Writing your report
- 1. Writing your report (40 marks) The first 500 words of your 1,600 words should be about how the research you have made into existing magazines has led to the creation of your magazine front pages (pre-production). You should include: Typical codes & conventions such as typography, colours, and picture choices that are typical of your genre. You should then write around 200 words about the target audience of your double page spread (production piece). You need to support the reasons why you have chosen this audience. The main bulk of your report (around 900 to 1,000 words) is the evaluation part of your double page spread & contents page (production). This is an exploration of the strengths and weaknesses of your double page. You should be comparing your pages with existing market products (published magazines). Have you used similar design elements to an existing magazine? If so, why? If you have changed your designs – what have you done differently and why? (Perhaps you have taken elements from different genres of music magazines). The key to good marks is to consider design issues and analyse how you have been influenced by existing magazine designs. Have you incorporated genre conventions? (think about tagline fonts, language and mode of address). Explain how your analysis and research into existing double pages has led you to choose certain designs in your own product. In your analysis you need to show that you understand representational issues (of gender for example, or social groups) and discuss any narrative elements to your design (is there a story/theme, e.g. tour bus exploits?) You should illustrate your report with screenshots of your designs and of existing, printed front pages and double page/contents pages from the magazines you’ve researched. You need to show the examiner that you understand what makes a good existing double page designs/contents pages and how you have evaluated their effectiveness – and used the ideas in your production pieces. Don’t just describe existing products – explain how they have helped you, e.g. I have chosen to have strongly edited images in my pages because this style is found in Q magazine, one of the magazines I felt strongly represented the target audience of mature rock fans which I have decided to appeal to. My main double page spread image uses direct mode of address and includes typical conventional mise-en-scene of the rock genre.
- 2. Marking criteria for coursework Your pre-production piece (two mock ups of front pages of a magazine) is marked out of 20. The examiner is looking for evidence of AO3: AO3: Demonstrate the ability to plan and construct media products using appropriate technical and creative skills. To get top marks in this part of your work you must show: Excellent ability to plan and construct media products appropriate for pre-production. Sophisticated technical and creative skills will also be demonstrated. The examiner also wants sophisticated ability to structure ideas effectively. Your production piece (the double page spread and contents page of your magazine) is marked out of 40. Again, the examiner is looking for skills linking to AO3. AO3: Demonstrate the ability to plan and construct media products using appropriate technical and creative skills. To get top marks on this part of your coursework you must show: Excellent ability to construct media products. Sophisticated technical and creative skills will also be demonstrated. The examiner also wants you to show a high degree of accuracy and a sophisticated ability to structure ideas effectively. The report Both the pre-production and production tasks are accompanied by a report marked out of 40. The examiner is looking for marks from: AO4: Demonstrate the ability to undertake, apply and present appropriate research. To get top marks on this you must show: Excellent ability to research independently...sophisticated use of research to inform the pre-production. AO2: Apply knowledge and understanding when analyzing media products and processes, and when evaluating their own practical work, to show how meanings and responses are created. This is mainly marked on the evaluation of your actual production piece. To get top marks on this part of your written work you must show: Excellent ability to apply knowledge and understanding when evaluating the production. Sophisticated evaluation of the production’s effectiveness. The evaluation incorporates sophisticated reference to comparable media products.