Evaluations

To be completed over the course of the next week (by Friday 19-10).

Your responses will be used to help write your Interim Reports and help us to plan a better course for you.

1. SELF EVALUATION
Write an evaluation of your progress on the Media course so far.
Do this work on paper and hand in to your main Media teacher.

a. Comment on each of the following, giving yourself a grade with an explanation outlining why:

(Grading should be1-5: 1 = excellent, 2 = v. good, 3 = good/average, 4 = poor, 5 = v. poor)

• Attainment
• Effort
• Punctuality
• Submission and quality of homework
• Ability to work independently
• Quality of writing
• Organisation of Media folder
• Oral contributions in class

b. Make a list of three achievements (www) and three targets/areas for improvement (ebi) over the next half-term.

2. COURSE EVALUATION

Write an evaluation of the actual course/teaching.
Please submit the work as a comment on this blog after this post. Include your name!

a. Answer each of the following with a grade (1-5), giving reasons/examples:

(Grading should again be1-5: 1 = excellent, 2 = v. good, 3 = good/average, 4 = poor, 5 = v. poor)

• How well is the course organised?
• How interesting is the content that is covered?
• How useful are the handouts?
• Have the lessons been well-paced?
• What is the standard of the teachers’ presentation/subject knowledge?
• How well has the course met your expectations?
• Have the extra-curricular events been useful? (eg. Awards Eve., Trips, Film Club)
• Has the Macguffin Blog been useful?

b. Make a list of three things you like and help you to learn (www) and three suggestions of things you’d like to see changed/improved (ebi).

FILM CLUB

Film club is starting this Thursday 11th October in the Lecture Theatre (Block B) at 3.30. It is compulsory for all year 12 media students, but year 13s and other sixth formers are welcome.

The film showing this week is 'CITY OF GOD'

Module 2 Revision/Preparation

Your revision/preparation for Module 2 should be...

• Read through all notes, handouts and past essays on the key texts...

1. Film & Broadcast Fiction - 'Bullet Boy' (for everyone), 'Kidulthood' (for 12c1, 12d1), 'Hidden' (for 12c2)
2. Documentary - 'Bowling for Columbine', 'Man With a Movie Camera', 'Triumph of the Will', 'Big Brother'.

This includes all the general handouts on documentary, film language, etc.

• Make sure you know the texts well enough to illustrate your points in the exam with detailed examples. You can watch all the texts again online by clicking on this link and it is strongly suggested that you do (especially if you missed any of the revision film clubs).

• Make new notes on each key text (above)...your own mini-revision guides, focussing on the Key Concepts for each one.

• Re-read Module 2 revision pack.

• Revision of MIGRAIN - key questions to ask, keywords/glossary + film language worksheets & pack.

• Read through all 'Film & Broadcast Fiction' & 'Documentary' past questions.

• Write essay plans for as many different questions as possible.

• Complete as many timed essays as you can (45 minutes/question).

Please post up as comments on here a record of the practice you have done- it will be useful for people to share ideas about how to approach certain questions and an opportunity to ask Macguffin to explain anything about any of them.

And don't forget - you can bring any timed essays in over the next one and a half weeks of school to show to your teachers before the exam on Thursday June 7th at 9am (straight after the Module 1 exam). ARRIVE at least 20 MINUTES EARLY!!

Module 1 Revision/Preparation

Your minimum revision/preparation for Module 1 should be...

• Revision of MIGRAIN - key questions to ask, keywords/glossary + film language worksheets & packs.

• Read through all Module 1 class notes, practices and handouts.

• Read Module 1 revision pack.

• Timed practice - MIGRAIN analysis of a range of two-minute (or less) moving image sequences...

1. extracts, title sequences and opening sequences from any genre of TV programme or film (soap, sitcom, documentary, news, gangster, thriller, etc.).
2. TV adverts and film trailers.

It is vital that you practice under exam conditions - spend 15 minutes note-taking/planning (watch the extract three times during this period) and then one hour writing your answer.

