the death of Michael Jackson from the online gossip website TMZ. How has new/digital media changed the ways in which information reaches audiences and what are the implications?
- ‘New and digital media erodes the dividing line between reporters and reported, between active producers and passive audiences: people are enabled to speak for themselves.’ (www.indymedia.org.uk) Have such developments made the media more democratic, with more equal participation by more people?
- New and digital media offers media institutions different ways of reaching audiences. Consider how and why media institutions are using these techniques.
- ‘To connect, to create, to share creativity or thought, to discuss, to collaborate, to form groups or to combine with others in mutual interests or passions. If you can’t see the point of any of those things, you will not see the point of Facebook.’ (www.guardian.co.uk) What opportunities and/or disadvantages do new and digital media have for audiences?
- Although new and digital media may promise audiences more freedom, it does not necessarily give them more power. Discuss.
- New and digital media is creating one global culture. Do you think that this is true?
- The only way to survive in the digital world is to keep innovating. Do you agree?
- Most of the traditional media’s attempts to compete with new and digital media have been too little and too late. Does your case study support this view?
- The internet is a democratic space, where we are all free to participate equally. Using your own case study, discuss whether the impact of new and digital media is democratic.
- New and digital media offer a wide range of competing ideas and opinions from experts and journalists to bloggers and social networkers, making it harder for audiences to know who to trust. In such an environment, how does the audience know who to trust?
- Does your case study suggest that new and digital media have had a positive impact by offering audiences a more diverse range of values and ideologies?
- New and digital media have led many media producers to involve their audiences more. However audience involvement is only superficial and media producers have ensured they maintain control. Use your case study to evaluate whether new and digital media have changed the role of producers.
- New and digital media have contributed to the process of globalisation: the idea that the world is becoming increasingly interconnected through one global culture. Using your own case study, evaluate the impact that new and digital media have had on globalisation.
- Use your case study to evaluate whether new and digital media are a threat or an opportunity for media producers.
- One of the great benefits of new and digital media is that they have enabled audiences to set their own agenda in terms of how they use the media. Does evidence from your case study support this view?
- “We stand for a single internet where all of humanity has equal access to knowledge and ideas.” Hillary Clinton, former United States Secretary of State, January 2010. Does your case study suggest that new and digital media have made a positive contribution to humanity?
You should have detailed plans for each of these essays and have practised as many as possible under timed conditions (ONE HOUR for each).
Remember, the examiner is looking for the following:
- A sophisticated and detailed evaluation, showing very good critical autonomy.
- Sophisticated and detailed application of a wide range of wider contexts.
- Supports answer with a wide range of examples from other media.
- Articulate and engaged.
New & Digital Media Lessons
Use these to help you revise, by going through each slide/linked article and making summary notes/mindmaps then testing yourself...
The News Case Study: Murdoch/NewsCorp, paywalls, adblocking, UGC, citizen journalism, gatekeepers, news agendas, Galtung & Ruge, Marxism/pluralism, democratisation, globalisation, conglomerates, News on the Tweet...
Some key quotes/ideas (Briggs/Burke, Castells, Gutenberg/Internet Revolution, Keen, Pareto's Law...)
NDM Key Quotes + Marxism/Pluralism
Try to memorise some of these quotes from critics/theorists/media professionals and include them in your Section B essay answers...
NDM Key Quotes
Also, ensure you always make reference to both key critical perspectives in your essay - Marxism and Pluralism...
Marxism/Pluralism summaries
NDM Key Quotes
Also, ensure you always make reference to both key critical perspectives in your essay - Marxism and Pluralism...
Marxism/Pluralism summaries
New & Digital Media: Essential Revision Articles
You MUST ensure you've read ALL of the following, making revision notes/mindmaps and understanding how you can apply the key points to the Section B essay questions:
From MediaEdu...
(login first: username: greenford; password: greenfordedu)
- A2 AQA MEST3 Revision New and Digital Media Example Question
- The Impact of Digital Media Revision
- 24 Hour News Case Study
- We Media, Democracy and Convergence
(access via our Media Magazine archive)
- The Rise and Rise of UGC. MM30, page 55.
- Participation debates - media and democracy. MM39, page 12.
