Course overview - Study Period 1 and 2
During the first half term, Study Period 1, learners will be introduced to the Media Studies GCSE course with a focus on newspapers. They will learn about the conventions of newspapers, the role of the UK press, the differences between tabloids and broadsheets, and the ways in which news reporting intersects with UK politics. Learners will look at and analyse a range of newspaper front pages, as well as using their understanding of newspaper conventions to create their own front page.
During the second half term, Study Period 2, learners will focus on video games. They will consider the video game industry and audience demographics, thinking about the social and cultural contexts of key game franchises. Learners will examine a range of video game genres and products and analyse these with reference to critical theory frameworks including narrative theories and representations of masculinity and femininity.
Key Concept:
Media Language, Media Representations, Media Industries, Media Audiences, Historical, social and cultural contexts.
Assessment Points:
One mini-milestone piece during each study period,with a final summative assessment at the end of the study period.
Guidance:
Learners will receive guidance in a variety of ways. These include marked assessments, reports, feedback in books, verbal feedback during sessions, and in-class quizzes.
Key Vocabulary:
Industry
Audience
Language
Representation
Op-ed
Editorial
Newsworthiness
Free Press
Regulation
Tabloid
Broadsheet
Masthead
Conservatism
Socialism
Franchise
Intertextuality
Stereotypes