If you are short for time then you can always just do the 15-minute MIGRAIN note-taking exercise on some days but try to do this as often as possible (every day?).

Please post up as comments on here a record of the practice you have done - it will be useful for people to share ideas about what texts are good to try and an opportunity to ask Macguffin any questions about any of the Key Concepts.

And don't forget - you can bring any timed essays in over the next four weeks to show to your teachers (Ms Stevens or Ms Jones) before the exam on Thursday June 7th at 9am. ARRIVE at least 20 MINUTES EARLY!!

Module 2 Texts Online

For those classes (12c1 & 12c2) still revising for their Module 2 mock exam, here is a link that will take you to a list of a range of clips available online for all the texts you're studying. Please check them out...you won't do well if you don't know the texts.

Having said that, don't assume, though, that watching a few clips on YouTube is the only form of revision necessary - don't forget, also:

• to read through all notes and handouts;
  
• to go through the list of essay questions and write plans for as many as possible;
  
• to do as many timed essays as possible;
  
• to revise all the keywords in the media glossary you've been given;
  
• and to draw mind maps and use index cards (or any other memory techniques that you find useful) to help you remember key points about the different films/documentaries.
  

Good luck!

Editing Timetable

Here's the editing timetable for those of you not editing in the main Media Suite (E05). If nowhere else is available you can also work in the Conference Room in the Post-16 Centre (but NOT in the common room).

Remember, you should be editing every day until the work is finished, otherwise you will not meet the Easter deadline!

Blog Comments

Each group needs to appoint one person to create a post title called 'Blog Comments' and to cut and paste the following to it. It must be posted to your group blog before the end of Tuesday 13-02...

1. What do you think of our blog?

• What do you particularly like about it? What's especially impressive?

• What could be improved? What's missing or could be added?

2. Based on what you've read on the blog (and maybe seen in test screenings in class) what suggestions do you have regarding what we could do to make our Practical Production really successful?

• What other things could we include in the production?
  

• How should we go about filming any remaining scenes or editing the footage during post-production (+ suggestions for music, etc.)?

Then it's the job for everyone in Year 12 to go to each blog, read through it and answer the questions above about each one (there will be sixteen for you each to do in total) as a comment on the above post. DO THIS WORK ON YOUR OWN!

The more detail and feedback you give, the more you are likely to receive and it could be very useful to you, especially as most of you are targetting your productions at this very demographic - it's like a perfect focus group setting. By the end, each group should have 50+ comments.

Also, by reading each other's blogs carefully you should get extra ideas about how to improve your work. The aim is for you to be inspired! Make sure you include your name with each post so you can be identified by the group concerned and Macguffin (who will be closely monitoring what's going on - no unfair negative comments).

This must be completed before Monday 26-02.

Test Screening Feedback

By the end of this week, every practical production group will have presented some of their raw footage and received feedback from their peers and the teacher. So before the half term holiday starts, every group must make a detailed posting on your blog (with the title above) outlining what you've learned from the process. Please cover the following...

1.

For this first section, go through all your test screening feedback sheets and come up with an average grade for each aspect of MCCAT (the assessment objectives; what will ultimately determine your grade) based on these returns...

• Media Language (A-E)

• Conventions (A-E)

• Creativity (A-E)

• Attention to Detail (A-E)

• Technical Proficiency (A-E)

2.

Then make a list of all the positive comments you received on your forms, ideally breaking them down into the different areas the class were asked to concentrate on...

• (cinematography?)

• (mise en scene?)

• (lighting?)

• (sound?)

• (conventions? matching audience?)

• (miscellaneous)
  

3.

Next, focus on any constructive criticism you received in the feedback, under the same headings as for the previous section...

• (cinematography?)

• (mise en scene?)

• (lighting?)

• (sound?)

• (conventions? matching audience?)

• (miscellaneous)
  

4.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, write up the suggestions and ideas about how to improve and what else could be added...