- Web 2.0 - participation or hegemony? MM39, page 58.
- Participating in the Arab Spring. MM39, page 14.
NDM Case Studies
Remember that you have TWO case studies that you need to incorporate into your Section B essay:
1. The Impact of NDM on News
This was the one we went through in class and should form the bulk of your answer.
We covered things like: UGC, citizen journalism, News Corp/Murdoch, gatekeeping, news values (Galtung and Ruge), Marxism/pluralism, democratisation, the Arab Spring, globalisation, conglomerates, etc.
Each week on your blog you should have been posting a story on this topic too so go back and revise them all (using your blog index).
2. Your Own Independent Case Study on an Aspect of NDM
You had to come up with your own topic area and research it - a paragraph or two on this will be more than enough in the exam.
You should have answered all the NDM Case Study Questions on your blog as well as completed the final task - the Ignite PowerPoint presentation - which is all good for
1. The Impact of NDM on News
This was the one we went through in class and should form the bulk of your answer.
We covered things like: UGC, citizen journalism, News Corp/Murdoch, gatekeeping, news values (Galtung and Ruge), Marxism/pluralism, democratisation, the Arab Spring, globalisation, conglomerates, etc.
Each week on your blog you should have been posting a story on this topic too so go back and revise them all (using your blog index).
2. Your Own Independent Case Study on an Aspect of NDM
You had to come up with your own topic area and research it - a paragraph or two on this will be more than enough in the exam.
You should have answered all the NDM Case Study Questions on your blog as well as completed the final task - the Ignite PowerPoint presentation - which is all good for
Unit 3 Key Theories
A helpful resource, divided into three sections...
1. Critical Debates/Key Concepts
Includes globalisation, Marxism/hegemony, pluralism, audience theories (Blumler & Katz, cultivation, desensitisation), Barthes, etc. Don't try to learn any new theories now though - just make sure you really know those that we've covered in lessons.
2. Representation
3. New and Digital Media
Unit 3 Key Theories
1. Critical Debates/Key Concepts
Includes globalisation, Marxism/hegemony, pluralism, audience theories (Blumler & Katz, cultivation, desensitisation), Barthes, etc. Don't try to learn any new theories now though - just make sure you really know those that we've covered in lessons.
2. Representation
3. New and Digital Media
Unit 3 Key Theories
Section A: Q2/3
Section A, Q2/3 will ask you to link the texts to issues/debates relating to NDM and Identities as well as expecting you to refer to other examples you can think of that are relevant.
This is where you should draw upon your weekly NDM stories that you've posted/analysed on your blog - you should have about 70 stories in your NDM index as well as the examples you came up with for the recent MEST 3, Section A Revision Task.
This is where you should draw upon your weekly NDM stories that you've posted/analysed on your blog - you should have about 70 stories in your NDM index as well as the examples you came up with for the recent MEST 3, Section A Revision Task.
Make sure you have pre-prepared ideas/plans about how you would approach these possible questions...
- Section A, Q2/3 (NDM)
- Section A, Q2/3 (Identities)
Friday, May 06, 2016
Year 13 MEST1 re-sit details
The MEST1 exam is fast approaching for any students re-sitting the exam this month.
You obviously need to be revising all the content from Year 12 but we've also arranged the following compulsory sessions to support you in the exam:
Monday 9 May
MEST1 Revision session - 3.15pm DF07
Wednesday 11 May
MEST1 Mock exam - 3.15pm Lecture Theatre (2 hours)
Monday 16 May
MEST1 Revision session - 3.15pm DF07
Thursday 19 May
MEST1 exam (AM)
If you look back over your and our blog you'll see a huge amount of work to help your revision. You should also go into this exam extremely confident as you can use ALL the media issues, debates and theories from Year 13 to maximise your grade.
The main thing you absolutely HAVE to revise in detail is your Section B case study work from last year. That means Ill Manors and the British film industry, A Field In England and your own independent case study.
Good luck!
You obviously need to be revising all the content from Year 12 but we've also arranged the following compulsory sessions to support you in the exam:
Monday 9 May
MEST1 Revision session - 3.15pm DF07
Wednesday 11 May
MEST1 Mock exam - 3.15pm Lecture Theatre (2 hours)
Monday 16 May
MEST1 Revision session - 3.15pm DF07
Thursday 19 May
MEST1 exam (AM)
If you look back over your and our blog you'll see a huge amount of work to help your revision. You should also go into this exam extremely confident as you can use ALL the media issues, debates and theories from Year 13 to maximise your grade.
