Paper 1 - Section A: Television

The exam:

Q1 > 5 marks > Analysis question on the extract, likely to be on media language (around 5 minutes to answer)

Q2 > 10 marks > Analysis question, may be based on media langauge, representation or other areas of the theoretical framework (short essay, taking around 10 minutes to answer)

Q3 > 15 marks > Analysis of extract in terms of media language, should include judgment, context and a conclusion (longer essay, taking around 15 minutes to answer) 

Q4 > 5 marks > Likely to focus on television industries or audiences (should take around 5 minutes to answer)

Q5 > 10 marks > This will ask for knowledge and undertsanding of the influence of the contexts of the TV programmes, it will ask you to refer to Cuffs and The Avengers (should take around 10 minutes to answer)

Key Words:

Diegetic sound - sound that fits in the scene e.g. cars or birds 

Non-diegtic sound - noises that do not fit in the scene (added noises) e.g. music and sound effects

Screen time - time spent in shot by a particular character or actor 

Bird's eye view - often called an 'ariel shot', from above the subject 

Natural lighting - lighting that highlights features of the scene and appears like real life

Shot/reverse shot - over-the-shoulder shot of one character cutting to an over-the-shoulder shot of the other character 

Continuity editing - editing that is invisible, maintaining clear and continous narrative action

Handheld camera - often creayes juddering, urgent camerawork, like a documentary 

Stereotype - oversimplified portrayal of a member of a social group, place, event or issue, which is based on assumptions 

Scheduling - channel, day and time placement of a programme on television 

Commercial television - television owned by private companies and usually funded by advertisers 

Remit - the particular responsibilities of a television channel towards its audience, as defined by Ofcom

Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) - broadcasting for public benefit, rather than to make money; broadcasting that is independent of government 

Regulation - control of an institution by an authority that checks to see that it is following the rules

Funding - how the channel gets its money to finance programmes

Media platform - the way in which media content is delivered, such as smartphone, tablet, DVD, television

Audience ratings - the number of viewers who watched a live televsion programme, researched by BARB; consolidated audience ratings are time-shifted viewings within seven days of the original broadcast

Watershed - the time at which TV channels may start to show content that is unsuitable for children (currently 9pm in the UK)

Peak viewing time - 6pm to 10:30pm is the time of day when most people are watching television and when…