• What else would you (or the target audience) like to see in this production? (scenes? sequences?)

• Suggestions for post-production/editing (music? voiceover? cutaways? montage? cross cutting? titles? slo-mo?)

Please remember that all filming must be completed by the time we return after the holiday (Monday 26th February) as well as all logging of shots.

Failure to meet this deadline will mean you will be late to start editing (and there are only five weeks left when we return to do this) and you'll also get last choice in terms of which PC you get to work on (a nice new fast one, or an old slow one, perhaps even shared with another group?)

Documentaries Online

Many of you are producing documentaries and need to research at least three each and post up details and analysis of these to your blogs.

Here's a useful site that has lots of really good documentaries grouped together under different headings...

Best Online Documentaries

Cover Work for 12C, Thur 25-01

Read the post below about Big Brother and carry out all the tasks (that have also been set for 12D). Make sure you also use the handouts given to you by Mr Munro on Tuesday to help you.

The deadline for the essay for 12C is next Tuesday 30th January.

You also need to be reminded that the four tasks from the last two weeks must be completed by tomorrow (Friday 26th) when I will be in the lesson! So far I haven't even had all the blog addresses sent to me.

There will be serious repercussions if you don't meet this new deadline!

Big Brother Essay (12D)

Big Brother...it's the biggest media story of the year so far and very much linked to Module 2: Documentary, because although, strictly speaking, it's a reality TV programme, we all know that these contain a lot of the features of documentary (as well as game show, etc.) so you can focus on this as a main text in the exam.

It's almost certain that you've all been watching over the past few weeks. If you haven't...what's going on? Call yourself a Media student? In all honesty, I've watched very little of this series but I feel like I know as much as if I've watched it (and so should you) because of all the press and broadcast news coverage its generated.

12D need to do the following for homework...




Read The Guardian article about Jade's eviction and the racism row. Then take a look at these Media Guardian links to other stories about the current series. Read through as many of these as you can to help you research and prepare for your homework essay. The title of the essay is a slightly reworded one from June 2001a...

“The editing of the show was designed to cast certain people in defined roles.” [Sada Walkington, the first person evicted from ‘Big Brother 1’ house] How do documentaries, particularly reality TV shows, shape and show reality?

Use 'Celebrity Big Brother' as your main text, write at least two sides of A4, word process the finished outcome, and hand in on your lesson on Monday (29-01).

12C or 12D?

Thanks to the (unnamed) student who emailed me pointing out that there has been some confusion about which Year 12 class you belong to and so you've been unsure what to do in my absence. For the record (although you should all know this)...

• 12C is the class with Kabir, Jagjeet and Naziya first on the register (and have me Tue, Thur & Fri);

• 12D is the class with Anamul, Rohini and Manveer first on the register (and have me Mon & Wed).

Please work out which class you're in and do the work set for you.

It doesn't really matter either way now though. Just remember that you have to complete all the following tasks by your next lesson, next week (either Monday for 12D, or Tuesday for 12C)...

• Practical Production Blog Setup

• Self-Evaluations

• Freshie Idol Analysis

• Research for Practical Productions

Good news for 12C - you can work from home if you wish on Friday (19/01) and you do not have to attend my lessons to register. But please remember, all of you, that if this work is NOT completed by next week you will NOT be allowed to go out filming your Practical Production, and you will almost certainly get a bad grade in your interim reports which I'm doing as soon as I get back.

Good luck - let's see if you can prove you're capable of working independently!

Cover Work 12C1

On Thursday 18-01-07, 12C1 need to do the following during your double period...

Research for Practical Productions

Each person in the group needs to find three texts that are in some way similar to your production idea - either because they cover the same topic, or because they are the same genre/type of text (eg film trailer, reflexive documentary, etc). The best places to look are YouTube, Google Video or on some of the other sites listed in the Macguffin del.ici.ous video bookmarks. You then need to post up a link to each clip on your group blog (or, better still, embed the clip in it...see if you can work out how).

