Howick College
Year 11 Media Studies (11MES)
Course Description
Teacher in Charge: Mr B. Uy.
Media Studies is a subject that encourages students to engage critically with the world of media that they are surrounded by. Students will analyse the commercialisation of mass media, looking at it in two contexts: the sitcom genre and its relationship with audiences and how it's designed to maximize profit for TV and news coverage, and what goes on behind the scenes with our news from live event to mediated story.\ This course is suited for learners who are excited about asking questions and thinking critically and/or have an interest in careers in media production, marketing, journalism and any other job based around analysis and production.
This subject is academic and requires students to write their analysis in essay format. There is a large practical component to the course but a level of literacy is needed as students have assignments will they will need to write coherently and perceptively to form an argument and express their ideas.
Course Overview
Term 1
We begin the year by analysing film techniques through the close viewing of visual texts like music videos and film scenes. Throughout this unit, students will get opportunities to practice applying some of these film techniques before actually getting a chance to work on their productions.
Production—Planning Stage (DGT 1.4) – 5 credits
Using the knowledge gained from analysing techniques, you will now be asked to apply those skills to plan and design a media product - either an opening sequence for a made up television programme or a television news story. You will need to plan out the specific elements of your media product (such as characters and settings) and map out how it will look and sound in a way that engages the audience. You will create a storyboard and concept, treatment and pre-production plan that another person or group should be able to follow if required. This task is done individually. This assessment will lead to the production of an opening sequence in groups, and therefore your plan may be chosen by your group to film. Submission for this assessment is the end of Week 6 Term 1.
Production—Filming Stage (DGT 1.2) – 5 credits
In the last four weeks of term 1 you will, in groups, film and edit your media product. You may work on this outside of class time as well. Your opening sequence must follow the planning/narrative of one person’s plan (the 1.4 assessment). Submission for this assessment is the end of Week 10 Term 1.
Term 2
Term 2: Production & News Coverage
Coverage of issue/event
We finish term two by looking at our block related to our big social issue (the commercialisation of popular media) where you will be required to engage with and critically analyse news coverage and how it is affected by the need for news platforms to make money. This will be based on events or issues that have been covered over the last two years. We will be looking at HOW the media covered the issues, the factors behind-the-scenes that influenced this and what it means for both the media and society going forward. Through this we aim to improve our media literacy and understand the factors that affect how our news stories are put together.
Term 3
Term 3: Sitcom Genre Study
The Sitcom Genre and the TV industry
In term three, we will move into the second block for our social issue, moving from news to popular media. You will be required to demonstrate understanding of the characteristics of a media genre, where will focus on sitcoms as the chosen genre and how they have been designed to be profitable for TV networks and how this has affected society as a whole. We will get to watch a range of popular sitcoms ranging from the animated, the classic and the modern during this unit. It would be helpful to view sitcoms in your own time during this unit.
The assessments for this block (SOS 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3) will be due at the end of term 3, (with some possible rollover time in term 4). Students will be expected to do some work towards their final assessment during the term so that they do not have to do the whole thing in the time allocated in term three for these assessment. Students do not have to do all three, they will be given an option of what they want to do based on how they did in term 1.
Term 4
Term Four is reserved for revision for external exams, using results from practice exams to make sure you are prepared to do well in your exams. It will also be an opportunity to catch up on any other credits missed out over the course of the year. Good luck!
Pre-requisites
None.
Contributions and Equipment/Stationery
$20 approx. to cover cost of equipment upkeep and film consumables.
Pathway
Credit Information
You will be assessed in this course through all or a selection of the standards listed below.
This course is eligible for subject endorsement.
External
NZQA Info
Digital Technologies 1.2 - Develop a digital technologies outcome
NZQA Info
Digital Technologies 1.4 - Design a digital technologies outcome
NZQA Info
Social Studies 1.1 - Demonstrate understanding of findings of a Social Studies inquiry
NZQA Info
Social Studies 1.2 - Demonstrate understanding of perspectives on a contemporary social issue
NZQA Info
Social Studies 1.4 - Describe a social action undertaken to support or challenge a system
Disclaimer
Owing to teachers responding to individual students' needs, courses and NCEA standards taught in a subject maybe different to those displayed.
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