The main thing you absolutely HAVE to revise in detail is your Section B case study work from last year. That means Ill Manors and the British film industry, A Field In England and your own independent case study.
Good luck!
Tuesday, May 03, 2016
MEST3 Section A: revision task
The key to top performance in Section A of the MEST3 exam is a wide variety of examples from across the media.
Although Q1 will always test your textual analysis skills with the media texts in the exam, Q2 and Q3 increasingly focus on wider issues and debates in the media. These will be related to the two Year 13 exam topics: Identities and the Media and New/Digital Media.
You need a wide selection of examples for BOTH these topics that you can call upon depending on the nature of the questions on the day. Assuming you need four well developed paragraphs at the very least for these 12-mark questions, you’ll therefore be needing an absolute minimum of three of these wider examples for each question.
Section A revision task
You need to look over your blog work, class notes and collection of NDM stories from the whole of Year 13 in order to put together a list of examples for Q2 and Q3 in Section A.
Task 1: List 10 stories/debates/examples that you could use for the Identities and the Media question.
E.g. fourth wave of feminism (#everydaysexism); gender identity issues (e.g. Caitlyn Jenner; Chelsea Manning, North Carolina LGBT law etc.) If you’re not confident enough to use all 10 in an exam situation then research, revise and create notes/revision cards until your knowledge is sufficient.
Task 2: List 10 stories/debates/examples that you could use for the New/Digital Media question.
Here, there’s no question you’ll have enough examples (your two NDM case studies are perfectly acceptable here) so it’s more about quality. Choose your 10 strongest examples to prepare for exam use – e.g. Citizen journalism and the #blacklivesmatter campaign against US police brutality; social media impact on TV news and newspapers (e.g. Paris attacks); streaming services and changes in the music industry (Tidal Twitter promotion) etc. Again, if you’re not confident enough to use all 10 in an exam situation then research, revise and create notes/revision cards until your knowledge is sufficient.
If you complete all 10 on your blog, create revision cards for each example with the key details, statistics and quotes.
If you don’t complete 10 examples for each topic on your blog, you MUST finish for homework as part of your ongoing MEST3 revision.
Although Q1 will always test your textual analysis skills with the media texts in the exam, Q2 and Q3 increasingly focus on wider issues and debates in the media. These will be related to the two Year 13 exam topics: Identities and the Media and New/Digital Media.
You need a wide selection of examples for BOTH these topics that you can call upon depending on the nature of the questions on the day. Assuming you need four well developed paragraphs at the very least for these 12-mark questions, you’ll therefore be needing an absolute minimum of three of these wider examples for each question.
Section A revision task
You need to look over your blog work, class notes and collection of NDM stories from the whole of Year 13 in order to put together a list of examples for Q2 and Q3 in Section A.
Task 1: List 10 stories/debates/examples that you could use for the Identities and the Media question.
E.g. fourth wave of feminism (#everydaysexism); gender identity issues (e.g. Caitlyn Jenner; Chelsea Manning, North Carolina LGBT law etc.) If you’re not confident enough to use all 10 in an exam situation then research, revise and create notes/revision cards until your knowledge is sufficient.
Task 2: List 10 stories/debates/examples that you could use for the New/Digital Media question.
Here, there’s no question you’ll have enough examples (your two NDM case studies are perfectly acceptable here) so it’s more about quality. Choose your 10 strongest examples to prepare for exam use – e.g. Citizen journalism and the #blacklivesmatter campaign against US police brutality; social media impact on TV news and newspapers (e.g. Paris attacks); streaming services and changes in the music industry (Tidal Twitter promotion) etc. Again, if you’re not confident enough to use all 10 in an exam situation then research, revise and create notes/revision cards until your knowledge is sufficient.
If you complete all 10 on your blog, create revision cards for each example with the key details, statistics and quotes.
If you don’t complete 10 examples for each topic on your blog, you MUST finish for homework as part of your ongoing MEST3 revision.
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