Assignment 3

Assignment 3 Practical Production and Evaluation

You are required to undertake a practical production which addresses all four key concepts, from conception to realisation, together with an evaluation of 700-800 words. You  may work individually or in small groups (as defined within the task description). If you are working as a member of a group, your individual contribution must be clearly identified as indicated below. You must submit your own individual evidence of research and planning and your own evaluation.

For all of these productions the aim should be to strike a balance between creativity and the application of appropriate codes and conventions and media language. Original material should be used wherever possible. If found material is used it must be manipulated in a suitable fashion such that your own creativity is evident.

Topic	Production Task	Collaboration
Print	Four pages per student (including the front cover or front page) for a magazine or newspaper aimed at a specific audience.	No more than two students producing four pages each.

Guidance notes

Planning and research

You should plan and research your production thoroughly. Evidence of research into existing products of a similar nature and into your potential audience should be submitted, perhaps in the form of annotated analyses of existing texts, charts, surveys or questionnaires. You will need to submit evidence of planning, in the form of briefs, sketches, scripts, storyboards, mock-ups, drafts, contact sheets, flat plans etc.

No more than 12 pages of material may be submitted for moderation as evidence of research and planning.

For magazines and newspapers, confidence in handling technology can be demonstrated by:

• appropriate integration of text and illustration (whether original or found material)
• language, register and content appropriate to the nature of the production and audience
• evidence of consideration being given to use of fonts, type size and colour
• possible creation of a house-style.

Magazine/newspaper conventions could include page design and layout, use of direct address, columns, straplines, box-outs, cross-heads, headings and headlines.

Evaluation
You must each produce a 700– 800 word evaluation which should reflect upon:

• how the aims of the production have been met
• how the product applies appropriate codes and conventions and uses appropriate media language
• how the product represents people, places or events * where and when the product would be exhibited
• what regulations and controls might be applied to the product and how these have been taken into consideration
• the strengths and weaknesses of the product in terms of meeting the needs of its audience.

Assessment Criteria for Unit 2 Assignment 3
Research, Planning and Presentation	(AO3 15 marks)
Level 6 Candidates demonstrate a high level of ability to research and plan independently and effectively. They demonstrate flair and creativity through their pre-production work which is convincing, fit for purpose and engaged and uses appropriate forms and conventions throughout. Material is presented skilfully. There is a clear understanding of how audiences are identified and how production is tailored to audience needs and expectations.	13-15 marks
Level 5 Candidates demonstrate clearly their ability to research and plan successfully. There is evidence of engagement in the pre-production work which is clearly fit for purpose and uses many appropriate forms and conventions. Material is presented effectively. Audiences are identified, their needs are taken into consideration and awareness is demonstrated of how this has shaped the ideas.	10-12 marks
Level 4 Candidates demonstrate they have researched and planned their pre-production work appropriately. Ideas are apt and mostly use appropriate forms and conventions. Material is well presented. Candidates are able to identify and target audiences. They indicate how this has informed their plans and ideas.	7-9 marks
Level 3 Candidates offer some evidence of research and planning. Their ideas show some understanding and involvement with the task and use some appropriate forms and conventions. There is a basic attempt to present the work in a straightforward way. Some understanding of appealing to a potential audience is evident.	4-6 marks
Level 2 Candidates offer minimal evidence of research and planning. They have some ideas that are at least partly relevant or appropriate to the task. Some forms and conventions may be employed. Presentation of the material is limited.	1-3 marks
Level 1 No work worth the award of a mark.	0 marks

Of the 30 marks allocated for this component, 20 should be awarded for Construction and 10 for Evaluation. This can be arrived at by placing each in an appropriate level according to the descriptors. Where both are in the same level a mark out of 30 can be arrived at but where there is a disparity allocate a level for each and then determine the appropriate mark out of 20 or 10 as in the table below.

Construct and Evaluate	(AO4 30 marks)
Level 6 (Construct 17-20, Evaluate 9-10) Candidates' demonstrate flair and creativity to construct an impressive product which would engage a potential audience. They demonstrate the ability to handle technology confidently, including ICT, and use the techniques and conventions of the chosen medium and genre creatively and convincingly. They evaluate their production making cogent and critical connections between the experience of carrying out the production and all the key concepts. The evaluation is concise and well-organised, using accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar.	25-30 marks
Level 5 (Construct 13-16, Evaluate 7-8) Candidates demonstrate competence to construct an effective product which would be likely to appeal to a potential audience. They handle technology competently, including ICT, and use the techniques and conventions of the chosen medium and genre effectively. The evaluation shows an informed understanding of the key concepts. The evaluation is concise and well-organised, using mainly accurate spelling, punctuation and grammar.	19-24 marks
Level 4 (Construct 9-12, Evaluate 5-6) Candidates demonstrate appropriate skills to construct a satisfactory product which a potential audience might find interesting or engaging. They utilise technology, including ICT, and use appropriate techniques and conventions of their chosen medium and genre. They meet all of the requirements of the task. When evaluating their products they are able to discuss how some of the key concepts have informed their production. The evaluation uses some accurate spelling punctuation and grammar.	13-18 marks
Level 3 (Construct 5-8, Evaluate 3-4) Candidates demonstrate some appropriate skills and mostly meet the requirements of the task to construct a product which might have some limited appeal to a potential audience. Some conventions of their chosen medium and genre are evident. The evaluation may be largely descriptive but some key concepts may be addressed. In the evaluation, communication, including spelling, punctuation and grammar, may not be wholly effective.	7-12 marks
Level 2 (Construct 1-4, Evaluate 1-2) Candidates construct a recognisable media product. In their evaluation, they provide a simple review of the production. Communication, including spelling, punctuation and grammar, may be limited.	1-6 marks
Level 1 (Construct 0, Evaluate 0) No work worth the award of a mark.	0 marks