Lesson 3&4 of Exam Component 4: Critical Perspectives
Section A: Media debates: Power and the media
These lessons cover media ownership and require students to research how diverse (western) media is (or isnât!).
Theories cover:
David Hesmondhalgh
James Curran and Jean Seaton
This lesson also includes a research task in which students choose a media company / owner to study which will then be shared with the rest of the class.
For example:
Choose a company / person and research the following:
What media do they own / do they have a majority control?
How well known are the companies and subsidiaries associated?
How many different media forms do they own?
What impact does this person / company have on the media?
Percentage owned
Positive / negative impact on society
What examples can you find that suggest âpowerâ and âcontrolâ over the media
Mediated view of social groups
Political opinions / influence on democracy / democratic view point
Examples of campaigning / marketing messages?
Relationship with audience?
Access / control over media messages and viewpoint taken
Has the person / company ever been investigated for âlimitingâ or âcontrollingâ their media messages (ie. Impacting negatively on democracy or other ideological issues)
Links to Hesmondhalgh and Curran / Seaton
This ppt. contains blank copies of all the poems ready for students to annotate. The ppt. also contains âhow to read a poemâ slides which is a step by step guide for students to analyse a poem over three readings. There is also an overview of the AOs and how these link to a âSIFTâ analysis of a poem:
Structure and Style
Imagery, Intention, Impact
Figures of Speech, Feelings
Tone, Theme
This resource is a collection of 3-4 lessons that introduces students to Kayo Chingonyi and the 15 poems students will study for Section A of the Cambridge IGCSE Literature in English Exam.
Lesson 1: an introduction to Kayo Chingonyi and the assessments objectives
Lesson 2: poetry techniques and skills needed for IGCSE including âhow to read a poemâ - 3 steps to follow
Lesson 3: how to analyse a poem using âSIFTâ mnemonic. How to âreadâ and âanalyseâ a poem joined up as Ss complete an independent reading of âKumukandaâ as h/w before the next lesson.
This detailed analysis of âKumukandaâ thoroughly dissects the poem, stanza by stanza, line by line.
Following on from the first lesson (Cambridge IGCSE Literature in English 0475 (Section A: Poetry) - Introduction to Kayo Chingonyi) - students first present their initial ideas about the poem before gaining an understanding of the Kumukanda ritual and the poem as a whole.
This lesson also briefly looks at alliteration and its different types and contants two embedded videos.
As a final task students will complete detailed notes on the poem for them to keep as a future revision resource.
This detailed analysis of âSome Bright Eleganceâ thoroughly dissects the poem, stanza by stanza, line by line and is structured so that students will read and analyse the poem 3 times; with each reading they will develop their understanding and build their analysis.
This lesson begins by understanding the cultural references in the poem, and once students understand the context they can begin to look more closely at the techniques used. Within the ppt. two embedded videos also offer an opportunity to understand the poem through dance and also as a spoken word by Chingonyi.
As a final task students will use the âsiftâ analysis sheet to recap the lesson and create detailed notes on the poem for them to keep as a future revision resource.
This ppt. explores the character of Lady Macbeth.
Beginning with the quote: âLady Macbeth is perhaps the most commanding figure that Shakespeare drew (created)â students will discuss what makes her an interesting character, explore her characteristics, and also understand what audience perceptions would have been at the time.
Students will read / watch key scenes: Act 1 Scene 5, Act 1 Scene 7, and Act 5 Scene 1 and answer the following:
What is Lady Macbeth actually saying here?
Could you link this to any other parts of the text?
How is Lady Macbeth feeling in this scene?
What are problems with what Lady Macbeth wants/ has done?
What are the benefits for Lady Macbeth getting what she wants?
and then re-watch again, this time focusing on themes: power, mystery, evil.
A good lesson that would prepare students for an essay or analysis.
This lesson covers the story of VOD and an overview of the history of Netflix. Lots of links for additional research. Old case studies of early netflix successes: Bird Box, Roma, Wandering Earth, and Bandersnatch. These lessons then dovetail into a Disney case study.