For each clip or extract you then need to carry out some analysis that will help you with your own production. Answer the following questions...

1. About the text...

• What is the text? When was it produced? Who produced/directed it?
• Who is the target audience? How do you know?
• Where would you usually expect to see this text? What channel? Time? etc.
  

2. Different features it has...

• What is distinctive about its camerawork, editing, sound, mise-en-scene, etc.?
• What typical conventions of its genre does it use?
• What elements could you appropriate (borrow) for your production?

The final bullet point is the most crucial aspect and needs to be done in the most detail.

Obviously, this requires you to have set up your group blog. If that hasn't been done then that has to be the priority. Don't forget the other work that was set for you on last week: the group blog and the self-evaluation, and the cover work from Tuesday on Freshie Idol.

All of this work must be completed in full by next Tuesday 23-01-07, when I will be in the lesson, so finish anything that you don't complete for homework.

Cover Work 12D1

On Wednesday 17-01-07, 12D1 need to do the following during your three lessons...

A. Freshie Idol Analysis

Follow this link to view the new version of 'Freshie Idol' (produced by Hasnaa, Jalna and Jasmit in association with Channel 4) that appeared on T4's 'Homemade' on Saturday. Watch it a couple of times and then carry out an analysis of it using the MC CAT Practical Production assessment focii that you yourselves will be judged on when you complete your short films (write one short paragraph on each)...

• Media Language (comment on cinematography, sound, mise-en-scene, editing, etc.)
  

• Conventions (how does the production make use of reality TV and trailer conventions?)
  

• Creativity (in what ways is this creative or original?)
  

• Attention to Detail (consider the little factors that make this appear authentic or not)
  

• Technical Proficiency (camerawork, editing, post-production sound & graphics etc.)

You'll obviously need to do this in the library or Post-16 centre, after you've registered in the classroom. Post up your finished response at the end of this (as a comment). Make sure you include your name at the end and DO NOT copy what other people have written!

B. Research for Practical Productions

Each person in the group needs to find three texts that are in some way similar to your production idea - either because they cover the same topic, or because they are the same genre/type of text (eg film trailer, reflexive documentary, etc). The best places to look are YouTube, Google Video or on some of the other sites listed in the Macguffin del.ici.ous video bookmarks. You then need to post up a link to each clip on your group blog (or, better still, embed the clip in it...see if you can work out how).

For each clip or extract you then need to carry out some analysis that will help you with your own production. Answer the following questions...

1. About the text...

• What is the text? When was it produced? Who produced/directed it?
• Who is the target audience? How do you know?
• Where would you usually expect to see this text? What channel? Time? etc.
  

2. Different features it has...

• What is distinctive about its camerawork, editing, sound, mise-en-scene, etc.?
• What typical conventions of its genre does it use?
• What elements could you appropriate (borrow) for your production?

The final bullet point is the most crucial aspect and needs to be done in the most detail.

Obviously, this requires you to have set up your group blog. If that hasn't been done then that has to be the priority. Don't forget the other cover work that was set for you on Monday: the group blog and the self-evaluation.

All of this work must be completed in full by next Monday 22-01-07, when I will be in the lesson, so finish anything that you don't complete for homework.

Cover Work 12C1

On Tuesday 16-01-07, 12C1 need to do the following...

Follow this link to view the new version of 'Freshie Idol' (produced by Hasnaa, Jalna and Jasmit in association with Channel 4) that appeared on T4's 'Homemade' on Saturday. Watch it a couple of times and then carry out an analysis of it using the MC CAT Practical Production assessment focii that you yourselves will be judged on when you complete your short films (write one short paragraph on each)...

• Media Language (comment on cinematography, sound, mise-en-scene, editing, etc.)
  

• Conventions (how does the production make use of reality TV and trailer conventions?)
  

• Creativity (in what ways is this creative or original?)
  

• Attention to Detail (consider the little factors that make this appear authentic or not)
  

• Technical Proficiency (camerawork, editing, post-production sound & graphics etc.)

