OCR G325 Mark Scheme Jan 2012
- 1. GCE Media Studies Advanced GCE Unit G325: Critical Perspectives in Media Mark Scheme for January 2012 Oxford Cambridge and RSA Examinations
- 2. OCR (Oxford Cambridge and RSA) is a leading UK awarding body, providing a wide range of qualifications to meet the needs of candidates of all ages and abilities. OCR qualifications include AS/A Levels, Diplomas, GCSEs, OCR Nationals, Functional Skills, Key Skills, Entry Level qualifications, NVQs and vocational qualifications in areas such as IT, business, languages, teaching/training, administration and secretarial skills. It is also responsible for developing new specifications to meet national requirements and the needs of students and teachers. OCR is a not-for-profit organisation; any surplus made is invested back into the establishment to help towards the development of qualifications and support, which keep pace with the changing needs of today’s society. This mark scheme is published as an aid to teachers and students, to indicate the requirements of the examination. It shows the basis on which marks were awarded by examiners. It does not indicate the details of the discussions which took place at an examiners’ meeting before marking commenced. All examiners are instructed that alternative correct answers and unexpected approaches in candidates’ scripts must be given marks that fairly reflect the relevant knowledge and skills demonstrated. Mark schemes should be read in conjunction with the published question papers and the report on the examination. OCR will not enter into any discussion or correspondence in connection with this mark scheme. © OCR 2012 Any enquiries about publications should be addressed to: OCR Publications PO Box 5050 Annesley NOTTINGHAM NG15 0DL Telephone: 0870 770 6622 Facsimile: 01223 552610 E-mail: publications@ocr.org.uk
- 3. G325/01 Mark Scheme January 2012 11. Annotations Required/Optional Annotation Example (if appropriate) In the script: On every page a tick to indicate it has been marked and ticks to indicate where credit has been given. Required Cross through blank pages. At the end of each answer before the final ringed mark an un- EAA e.g. EAA 20 ringed total for each of the three areas of the mark scheme EG e.g. EG 20 Required for section B No summative comment TERM e.g. TERM 10 At the end of each answer: e.g. 50 Required The numerical mark awarded – this must be ringed 1
- 4. G325/01 Mark Scheme January 2012 Marginal annotation (in the left hand margin) to identify specific features of an answer which may affect your final assessment of its quality: ? to indicate lack of clarity or confusion ? / to indicate omission (of information deemed necessary, of / Optional development of a point or an example which would attain more marks) to indicate particularly good points xx to indicate factual error or a lack of significance to xx answer/relevance to question ‘ On the front page of each script: Required in the grid In the grid: Question number Mark Total marks awarded for each question 1 20 2 13 Required in the grid Overall total Total 33 ***Ensure total is transferred to MS2 accurately*** For examiner’s use Required Your examiner initials clearly in top box Examiner’s initials JG - 2
- 5. G325 Mark Scheme January 2012 Question Answer Marks Content 1 (a) Level 4 (21-25 marks) 25 Candidates will need to refer to their work for the Foundation Portfolio and Advanced Portfolio. Additionally, they may There is a clear sense of progression and of how make reference to other media production work but this is examples have been selected, and a range of articulate strictly optional. reflections on creative media practice. There is a fluent evaluation of progress made over time. Candidates offer a broad range of specific, relevant and clear examples of real media conventions in relation to creative practice. The use of media terminology and production terms is excellent. Complex issues have been expressed clearly and fluently using a style of writing appropriate to the complex subject matter. Sentences and paragraphs, consistently relevant, have been well structured, using appropriate technical terminology. There may be few, if any, errors of spelling, punctuation and grammar. Level 3 (16-20 marks) There is some sense of progression and of how examples have been selected, and some useful descriptions of real media conventions. Progress made is described and evaluated with clarity. Candidates offer a mostly clear, mostly relevant and reasonable range of examples of real media texts in relation to creative media practice. The answer makes proficient use of media terminology throughout, with media production terms handled very well. Relatively straightforward ideas have been expressed with some clarity and fluency. Arguments are generally relevant, though may stray from the point of the question. There will be some errors of spelling, punctuation and grammar but these are unlikely to be intrusive or obscure meaning. 3
- 6. G325 Mark Scheme January 2012 Question Answer Marks Content Level 2 (10-15 marks) Candidates offer a mostly clear, partly relevant and narrow range of examples of real media texts and the importance of the examples in relation to creative media practice. The account of progress made is limited. Examples are described with some discussion of their significance in relation to outcomes. The answer makes basic use of relevant media terminology. Some simple ideas have been expressed in an appropriate context. There are likely to be some errors of spelling, punctuation and grammar of which some may be noticeable and intrusive. Level 1 (0-9 marks) The answer is descriptive and may offer limited clarity. There is little, if any, evaluation of progress. Examples are partly relevant and their significance in relation to real media texts and creative media practice is partly clear. The answer offers minimal use of relevant media terminology. Some simple ideas have been expressed. There will be some errors of spelling, punctuation and grammar which will be noticeable and intrusive. Writing may also lack legibility. 4