Additional resources and articles also included, as well as a template for Netflix, Disney, Independent Case Study comparison.
Lesson 1 and 2 of Exam Component 4: Critical Perspectives
Section A: Media debates: Power and the media
Lesson 1 looks at the key words from the Spec and gives an overview of what this section of the exam entails. Students also look at various images to begin to form their own ideas.
Lesson 2 introduces âagencyâ and âcontrolâ
This lesson looks at past paper from June 2021.
The Q: **âThe media determine how we understand and connect with the world.âTo what extent do you agree with this statement? **
The lesson breaks down A01 and A02 with first recapping key media concepts, and critical debates covered (Changing nature of media environments - the effects on both industries and audiences, Technological Determinism, Public V Private persona, Data usage and net neutrality, Comparisons to the past, and predictions for the future.), example terminology is given, and also a recap of possible case studies and examples by then linking to the âspecâ Students then plan and write their response.
Slides 11-18 then look through examiner feedback and sample essays.
This series of lessons looks at the planning of the major task: the music video. storyboard template is also included as well as other useful planing doc.
This 32 page booklet overviews the key media concepts and media language on Representation, Audience, Narrative, Genre, Ideology and Institution.
Representation and Audience are covered in detailed ( i will cont. to update).
There are also 5 pages that focus specifically on music video and music video theories.
Collection of Media Ecology lessons to begin unpacking this section of the exam.
Lessons cover: an intro to Media Ecology, Marshall McLuhan (hot/cool and other key concepts) Neil Postman, a look at the WWW and its impact⊠a range of theories also tied in.
Past Paper exam also included.
This series of lessons focuses in-depth on representations in music videos. Students are guided through creating their own blog post while they investigate and review representation of; Age / Class & Status / Gender / Sexuality / Race & Ethnicity.
Studentâs analyse various music videos by not just considering sound, editing, Mise en scene, Camera â shots, movement, angles but also the theories of David Gauntlettâs âpick and mixâ and Hallâs ârepresentation Theoryâ.
What is a Music Video?
Introductory A2 coursework lessons that overview the key generic conventions of a music video.
These lesson focus on Goodwinâs theories specifically Goodwinâs, âKey Features of Music Videoâ and guide students through creating their own research blog post.
In this series of lessons students will be introduced to the curriculum for A2 and guided through the history and key conventions of music videos - this will help them to research and complete their own research blog posts.
In these lessons students will investigate, watch, and research a range of title sequences ( Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Split, Panic Room) to establish what conventions they should include in their own product and understand the difference between opening credits and a title sequence.
Students will cover the work of Saul Bass and then choose a film of their own to analyse. An exemplar answer is included for students using Fincherâs âSE7ENâ.
Finally students will be tasked with creating their own title sequence as a âprelimâ task.
This lesson explores the character of Macbeth and prepares Ss for the essay Q: How does Macbeth (the character) suggest power, mystery, and evil in âMacbethâ?
In pairs Ss analyse their key scene and create notes and ideas on how power, mystery, and evil are conveyed in their extract.
Ss will also consider Macbethâs disposition after killing Duncan and then after killing Banquo.
Ss then create their own notes and examples of how power, mystery, and evil and evident in Macbethâs character.
A good lesson for Year 8 or 9, and also low level GCSE.
This lesson explores the role of the witches throughout Macbeth and also focuses on the essay Q: How do the witches suggest power, mystery, evil in Macbeth?
Ss could either write this as a stand alone essay or use the ideas generated in this lesson to add to an essay featuring Macbeth or Lady Macbeth.
Throughout the lesson students will look at Act 1 Scene 3, Act 3 Scene 5, and Act 4 Scene 1 focusing on the themes: power, mystery and evil.
This collection of lessons covers all of the pre-planning work that is to be done BEFORE students film their coursework.
The lessons cover âinitial pitchâ criteria, and criteria for the âfinal pitchâ, it guides students through lyric analysis, deciding on a target audience, and examples of mood boards and mind maps. Students will also cover branding and how to create a brand for their artist.