You'll obviously need to do this in the library or Post-16 centre, after you've registered in the classroom. Post up your finished response at the end of this (as a comment). Make sure you include your name at the end and DO NOT copy what other people have written!

Cover Work 12D1

On Monday 15-01-07, 12D1 need to get started on the following during your two lessons...

A. Group Blog
Set up a group blog for your Practical Production. You'll need to go to the Sixth Form computer rooms or the library to do this. Go to Blogger.com and click on 'Create Your Blog Now'. Follow the on-screen prompts to create your account and set up your template etc. Although I intended to demonstrate this during a lesson, I'm sure that there is at least one person in each group who is IT-literate enough to work things out. Ask a Year 13 Media student if you're stuck because they all know what to do.

Read carefully through the posting (below) about Practical Production Blog Setup before getting started. Then make sure you carry out all the tasks there in as much detail as possible before the deadline of Monday 22-01-07.

B. Self Evaluation
Click on the link or see the posting below for info.

Evaluations 2

To be completed over the course of the next week (by Monday 22-01-07).

Your responses will be used to help write your next Interim Reports.

SELF EVALUATION

Write an evaluation of your progress on the Media course so far.
Do the work on paper and hand in.

a. Comment on each of the following, giving yourself a grade with an explanation outlining why:

(Grading should be1-5: 1 = excellent, 2 = v. good, 3 = good/average, 4 = poor, 5 = v. poor)

• Attainment
• Effort
• Punctuality
• Submission and quality of homework
• Ability to work independently
• Quality of writing
• Organisation of Media folder
• Oral contributions in class
• Comments & contributions to the Macguffin blog (Year 12s only)
  
• Contribution to the group Practical Production.
  

b. Make a list of three targets/areas for improvement over the next half-term.

Practical Production Blog Setup

Each Practical Production group needs to set up a group blog by Monday 22-01-07...quite straightforward, especially as you will have it demonstrated in lessons. You may do this all together or one of your group can set up the account and then email you the username and password. Don't tell anyone else your password!

This is the second time that we have done this for Module 3 and last year we found that it was beneficial in a number of ways. We expect this to help you too because...

• It will be a place where your group can suggest ideas, make decisions and plan actions.
• As a result you will be clearer about what needs to be done - how and when.
• You will receive comments and feedback about your work in progress from other groups.
• Over time it will serve as on online record of your achievements (as a group and as an individual).
• This will be monitored by your teachers & will ensure you are rewarded fairly when it comes to assessment.
• It will be helpful to refer back to when writing your evaluation (for the examiner).

Once the blog is set up you each have four tasks to complete and submit as separate posts on your blog before the deadline...

• A short outline of your project (base this on what you said in your brief).
• An entry that summarises the work that both you and your group have completed so far.
• Information about the research that you have done and the ideas it has given you.
  
• A plan for what you'll be doing over the next week.

Remember - every individual in the group must make their own separate posts. Also, make sure you include your name at the end of each one so you can be identified. And, crucially, make sure that one person in the group posts up the blog web address and project working title at the end of this message so that a quick link to it can be added on this page.

You will be required individually to add to this on a weekly basis, to cover the following...

• outlining the work planned and equipment to be used;
  
• reporting on what was achieved;
  
• reflecting on the outcome and whether it was different from what was planned and why.
  

It will also be good to see photos and stills from your shoot and production as it starts to take shape. The whole thing should eventually look like a big online scrapbook of your project that will culminate in the finished piece - uploaded and streamed into people's homes via the internet. Of course there will be credits, commendations and perhaps even prizes for the most committed and interesting bloggers. Also, for homework, check out the Med 3 Blogs from last year (05-06) that you can get to via the links on the sidebar to the left. Some of them are superb and will be a real source of inspiration, we're sure. Particular good ones include Lost is a Reflection, Teenage Daze, Guilt, A Life of Grime, and Three Shades of Red. Get going!!