55/84 B Above MT2 = Credits x2
I managed to achieve above my target grade
These are the grade boundaries we've used, based on last year's A Level exam but raised slightly to account for the fact they will probably move up slightly (out of 84):
A* = 75; A = 66; B = 54; C = 44; D = 32; E = 20.
Now read through the AQA mark scheme for Paper 2 - you'll already have looked at this in class when marking the exam booklet of other students' responses. The original Paper 2 question paper is here if that is helpful too.
3) Write a question-by-question analysis of your performance. For each question, write how many marks you got from the number available and identify any points that you missed by carefully studying the AQA indicative content in the mark scheme:
Q1:
5/9
My analysis of the main character and the setting behind I believe was too weak to get a higher mark, patriotism and connotations of the american flag were also points I should have added.
Q2:
18/25
I believe I overall did well with this question and was just missing details and or additional theories.
e.g. of what I could have added.
research – such as the Bobo doll experiment – has demonstrated the way
in which (young) people are influenced by violence with research including
real world and television examples.
effects research into video games tends to focus on violent game-play;
both Lara Croft and Metroid are action adventure games which focus on
assault and killing in the narrative
Q3:
16/25
Same issues as the prior question but to a greater extent.
Examples of what I could/should have added.
the contexts of production are more important and influential than any
intent of the ‘authors’ as it is impossible for the individual to transcend
social and cultural contexts
it can be argued that this representation has now become part of the
mainstream but Men’s Health had a role in this change.
Q4:
16/25
The structuring of my questions I believe are fine, but the same issue arises, my details need to be improved and applied more with the context.
Examples of things I need to include.
Kudos, the independent producer of the series, specialises in TV
series which can be sold or remade for the US market, making it
typical of contemporary media institutions which operate globally
rather than nationally
AMC and RTL were able to develop the series in the context of new
opportunities for distribution and exhibition – e.g. the Walter Presents
platform in the UK, which is a subsidiary of C4, exploiting broadcast
and digital opportunities
how audiences are grouped and categorised by media industries,
including by age, gender and social class, as well as by lifestyle and
taste
Example: Q2: 13/25 marks
Additional points: I didn't mention media effects theories such as cultivation theory; I didn't focus on the question asking 'how valid' are media effects theories; I could have discussed the effect representations of women have on male gamers as suggested by Anita Sarkeesian; I could have discussed the ideological impact of The Sims on young gamers indoctrinated into the American capitalist dream...
4) Look at question 4 - the synoptic question on TV. Write a full, new essay plan for this question using the indicative content in the mark scheme (focus particularly on distribution) and taking care to include at least one paragraph that addresses the synoptic element. You can use bullet points but make sure you offer enough content to meet the criteria for Level 4 (top level). This will be somewhere between 4-6 well-developed paragraphs planned in some detail.
Intro:
Briefly talk about my opinion and begin to give briefly state to the points I'm going to make. e.g. Capital and D83 both to an extent do reflect changing attitudes to global productions
Para 1:
begin to talk about D83 - Bring up the production company (RTL, AMC and Sundance) this combination is an example of a merging of international and traditional production companies developing together, bringing a more representational, global perspective.
Delve deeper into the idea of a connected world due to the internet.
Para 2:
Rebuttal the above para by stating that if the show is funded by American money, there is only a certain amount of a different perspective the show can provide. Tied down by american money does not represent a wholly diverse and global production. This combined with the fact that the show represents a very western idea of life.
Para 3:
Capital does provide this idea of a global audience/production but only to an extent
- Diverse actors
- Different perspective
- Truer representation of a diverse London than done normally
Para 4:
Again also limited as the show only provides a look at London and nothing more, ideas of international relations are present in the show but are not shown, this combined with the fact that its funded with western money strengthens this point.
Conclusion:
Our case studies D83 and Capital do represent a growing interest in global television, but only to a certain point as western influence manages to get a hold on every industry.
5) Based on the whole of your Paper 2 learner response, plan FIVE topics / concepts / CSPs / theories that you will prioritise in your Easter Media revision timetable.
D83
Capital
Theories (in general)
Analysis questions
Evaluation improvements in questions