- 7. G325 Mark Scheme January 2012 Question Answer Marks Content 1 (b) Level 4 (21-25 marks) 25 Candidates will need to choose one production from either Foundation Portfolio or Advanced Portfolio. Candidates demonstrate a clear understanding of different theories of representation and associated media theory Examiners are reminded that candidates are asked to relate and can relate concepts articulately to the production a media production to a theoretical concept and they are at outcome, describing specific elements in relation to liberty to either apply the concept to their production or theoretical ideas about how media representation is explain how the concept is not useful in relation to their understood and received. production. Candidates offer a broad range of specific, relevant, interesting and clear examples of how their product can be understood in relation to relevant theories of representation. The use of conceptual language is excellent. Complex issues have been expressed clearly and fluently using a style of writing appropriate to the complex subject matter. Sentences and paragraphs, consistently relevant, have been well structured, using appropriate technical terminology. There may be few, if any, errors of spelling, punctuation and grammar. Level 3 (16-20 marks) Candidates demonstrate the ability to relate their own creative outcomes to some ideas about representation drawn from relevant media theory. Some relevant and convincing examples from the production are offered and these are handled proficiently. The answer makes proficient use of relevant conceptual language. Relatively straightforward ideas have been expressed with some clarity and fluency. Arguments are generally relevant, though may stray from the point of the question. There will be some errors of spelling, punctuation and grammar but these are unlikely to be intrusive or obscure meaning. 5
- 8. G325 Mark Scheme January 2012 Question Answer Marks Content Level 2 (10-15 marks) Candidates offer a mainly descriptive, basic account of how their production can be understood in the basic theoretical context of representation. A narrow range of examples are described, of which some are relevant. The answer makes basic use of relevant conceptual terms. Some simple ideas have been expressed in an appropriate context. There are likely to be some errors of spelling, punctuation and grammar of which some may be noticeable and intrusive. Level 1 (0-9 marks) Candidates at this level attempt to relate the production to the basic concept of representation, with limited clarity. The account may be incomplete or be only partly convincing. Very few, if any, examples are offered from the chosen production. The answer offers minimal use of relevant basic conceptual terms. Some simple ideas have been expressed. There will be some errors of spelling, punctuation and grammar which will be noticeable and intrusive. Writing may also lack legibility. 6
- 9. G325 Mark Scheme January 2012 Question Answer Marks Content 2-13 Level 4 Explanation/analysis/argument (20 marks) Use of examples (20 marks) Explanation/analysis/argument (16-20 marks) Use of terminology (10 marks) Candidates adapt their learning to the specific requirements of the chosen question in excellent fashion Notes to examiners: and make connections in order to present a coherent The generic mark scheme above for questions 2-13 will be argument. The answer offers a clear, fluent balance of the same for every examination. The indicative content for media theories and knowledge of industries and texts and each topic area provided in the Specimen Assessment informed personal engagement with issues and debates. material was produced to offer guidance for centres, and is not for use in marking scripts. Guidance for each topic will be Use of examples (16-20 marks) provided at the standardisation meeting for each assessment Examples of theories, texts and industry knowledge are session. clearly connected together in the answer. History and the future are integrated into the discussion at least once Where candidates refer to only one media area in their in each case. answer, the mark scheme clearly indicates that marks should be restricted to level 1. Use of terminology (8-10 marks) Throughout the answer, material presented is informed by Where candidates fail to provide or imply historical relevant media theory and the command of the appropriate references and/or future projections, marks should be conceptual and theoretical language is excellent. restricted to level 3 for use of examples only. Complex issues have been expressed clearly and fluently using a style of writing appropriate to the complex subject matter. Sentences and paragraphs, consistently relevant, have been well structured, using appropriate technical terminology. There may be few, if any, errors of spelling, punctuation and grammar. Level 3 Explanation/analysis/argument (12-15 marks) Candidates adapt their learning to the specific requirements of the chosen question well, in the main. The answer offers a sensible, mostly clear balance of media theories and knowledge of industries and texts, with a 7
- 10. G325 Mark Scheme January 2012 Question Answer Marks Content proficient attempt at personally engaging with issues and debates. Use of examples (12-15 marks) Examples of theories, texts and industry knowledge are connected together in places, and a clear argument is proficiently developed in response to the question. Use of terminology (6-7 marks) Material presented is mostly informed by relevant media theory, articulated through use of appropriate theoretical terms. Relatively straightforward ideas have been expressed with some clarity and fluency. Arguments are generally relevant, though may stray from the point of the question. There will be some errors of spelling, punctuation and grammar but these are unlikely to be intrusive or obscure meaning. Level 2 Explanation/analysis/argument (8-11 marks) Candidates offer a response to the topic area with limited ability to adapt to the specific requirements of the chosen question. A partially coherent, basic argument is presented. Use of examples (8-11 marks) The answer offers some examples of theories, industry knowledge and/or texts and debates, with some basic evidence of an attempt to connect these elements. Use of terminology (4-5 marks) Some of the material presented is informed by relevant media theory, articulated through a basic use of theoretical terms. 8
