8/4/2019 GCSE Media Studies Ass1 Support Sheet Revised

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MEDIA STUDIES GCSE

ASSIGNMENT 1a and 1b

Student Sheet Analytical Task (10 marks): To Analyse two Magazine

Front Covers. How effective are they in selling appealing to aspecific target audience?

500 words total

1a. To analyse the front covers you will need to think about how thepublishers make the them attractive to the audience. You shouldcomment on:

The denotation and the connotations of the following:

Photographs: the people who are pictured - the way they are dressed, posed, theirexpressions, where they are looking, reasons for the choices made, the connotations of thesechoices and therefore the meaning which has been created.

Copy (or writing): how the copy creates the theme, is directed at a specific audience, theanticipated effect on that audience and the ways in which the words persuade them to buy themagazine?

Format and design devices: how the use of specific type fonts, colours, boxes, allignment

etc helps to convey specific messages to the audience about the magazine and other product

related to it.

You should ensure that you comment on: the colours

the fonts (typography) including the Masthead, headlines etc.

the images including photography

the backgrounds & locations

any slogans

the lighting and mise en scene of the photographs

or anything else that helps to sell the product.

Use Media terminology where appropriate and show that you recognise codes and conventions ofMagazine front covers.

You will need to say something about who the audiences for the products are (think aboutdemographics - age, social class, gender, ethnicity) and decide how effective you think the frontcovers are in persuading these audiences.

Aim for 350 words BUT NOT ESSAY STYLE PROSE.

8/4/2019 GCSE Media Studies Ass1 Support Sheet Revised

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1b. Research and Planning Task (5 marks): Design your ownadvertisement for a product targeted at a specific audience.

Think carefully about your new product and who the target audience would be. Design youradvertisement on paper (or on the computer) drawing and labeling your work carefully. Applyadvertising codes and conventions creatively. Consider what you have learned about Media

Language in terms of colours, fonts, images and copy.

You may use original digital photography and a design programme/application like InDesign(available through VAST) or Publisher (though do not use the images and graphics from the apponly the layout) and pleas ensure that it fits with what would be expected from a REAL magazinecover. You can also work in draft on paper with drawings if you prefer.

Marking and Levels for this depend on your ability to show originality and clear understanding ofthe conventions of magazine covers. Examples of these will be available online.

You must write a brief explanation of how your advertisement would appeal to its target audience.

Aim for 150 words again notes to show your understanding andexplaining the choices you have made.

Mr Holloway