- 11. G325 Mark Scheme January 2012 Question Answer Marks Content Some simple ideas have been expressed in an appropriate context. There are likely to be some errors of spelling, punctuation and grammar of which some may be noticeable and intrusive. Level 1 Explanation/analysis/argument (0-7 marks) Candidates offer a response to the topic area, with a limited degree of clarity. Personal engagement with the topic is either absent or implicit and there may be inaccuracy or a lack of conviction in presenting the response. The answer may be incomplete and/or lack relevance or only one media area is discussed. Use of examples (0-7 marks) A narrow range of examples related to texts, industries or audiences is offered. Examples from only one media may be provided. Use of terminology (0-3 marks) Theoretical terms are either absent or articulated to a minimal degree. Some simple ideas have been expressed. There will be some errors of spelling, punctuation and grammar which will be noticeable and intrusive. Writing may also lack legibility. 9
- 12. G325 Mark Scheme January 2012 APPENDIX 1 Section B: Contemporary Media Issues Content Guidance Examiners should expect a great deal of variety in texts, case studies, theories and debates selected for inclusion in their answers for each theme. For example, students writing about Media and Collective Identity might offer responses that range from representations of British people in film and television to a comparison of how the audience itself is constructed using two examples from two media to a discussion of how social networking brings together groups of people for the purpose of advertising. The same level of breadth and diversity is expected for all of the six themes. The content guidance from the specification is reproduced here as a framework for examiners: Contemporary Media Regulation What is the nature of contemporary media regulation compared with previous practices? What are the arguments for and against specific forms of contemporary media regulation? How effective are regulatory practices? What are the wider social issues relating to media regulation? Candidates might explore combinations of: Film censorship, the regulation of advertising, the Press and regulation/control, computer/video game classification, the regulation of online media, social networking and virtual worlds, contemporary broadcasting and political control, the effects debate and alternative theories of audience, children and television, violence and the media or a range of other study contexts relating to the regulation of contemporary media. Regulation might be researched with regard to media content, access, ownership and control and/or in relation to politics, public interest and democracy. Global Media What kinds of media are increasingly global in terms of production and distribution? How have global media developed, in historical terms, and how inclusive is this trend in reality? What kinds of audience behaviour and consumption are increasingly global? What are the arguments for and against global media, in relation to content, access, representation and identity? 10
- 13. G325 Mark Scheme January 2012 Candidates might explore combinations of any two media in relation to the above prompts. Examples include film and debates around cultural imperialism, television and national versus imported broadcasting, national press in relation to global news provision, media marketing aimed at cross-national territories, examples of media that contradict theories of globalisation or a range of other examples of global media practices. Media and Collective Identity How do the contemporary media represent nations, regions and ethnic/social/collective groups of people in different ways? How does contemporary representation compare to previous time periods? What are the social implications of different media representations of groups of people? To what extent is human identity increasingly ‘mediated’? Candidates might explore combinations of any media representation across two media, or two different representations across two media. Some examples are: National cinema, television representations, magazines and gender, representations of youth and youth culture, representations of Islam, absence/presence of people with disability in two media. Media in the Online Age How have online media developed? What has been the impact of the internet on media production? How is consumer behaviour and audience response transformed by online media, in relation to the past? To what extent has convergence transformed the media? Candidates might explore combinations of any two media, considering how each (or the two in converged forms) can be analysed from the above prompts. Examples might be music downloading and distribution, the film industry and the internet, online television, online gaming and virtual worlds, online news provision, various forms of online media production by the public or a range of other online media forms. Postmodern Media What are the different versions of postmodernism (historical period, style, theoretical approach)? What are the arguments for and against understanding some forms of media as postmodern? How do postmodern media texts challenge traditional text-reader relations and the concept of representation? In what ways do media audiences and industries operate differently in a postmodern world? Candidates might explore combinations of: How postmodern media relate to genre and narrative across two media, computer/video games, virtual worlds, augmented reality and and new forms of representation, postmodern cinema, interactive media, social media and social networking, reality TV, music video, advertising, postmodern audience theories, aspects of globalisation, parody and pastiche in media texts or a range of other applications of postmodern media theory. 11
- 14. G325 Mark Scheme January 2012 ‘We Media’ and Democracy What are ‘We Media’? Where/how has ‘We Media’ emerged? In what way are the contemporary media more democratic than before? In what ways are the contemporary media less democratic than before? Candidates might explore combinations of any two media in relation to the above prompts. Starting from Gillmor’s definition, all media that are ‘homegrown’, local, organic and potentially counter-cultural can be studied for this topic, as long as two media (eg web-logging and digital film uploading and sharing) are studied. Note that candidates should compare potentially alternative/progressive ‘we media’ examples with other examples of more orthodox production and ownership models and that the question asks candidates to consider media within an understanding of democracy so any contemporary examples that support their argument will be credited. 12
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